Brown seems deceptively boring to many: too predictable, conservative, uninteresting. In fact, thanks to the variety of tones and variations, it is easily combined with other colors and looks different in each pair. In this article, we will tell you which colors are best combined with brown in the interior and show photo examples of how you can use different shades of brown.
How to use brown in the interior:
Shades
The best combinations
— With white
— With black
— With gray
— With blue
— with red
— with green
— with yellow
— with orange
— With pink
— With beige
Role in palette
— The foundation
— second color
— Accent
Shades
There are an incredible variety of shades of brown: light and dark, deep and dull, with a yellow, green or red tint. This is a natural color, characteristic primarily for wood and soil. For interior decoration in brown colors, 10 popular options are most often used.
- Chocolate. Noble, elegant, deep. May have a warm milky or cool purple undertone.
- Praline. Named after the sweet chocolate hazelnut spread, warm deep shade.
- Coffee. Can be dark or light (coffee with milk). In the second version, a creamy, almost beige tone is obtained.
- Walnut. Warm, fairly light, with a golden sheen.
- Cocoa. Soft, gentle tone from a pastel scale. Close to the color of «coffee with milk», but colder.
- Chestnut. Warm rich tone with an orange undertone.
- Bistre. It comes from the name of bistre paint, which was obtained from wood soot and used in painting. Dark gray-brown color of neutral temperature.
- Chamois. Light, diluted with yellow-green, visually resembles sand.
- Sepia. Dark deep color with a reddish undertone.
- Terracotta. The absolute trend of this year, a warm bright color with an admixture of rust and baked clay.
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Best color combinations in the interior with brown
Chocolate is not a primary color; it is obtained from a mixture of red and green or red, blue and yellow. Thanks to this, it coexists equally well with warm saturated and refreshing cool colors.
1. With white
Light achromat refreshes and visually enlarges the room, at the same time highlighting any shade of brown. Since the latter is most often found in the texture of wood, its union with white becomes a real must-have for modern styles: eco, boho, Scandinavian. And for the classics, a tandem of snow-white or creamy finishes with expensive parquet and massive dark wood furniture is indispensable.
This pair is often used in the bathroom and in the kitchen: white saves small rooms from feeling cramped, and wood or its imitation adds coziness.
2. With black
A classic combo that by itself, without additional tricks, makes any design luxurious. The effect is enhanced if this pair is used on the noble surfaces of wood and stone (especially marble). Suitable for all rooms, but especially used in the living room, bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. It will also be a good option for decorating a spacious hallway.
3. With gray
The combination of gray and brown in the interior many are concerned: suddenly two neutral shades will look dull and faceless. In fact, this pair works surprisingly well: variations of gray tend to be used as a base, and chocolate, walnut or terracotta details really come out against this background. A combination of gray finishes with leather or wood furniture works great.
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4. With blue
A spectacular ensemble in which the depth of blue is advantageously emphasized by a dark background. The larger the area of the blue elements in the decor of the room, the warmer the undertone of the second element is better to use. Coffee, cocoa, nuts, cinnamon neutralize the coldness and depression of the second color. This pair is suitable for an office, bedroom or bathroom. To make the space brighter, you can choose a shade of coffee with milk, walnut or chamois, and replace blue with blue, complementing this pair with a white, beige or gray background.
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5. With red
An unusual and rather rich combo, which is perfect for a living room, bathroom or kitchen, where warm colors are welcome. Coral, scarlet, burgundy go well with chocolate, coffee and chestnut. These are related colors, so they match each other in any combination. But since red is quite aggressive, it is better to use it accentuated, muffling and softening the activity with a chocolate and coffee background.
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6. With green
A must-have for eco-style or any interior where you want to create a natural atmosphere of comfort and closeness to nature. This is the most natural combination: the bark and foliage of a tree, the soil and the plants on it. In addition, both colors are associated with wealth, stability and prosperity.
Depending on the nuances, the palette can be perceived differently. Warm woody tones combined with grassy greens are suitable for bright eco-spaces in a modern style. A duet of dark chocolate with a rich emerald or coniferous tone will give the atmosphere an atmosphere of chic and elegance.
7. With yellow
The combination of brown in the interior with yellow can be both contrasting and neutral, if you choose their softened, muted variations. This pair is well suited for the kitchen, living room and any room with windows to the north, as warm colors are associated with the sun and warmth, make the space cozier.
8. With orange
This combination is like an alliance with yellow and red — both are warm and cozy, able to enliven and warm any room. This pair looks good in the kitchen, in the living room and in the bedroom, although in general it is suitable for any room. In terms of saturation, the palette can turn out to be either light and neutral, or darker, deeper, with accent elements. Looks very nice a combination of wood texture and rich amber.
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9. With pink
An unexpected, interesting and «tasty» combination of chocolate with strawberries (or other berries — depending on the shade of pink). They can be two equal parts of the pastel range or used as a neutral background and a bright accent. The first technique is most often used in bedrooms and nurseries, the second can be used in any other room.
10. Beige
A versatile pair that not only feels great in classic or Victorian interiors, but also in modern design. This combination of neutral tones is now experiencing a rebirth, provided by the influence of a new trend on an all-natural palette and nude tones.
So that the room in such a range does not look too flat and monotonous, be sure to use a variety of textures and a few bright accents.
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Role in palette
In the overall color scheme, chocolate can play any role — it will depend on the undertone, intensity and temperature, as well as on other elements used.
The foundation
Brown is perfect for the role of the main character of the palette, especially its light nuances. In this case, it will be used primarily in decoration: wallpaper, paint, decorative panels on the walls, parquet or laminate. Another option is large cabinet furniture. In order not to create an oppressive feeling, it is better to use lighter and more neutral shades. The second option is to dilute the interior with other “light” paints.
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Second color
Most often, the tone is used in this capacity — as the second main element of the palette. In this case, it can be part of the decoration, decorative architectural elements or partitions. And, of course, furniture. For example, a brown sofa looks very impressive in the interior of the living room, in the bedroom — a bed with a wooden or soft frame. In the kitchen, this can be a set or a dining group, and in the bathroom, a storage system or an area behind the washbasin.
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Accent
This application is also possible. An active and rich tone can be used accentuated in a monochrome or color palette, appearing in decor, one structural element or one piece of furniture. It turns out an interesting trick, because in this case, other neutral colors highlight the chocolate-coffee depth.
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