I think a petrol blue would look great with the exposed brick. And fresh with the bed.

I vote against rich brown color just because it will mask the nice exposed bricks.

Sherwin Williams Breezy or Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage. Nice silver blue colors that will make the woodwork and brick stand out but is super soothing for a bedroom.

There was a JCrew ad next to the picture in your post, and the background of the ad was lovely light blue. It looked really pleasant next to the brick.

I actually really like the white. With some color on the windows and maybe in a few other places, it would look splendid!

I'd pull out that bluey-grey tone that looks to be in some of the bricks - still neutral but would contrast the red brick and stand out

A mid-tone gray or taupe if you want cozy/modern and a contrast-y background for a white bed.

I'd rethink the pattern-y Roman Shade.

Exposed brick is essentially burnt orange with off-white lines (mortar)

What goes best with orange?
White, Cream, Grey and Navy Blue.

I'd stick to cream for the walls & grey for the trim to get some subtle contrast, but use white/cream and navy for your bedding, accessories, rugs, window coverings, etc.
I'd bring in more natural wood tones (not expresso/wenge - think walnut, oak and/or mahogany) into the room for dressers, nightstands, etc to warm up the space.

i also think a grey/slate color would be best. the white furniture would pop against it and it would provide a subtle contrast to the brick.

I'd go with either a sage green or a bluish-gray, depending on what colors are in the shades. If you go with a neutral, like brown, I don't think the bricks would pop as well... I'd say go with something light to contrast with the bricks should you choose something in the brown family.

I think a dark blue would look great with the brick. The only problem is it might make your room look smaller, perhaps lighten it up with some white curtains and bedding.

Navy Blue ....

generally, try samples before committing

A dark grey or blue would be my choice.

white or grey

I'd paint a deep charcoal and leave the trim white. Do NOT use semi-gloss, especially for a dark color. Use flat or egg-shell.

We used to live in a loft with exposed brick and we painted the bedroom a straw yellow and had burgandy curtains. In the office we used a wine on the walls with orange accents. In the main room was a celery - very light green - and we painted the mantle eggplant. yes - I like color - but it really brightened the space and showed off the brick.

I say keep it white. It's fresh!

I've dealt with this same problem! We initially wanted a blue or grayish color - although, after a few attempts my mind was changed.

Despite the type of blue, it always ended up looking a little too patriotic. I ultimately chose a greenish gray that turned out beautifully. I have a few pics at the bottom of this blog post:

http://projectrowhouse.blogspot.com/2008/12/countertops-painting.html

and here:

http://projectrowhouse.blogspot.com/2009/01/television-ikea-anga-backsplash.html

Good luck!

Gentleman's Gray from BM, its a deep deep dark grey blue and would look great against the brick and gives a cozy vibe.

I also like the white walls.

love the white as it is now

Keep the white!!

I love the exposed brick! I think it's so urban and modern which is why I would go with an orange color on the wall. Orange can be very warm and inviting if you get the right shade. If you do orange I would go with a flat or as close to flat as possible. If the bed will rest on that wall flat should hold up just fine. I would keep the linens crisp white and throw in some lime green or navy blue accents throughout.

I like it white!

Another vote for grey. The white looks lovely in the picture but needs the wood as foil.

I'd go with Sherwin Williams Darkroom, an almost-black plum.

I'd go with a nice rust color with white trim, or maybe a nice gray color with white trim. The rust is my first instinct however.

I'd consider an olive color.

Warm yellowish color. I like Benjamin Moore Straw (it looks more taupey on the color swatch but on my wall looks like a summery yellow).

I used this in my living room against a brick wall (not the greatest looking brick, but I've tried cleaning & sealing it to no avail). The yellow is much warmer & cozy than the original linen white. Photo here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=10673336&l=30eee79423&id=571035293

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=390128&id=571035293&l=f91edaa197

A Bright Golden Yellow would look nice. Both the white furniture and the brick would pop next to it.

From a strictly color theory standpoint, you need to use contrast to draw the eye where you want it to go. A contrasting color like blue would compete and draw your eyes away from the furniture, a neutral like grey brown or beige would also draw your eye to the most interesting color: the red-brick and leave the furniture out of the picture.

