What color goes with brown? This color often gets labeled as boring and lackluster in a variety of different fields from interior design to fashion. However, the color brown when combined correctly with the right shades can be highly inspiring, cozy, and super sleek. Brown possesses rich earthly qualities that are warm, dramatic, and enveloping.
Brown is a neutral shade that is also very warm and versatile, opening up a whole world of possibilities once you decide to combine it with the right colors. So to help you make up your mind on what colors to accent your chocolate living room or your sandy bedroom with, we have prepared this list of the ten best colors that do wonderfully when combined with brown.
So, keep on reading and see which theme fits your home the best.
What Colors Go With Brown
Let’s start by start by exploring the different color families to find the best match and find out why these match. As a general rule of thumb, an architect or designer would recommend pairing warm browns with other warm shades and cool browns with cool colors.
This ensures that the colors complement each other and create a cohesive look through color temperature and shade familiarity.
Black and White – Neutral shades of both black and white are complementary to many shades of brown.
Blue – Brown and blue create a stunning contrast. Navy blue, turquoise, and pale blue all look great with a brown backdrop.
Pink – Blush and fuchsia (between purple and pink) look beautiful with brown.
Yellow – Sunshine yellow and deep yellow ochre make for a vibrant contrast against the neutrality of brown but golden accents and brass as a material are also excellent to pair with a wide palette of brown.
Green – Dark green and light green bring out the natural beauty of the forest when paired with brown.
Orange – Copper and bright orange look great when used with brown. The combination of brown and orange evoke the feeling of autumn.
Red – Brick red, burgundy, scarlet, and vermillion all add warmth and richness when used with brown.
Shades of Brown Explained
Brown is a hue that has been appreciated for thousands of years – from ancient cave paintings to modern interior design. It is a color that stands for stability and reliability, and as such, is a popular choice for both art and design. There are various words used to describe the many shades of brown, so here is a quick guide to some of the most popular ones.
Tan takes its name from tannum, the substance used to tan leather.
Taupe is a grayish-brown, derived from the French word for ‘mole’. Khaki is a light tan with a yellow undertone.
Chocolate brown is a deep hue with red undertones.
Russet is one of the darker shades, with red and orange undertones.
Sepia is a brown named after the ink sac of the cuttlefish, Sepia
Walnut brown is a deep hue with yellow undertones, representing the color of walnuts.
Colors Inspirations That Go With Brown
1. WhiteÂ
A chocolate brown will always be greatly enhanced when combined with a crispy white shade. This simple and clean contrasting shade pairs wonderfully with a dark chocolaty brown to add an amazing air of traditional charm to every room. By blending these two colors correctly, your bedroom or bathroom décor will have a clean and luxurious ambiance that is highly welcoming.
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2. Blue Turquoise and Dark Brown
If you’re looking to get a much more modern and sleek look that is incredibly relaxing and trendy, then consider pairing brown with blue. Brown and blue are made for each other as the cooler tones in blue harmonize perfectly with the warm browns in the wooden furniture. You can dress up your living room, bedroom, and even your bathroom with this peaceful blend of colors to get a fine balance between a traditional and modern ambiance.
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3. Fuchsia
Dark shades of wooden cabinetry paired with quirky shades of Fuchsia on the walls, heighten the drama in every room. Any room with a brown foundation can be transformed into a feminine and energetic setting by adding fuchsia accents to it. The depth of these two colors combines and enriches the space by adding a sophisticated vibe to the room. The bright and vivacious shade of the color pink adds personality to the more neutral brown and brightens up the whole atmosphere.
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4. Yellow
Yellow is a color that complements brown beautifully to make any room look incredibly aesthetic. Bright shades of yellow look lively and fun and when blended correctly with brown adds a splash of energetic charm to your living space. The yellow undertones in the bookshelf and the bright furniture in the room pop wonderfully against the neutral background bringing together the best of both traditional and modern looks.
