Colors that go with brown: How do you mix them?

It may surprise you to know that Brown is actually a neutral color as opposed to being classified as one of the darker or warmer shades.

Those who favor the color brown often exhume a sense of strength and reliability because of its association with Earthen colors that represent resilience and security.

Furthermore, brown is very comforting and natural, making it the perfect choice for those who are after more “organic” aesthetics. 

Brown is associated with wood.

More than just being associated, wood is actually colored either one from among various shades of brown.

As mentioned earlier, brown is a very organic color that represents strength and resilience – values commonly seen in most of the earth’s natural resources, wood(trees) included.

Common shades of brown used in interiors

• Chestnut (#954535). A reddish-brown shade most commonly used to refer to the color of horse- and human hair, as well as that of the nut itself. A very natural-looking shade of brown, especially for those in America. 
• Walnut (#773F1A). A rich and rather dark shade of brown can sometimes include hints of grey. Walnut is a popular color option for those who are after a more modern and classy look.
• Peanut (#7A4434). The peanut color varies anywhere from light brown to deep red. For wood and coating, it’s usually a lighter shade of brown that’s similar in appearance to fair-skin color and peanut butter.
• Cinnamon (#D2691E). A warm, medium, sometimes even almost-orange shade of brown. A complementary color, which is often the middle ground between tan or beige and chocolate or true brown. 
• Caramel (#FFD59A). A shade of brown that ranges from light to dark and gives off a lustrous and “sweet” vibe. The common depiction of caramel as a color isn’t far from the color of caramel candy. 

• Mocha (#BEA493). A light, warm shade of brown that can also be a lighter shade of orange. Mocha is one of the more popular color choices because of its soothing appearance.
• Coffee (#6F4E37). Coffee actually represents the average of the different colors of roasted coffee beans. It’s much like caramel in terms of the spectrum but is naturally darker and more professional in terms of appearance and ambiance. 
• Pecan (#C1B094). A medium-light shade of brown whose hues usually range from whitish caramel to gold. Pecan is a popular option for those aiming for a timeless and graceful look.
• Putty brown (#CDAE70). A range of shades of brown with a more matte appearance. Putty is actually more of a yellow gradient and is best described as an orange-brown mix.
• Tawny (#CD5700). A brownish-yellow shade is closely associated with the coloration of tanned leather. Tawny can range from being a cool, almost mocha hue, to a warm, near-orange one.

What should you consider when choosing a color to blend with brown?

Because it being a neutral color, you can pretty much mix and match brown with any color. However, some color combinations do play out better than others and can greatly improve both aesthetics and atmosphere.

Interior

Building interiors often have more elements than their exteriors, making it harder to come up with a suitable and complementary color scheme.

To have the best look and feel, consider using different shades of brown and supplementary or synergistic colors (I.E yellow, orange white, etc.) to highlight focal points, such as flooring, furniture, and walls.

Alternatively, go with completely contrasting colors (I.E red, violet, blue, etc.) to make details such as windows, trim, and curtains really ‘Pop!’

Exterior

Exterior elements mainly make a structure stand out even when viewed from a distance. It helps in better identification and improves visibility, especially if you aim to make a structure a landmark.

Depending on the main color of the building/property, you can either go with supplementary colors for the roofing and fences, while having a color contrast for the walls.

You can also just go with different shades that have distinct appearances, like walnut for your roofs and coffee for the walls.  

Colors that go with brown tiles

Going with brown as your flooring option will mean that brown will take up a lot of space and is probably what people will commonly see.

When selecting home decor colors that go with brown tiles, think about other elements that stand out here and go with cream or lighter shades of brown for walls, bedsheets, furniture, basically everything that’s above the floor.

Just don’t go for too much contrast when choosing paint colors that go with brown tile, as that can literally be an eye-sore.

Colors that go with a brown cabinet

If you have brown cabinets, then you can either make them the focal point by changing the color or shade of surrounding elements or turn them into accents that help add just a little bit more variety to a room.

Grey countertops and greyish or cream walls are the best paint colors that go with brown cabinets and really complement them. 

Much better, use a set of the same quality wood for your furniture.

Colors that go with a wooden brown bed

If you have a brown wooden bed, then it’d be best to maintain a more natural aesthetic. Line the room up with pecan or cream trims and curtains, or paint the walls a nice, light shade of coffee.