If you want the furniture to be the focal point, you need to use an analogous palette: orange, red, and yellow wall color with enough texture would make it so the eye "rests" on the neutral furniture and bedspread.

For example in a picture like this by Matisse: http://www.hep.yorku.ca/menary/publications/matisse.jpg the eye is naturally drawn to the contrasting white inside the window and the orange/reds are pushed backand hardly noticeable.

I'm still in love with Benjamin Moore's "soot" and think the blue-gray would compliment the brick and furnishings. We used it on the exterior of our house (www.chezerbey.com) but are thinking about doing it on a few areas of the interior as well.

I have the exact same layout in my room (down to the windows on the right and closet on the left) and went with a dark espresso brown. The brown will really brings out the red in the brick.

Ralph Lauren's Cymric Silver is a great taupe that will pull the gray/brown tones from the brick. Do NOT use semi-gloss, particularly with the brick. I agree with the other Patrick on the patterned shades. Roman shades in a texture-y linen would be nice. Use artwork for pops of color, but let the brick be the star!

Color is subjective, even with brick. Stay away from trying to "match" to the earth tones of the brick and mortar.
After that, anything goes. We have a house full of exposed brick walls, and I have to say that warmer shades of greens and yellows work nicely. I would like creamier shades of white as well.

another blue/grey vote. definitely not brown.

I've lived in a SoHo apartment w/ 3/4 exposed brick walls...for the past 4 years...and can tell you from experience....The ONLY color that looks good next to exposed brick is good old-fashioned white. Any other color makes it seem very dark and boxed in. If you want bold color, go for it w/ accessories...not wall color.

Thanks all for your suggestions and help--especially on the eggshell finish! I think we're leaning towards a blueish gray. I like the yellow and orange ideas but my boyfriend does not...I'll be sure to send an "after" pic and the final paint brand/color we chose.

Another chime in for white walls. We had the same problem working with a brick wall in our home and made several color mistakes before arriving at BM Balboa Mist. It is a very pretty white tinged gray. It might be good for you since you don't seem to want a pure white.

CHARCOAL GRAY!

I would do grey, but a warm gray. I hate how cool grey with blueish undertones looks with orange (brick). Blue and orange are complimentary colors on the color wheel, and thus make too much contrast for my preference in a bedroom.

If you painted the wall blue-ish grey, the orange would really really pop, and the wall would look very blue.

Warm grey and burnt orange look lovely together IMO.

Make that *complementary

I, too, have an exposed brick wall in my bedroom. I painted the remaining walls a pale dusty pink, and kept the rest neutral with clean white bedding, an antique brass bed, and a dark wood vintage dresser. Not sure if this is too girly for you:)

If you want the red to really pop, paint the walls a complementary color or keep them neutral but with an undertone in a complementary shade.

For example, grey that's got a green base rather than a brown or blue base would work really well.

Mustard would look good.

Be careful with a pattern - the masonry is already a pattern. Whatever solid color you may choose will change the way you see the brick. Go with a blue and it will bring out the blue in the masonry. Go with orange and it will brighten the masonry. My suggestion.... warm grey in a medium or medium-dark value. Maybe the same "value" as the brick. It will give you a neutral palette for your white furniture to pop against. White on grey is always a sleek modern look. Remember your brick is texture, not necessarily color.

Go down one step from the lightest color in the brick and paint the entire room that color, woodwork and trim too. Your room will look larger and the furniture and white linens would pop.

Olive or mossy green would be my choice. Good luck and post when you've done it!

I vote to keep it white but if you really want colour, I'd say turquoise.

I have exposed brick and I chose Farrow & Ball's London Stone. It's just a touch darker and warmer than the old mortar. BM Mayonnaise for trim.

You may also consider opening up your color choices by changing the brick by staining it.

I was able to convert a very red brick / grey mortar fireplace to a coco colored brick with / ebony mortar.

The product I used was from dyebrick.com - highly recommended.

I love the color suggestions and I am sure they would all look wonderful, but why don't you get a dozen copies of the picture you submitted, and try different colors on the paper first to get an idea of how the color would work. When my husband and I were trying to decide on outdoor trim for our house, we took a photo, had it reproduced and colored in four or five different colors and we could tell in advance how it would turn out. Just a thought. Your space looks great!