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5. Mint
Restful shades of mint will go a long way in prettying up a living room when combined with a good dose of brown and lend it an incredible air of sophistication. Blending this wonderful shade of minty green to a room with brown wooden furnishings will lend a fresh and organic vibe to the overall ambiance of your room. Dress up your front porch in this combination to give off a naturally masculine yet soft feel to the look of it.
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6. Turquoise
Turquoise blended with a rich shade of brown is one of the trendiest combinations that is going around right now. This incredibly modern and sleek look works wonderfully for both living and bedrooms. These two colors complement each other beautifully, allowing you to go for a wide range of versatile design appeals. The two colors can be blended with a variety of visions in mind to result in anything from contemporary to vintage styles.
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7. Gold
The color gold in itself has incredibly bold and magical characteristics. However, this bright and charming shade can be combined with a dark shade of brown to tone down the bright accents of gold and make your room look lively and charming. The look that can be achieved by combining the two colors is one that looks extremely luxurious and refined. The golden undertones in the table lamp and bright designs on the floor look expensive and glamorous against the chocolaty brown in the background.
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8. Orange
The warmth of Orange combines beautifully with the neutral brown to give an amazing contrasting effect that gleams of energy and fun. These two colors blended together have the ability to create trendy and hipster-inspired styles that are ultra-modern and sleek. The orange center tables contrast amazingly with the chocolate brown sofas and the wooden flooring. The orange undertones throughout the room also give off an air of sophisticated charm that look very artsy and modern.
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9. Rose
A beautiful shade of rose contrasts nicely with the warmth of brown to create an energetic and super-feminine atmosphere. The two colors blend with each other harmoniously to give you a beautiful and comfortable space that looks luxurious and cozy. These two colors are ideal for living spaces as well as bedrooms and can offer a versatile range of design options ranging from old-age vintage styles to more modern styles.
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10. Copper
Dark Chocolate Brown, when accented with a rich shade of copper, can give an incredibly trendy and hip look to your room. With this unique blend of colors, you can create an inviting and warm atmosphere that is booming with energy. The red undertones of copper will be enough to offset the silky hues of brown to give off an energetic and charming vibe to the overall look of your room.
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Putting together a color palette for decorating can be quite a challenge, especially when working with a chocolate brown color as a base.Â
Incorporating a chocolate brown foundation in a space is a bold move, as it can quickly become the basis of interior design. And in order to combine the different features of the room together into a clean look, various colors can be paired to complement the chocolate brown shade.Â
Compared with other colors, brown does get a bad rap as it creates a stark contrast against other light colors. Whether the neutral shades are a part of the foyer or you have brown walls, pulling off the brown color scheme can actually be a beautiful look.
So, here are a few color options you can use to create a beautiful room design.Â
Best Colors That Go With Chocolate BrownÂ
1. Red UndertonesÂ
Rich red undertones are always an excellent option to draw the eye along the lengths of the room. A rich shade of red can create a super sleek look even in the form of a simple living room accent or when scattered throughout the space as furniture. By being so vibrant, the red offsets the muted brown tones in a perfect balance of color.Â
2. Fuchsia AccentsÂ
Adding fuchsia accents to chocolate brown is another clever way to keep the brown elements lowkey. Whether it is on the furniture or the walls, a few hits of purple can create a bright and vivacious shade that contrasts nicely with the neutral background.Â
Conversely, accent hits of brown can be used on the furniture to bring out the fuchsia color. As the former is deeper than fuchsia, they blend in well, acting as accent colors to each other.Â
3. Purple PlumÂ
Purple has often been associated with royalty, and when paired with chocolate brown, it creates a rich tone that has a calming effect. By painting plum walls, you can make the room become warm and draw out the brown highlights. If you are looking to pull off a vintage aesthetic, then adding purple elements may just be what you are looking for.Â
Less saturated purples can also be used to create the opposite effect. Despite having a dark chocolate brown, the environment of a room can be brightened by using a lighter shade of purple. Likewise, bright purples really bring out the life of the deep brown pieces for a more modern setup.Â
