May 11, 20222 min read

The Colour Edit | Brown Interior Design

From catwalks to living rooms, brown has made quite a dramatic entrance this season. As someone who has always loved the earthy and calming aura of brown, I never really understood the hatred towards it. Brown has always been teeming with potential from the natural tones of khaki, to the calming and summery vibes of sepia, and to the dark indulgence of chocolate and coffee. But how do we design with brown?

Colour palettes and design styles have been warming up slightly in the last couple of years. With styles like Japandi and Warm Scandi taking center stage, it’s no surprise that brown is enjoying a revival. All-white-everything: white couches, white walls, white accents, white floors etc are beautiful, stunning and a definite statement piece. But after a decade of living in monochrome heaven people are shifting to something different yet not too drastically different. This is where brown makes her entrance, a warm and comforting neutral which is as impactful as a statement colour as it is as a subtle and pared down neutral.

Ruth Mottershead, the Creative Director at Little Greene, emphasizes: 'It's not just warm neutrals that create a sense of calm and comfort; darker shades have a soothing quality too. Sumptuous, deep brown colors provide a luxurious, nurturing feel, emulating a sense of intimacy and creating a sanctuary. Using deep, dark shades in living spaces creates a dramatic, intimate, and cocooning feel. Dark colors like 'Elysian Ground' and' Scullery' make a real statement when used all-over, as they have an innate warmth that creates a space inviting and enveloping without feeling heavy and imposing.'

Just like with any other colour, brown takes planning and a bit of playing around with to strike the right balance. For a colour as luscious and complex as a brown, the temptation to overindulge is overpowering. And there is such a thing as too much of one colour and so restraint is an art that must be mastered when working with this colour.

When it comes to colour combinations, the first thing that comes to mind is brown and green. When looking for inspiration where better to look than at nature right and this combination is nurturing and grounding. This is a classical combination which evokes the sense of calmness and beauty of the natural world. Carrying on from the green, blue is often paired with brown as well as yellow and pink.

A new colour can be daunting but there is no need to be afraid of stepping into the world of brown. Take a look below for some stunning examples on how to design with brown.