It’s wrong to call decorating with brown a trend. After all, brown in the form of wood furniture, cabinetry, or flooring is present in just about every home. But people are rediscovering how mocha walls, tawny upholstery, chestnut rugs, and sepia accents can make a room feel wonderfully cozy or quietly sophisticated—or both.
The recent emphasis on organic materials and nature-inspired colors is one reason brown is becoming more of a presence in home decor. Another is that because brown can be made by mixing the three primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), it goes with just about every hue out there. What’s more, there are so many browns to choose from. And it helps that enough time has passed for brown to no longer be associated primarily with shag rugs, cheap paneling, and harvest gold appliances.
If you’re wary of adding brown to your decor, take a look at the images and tips below and see just how versatile and chic brown can be. (Or reach out to One Kings Lane Interior Design for some free assistance.)
Layers of brown can create a cocooning effect. Try to vary tones, textures, or both, though. Here, the sinuous grain of the sideboard offers a contrast to the vertical reeding of the wall (which is a fresh take on traditional paneling).
Including one major piece in a light hue, such as the Renee Performance Sofa, keeps a room from falling prey to the ’70s brown-on-brown-on-brown look. This sofa’s visible wood legs keep the look cohesive. Also shown: the Talia Arched Cabinet in Drifted Oak.
While a pale sofa can make a room full of browns feel more open, a dark brown one, such as the Darcy Performance Velvet Sofa in Java, can bring instant impact to an otherwise bright room. The lushness of the Turner Faux-Fur Throw and the golden glimmer of the Hirosha Sculpture and the Penelope Floor Lamp play up the inherent richness of the brown. Also shown: the Tumbling Water Rug and the Mulberry Road abstract artwork. Photo by Joe Schmelzer.
This dining room has so many textures and tones, it doesn’t register as a brown room but rather as a warm, inviting one. The nickel legs of the Revival Leather Chairs provide an ideal complement of gleam. Also shown: the Adams Dining Table and the Marled Woven Rug. Photo by Matt Albiani.
Brown tableware? Absolutely, especially when it’s accented with gold. Shown above: the Wyatt Charger, the Hutchinson Salad Plate, and Ultima Thule Tumbler. Photo by Joe Schmelzer.
In this wood-paneled library from the 2022 St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild Decorators’ Show House, Todd Otterman of Design Works used floral curtains and a transparent waterfall-style cocktail table to keep the browns from feeling too imposing or stodgy. Pro tip: Sets of books with color-coordinated spines add finesse to empty shelves. Find a similar cocktail table here and a similar floor lamp here. Photo by The Addison Group.
Ease into Brown
Still not certain that brown is the update your home needs? Try starting small, with brown accessories. Below, a few of our favorites.
• Floral Ginger Jar, Brown/Cream. Swapping out blue and white for brown and cream gives this chinoiserie classic a subtly earthy update. The jar can stand on its own, of course, while integrating it into an existing blue-and-white collection will add a sophisticated element of surprise.
• Emma Ball Pillow in Café Velvet. The fabric is sumptuous, the spherical shape fun—a truly dynamic duo.
• Banana Silk Picture Frame. Made from the stems and stalks of the abaca plant, banana silk is prized for its luster and durability. This frame shows its glorious striations of brown tones are also worthy of accolades.
• Cashmere Link Throw in Mocha. This cashmere throw, knitted with a petite cable stitch, is made even more opulent by the addition of silk trim.
• Caribe Tray. The tray’s interior is made of rattan reeds arranged in a herringbone pattern, providing plenty of organic texture. The rectangular brass handles contribute urbane chic.
Brown can be whimsical, as seen in this room by James Thomas Interiors from the 2023 Lake Forest Showhouse. The multitude of patterns—stripes on the ceiling, garlands on the wall, mod shapes on the rug—all have a white background that keeps things light. Photo by Werne Sträube Photography.
For a Naturalist or Japandi ambience, opt for the palest of browns, such as the Circle Dining Table and the Casae Side Chairs. Unglazed pottery and rattan accessories will underscore the serene, grounded feel. Conversely, a vase in a jewel tone or a black lamp will provide instant drama.
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