4. GoldÂ
Continuing the theme of royalty, adding a few hits of gold here and there is a surefire way to liven up the muted brown colors. As brown is already such a dark color, gold does not overpower it and instead acts as a highlight feature. Accenting the room with gold can bring an air of sophistication and refinery without taking too much away from the rest of the interior design.Â
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5. Gray Or Brown UndertoneÂ
Neutral colors such as gray or brown can also be used to create an attractive layered look. The dark brown and taupe color scheme is similar to the chocolate brown, so rest assured that the slight variations will also blend well into each other.Â
Dark shades of brown, or neutral brown color, can be used to create a quiet contrast that does not stand out as much as other colors. This effect can be achieved by using brown cabinets or brown upholstery to create a cohesive look.Â
Using walnut-stained wooden furniture can add various textures to the space. As such, breaking up a living room with walnut stain pieces makes for a delightful chocolate living room. And although pairing brown with brown as a color scheme is not commonly seen in interior design, it has a subtle effect that is soothing to look at.Â
A Bright And Vivacious ShadeÂ
If creating highlights and drawing the eye is your goal, then using bright colors is a great way to draw the eye in.Â
6. YellowÂ
Yellow is an incredibly bright color that pops in any room; however, different shades can be used to create a variety of effects. A deep yellow, for example, can turn a dull brown room into a sandy bedroom bursting with life.Â
Depending on the shades of yellow, it is possible to have differing aesthetics. Adding yellow tones implies an energetic and lively environment. A front porch would benefit from a few yellow accents as a warm welcome for guests.Â
7. Orange
Another vivacious shade that can be used to varying degrees is orange. Similar to yellow, this color can be used to instill different emotions. As a neutral shade, orange can bring warmth and welcome when paired with brown. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a vibrant orange will contrast well with a high-energy environment.Â
Traditionally, orange is rarely seen alongside wooden pieces, so pairing these colors together makes for an interesting look. Modernism and sleek design come to mind when the hits of orange pop through the brown elements.Â
8. Pink
A good dose of pink is another excellent way to create a beautiful aesthetic to complement the deeper brown color. In nature, pink tones can be easily found alongside brown; think sakura trees and other flowers. When paired with deeper colors, pink acts as a primary focus that stands out without being too loud.Â
Natural Complements
Natural complementary colors are a guaranteed way to find a suitable match for chocolate brown. As these are commonly found alongside each other in nature, it does not seem odd to the human brain when viewed alongside each other in a color palette.Â
9. Blue
The dark blue neutral color scheme is a toned-down option to complement the dark chocolate brown. As they are both deep colors, the result is a muted palette with a calming effect. A blue shade is able to pull the focus from the brown while adding to the richness of both colors.Â
Additionally, a warm blue can be used to create a comfortable space regardless of the room. Be it the living room to even your bathroom, blue is just one of those colors that blend well with many color palettes.Â
10. Green
Another complementary color for brown is green. Of course, different shades of green have various effects on the mood of the room. Adding green furniture can work well in becoming the focal point of living room interior design by standing out from the brown elements.Â
The pairing of brown with green is one of the most common occurrences in nature, being found in many flora and fauna. A natural environment that doesn’t feel out of place is created by keeping these colors that we often see around us paired together.Â
11. White
Adding brown to a white room can quickly become a centerpiece that subconsciously attracts the attention of guests. Conversely, adding a white piece to a brown room is a surefire way to cause it to stand out. The pairing of white with brown is the safest bet if you want a more traditional look in your home.Â
What colors go with browns?
Hopefully, you are now better equipped to create your own color palette for chocolate brown and brown alike. At the end of the day, finding the right shades that best complement this color is up to personal preference. Even architects and interior designers take time to create the perfect color balance, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you are just starting out.Â
Chocolate brown and browns in general are splendid colors, and extremely appreciated, so don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment for yourself. After all, there is no right or wrong in interior design, so long as it is a space you are comfortable and happy to be in! Â
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