It’d also be nice to have desks, stools, and even doors the same color as your bed frame, that way they complement each other. Hang a little wood art of the same brown tone as your bed.

Maybe see how acacia or teak wood will work for your taste.

Colors that go with a brown carpet

Brown carpets act mainly as accents. They help provide a break from an otherwise uniform color layout and give a little but much-needed oomph to a room’s overall composition. Beige walls and tawny floors go really well here.

Alternatively, you can also go for contrasting elements, such as orange or red furniture.

Colors that go with brown living room furniture

For the brown living room furniture, you want to make them stand out or serve as breaks for a continuous color scheme so as not to look too uniform and repetitive.

When choosing wall colors that go with brown furniture, going with supplementary and light-contrast colors like white and red will help highlight the color of your furniture more than it does the color of the living room.

Colors that go with brown trim

If, for example, you’re using a dark and rich walnut for your trim, then the best colors for the surrounding surfaces (floors and walls) would be a shade of brown that’s either near or a complete contrast of walnut.

Chestnut or a medium tone of coffee goes rather well here as they help better accentuate the trim.

Colors that go with brown curtain

To help give and maintain a sense of balance, it’s generally a good idea to have other elements in the room be the same color as your curtains.

Say you get pecan curtains, then it’d be more eye-pleasing and seamless to also get pecan carpets/rugs, bedsheets, and table mats.

Colors that go with brown roof

Even without cladding, a smooth and concrete exterior can still pull off a rustic look with the right color combinations. Brown roofs have a very natural feel and make it appear as though the entire building was made of wood.

Darker shades of brown are better for roofs while lighter ones are better for walls. A pretty common color combo is a chocolate roof with mocha walls.

Colors that go with brown fencing

Fencing won’t take up as much visual space, but it does help “dot” and layout property. Generally, your roof color should also be your fence color. This helps accentuate a fence while still maintaining a complementary match.

After all, if you have brown roofs and walls, a blue fence looks pretty out of place, right?

Mixing colors with brown

Brown and grey

Brown and grey are both neutral colors, meaning that they’re easier to pair with other colors regardless of the shade and tone. You may not have noticed, but these two actually blend in together nicely in nature (green treetops and stone pathways).

As interior color options, they achieve the same natural ambiance.

Brown and beige

These two are very close to each other in terms of appearance. So much so that you can sometimes mistake one for the other.

Brown and beige are easier to mix and pair for exterior color options as there are fewer elements to consider (I.E roof/walls).

Together, they give a very classy and soothing atmosphere, making this combination an ideal choice for a resort, library, or study room.

Brown and green

Brown and green give off a very earthy look.

It basically serves as a theme for forests and trees and has a rather calming effect.

For example, a brown bed frame with green pillows and sheets makes it look as if you’ll be sleeping on a pile of leaves. 

Brown and purple

This combination offers a more subtle and professional look.

Since both are generally dark gradients, mixing dark purples with light-to-medium browns creates a strong, quiet vibe.

Purple walls with either brown paneling, furniture, or carpets make for quite a jazzy office space.

Black and brown

It may seem like an odd choice to combine two dark colors but brown and black offer less contrast, but more distinction over the traditional white and black.

Since brown has more shades to choose from, the majority of the space should be brown, such as walls and floors.

Furniture, curtains, and trims can be black and would just pop out. This combination provides a more modern and sleek look while still maintaining a slight natural feel.

Brown and orange

Some shades of brown can appear orange, while some shades of orange can look brown. While it may seem unlikely that they can mix, they can and, if done right, go really well together. Orange walls and floors really have a vibrant aura and help bring a room to life.

Brown furniture, curtains, and other small elements will help maintain a natural feel. The combination is radiant and a little tasty, making it a good option for kitchens and cafe or restaurant layouts. 

Conclusion

As a neutral color, a lot of colors can go well with brown. Though it’s not as mainstream as any of the rainbow colors, it’s surprisingly versatile and flexible, perhaps even more so than plain white.

With various shades and the right combinations, you can achieve several atmospheres with brown, ranging from rustic and lax to professional and modern. These are just one of the things that DIYers can really pull off.

In the end, brown is a timeless color and has a place in any era. Be creative and go all (brown) out!