Colour notes: decorating with brown shades

Brown is the new grey!

When I decorated my current home a few years ago, I was all about the cool greys with crisp whites and black accents. In the last year I’ve really been drawn to the brown/beige spectrum. I recently discovered that it’s not just me feeling drawn to these tones but shades of brown have become a big interior trend this year.

Trends are never something I follow, but I think the reason these shades are becoming so popular is because they’re still very much neutrals that also have the ability to make a room look so warm and cosy. And with all the time we’ve spent at home recently, I’m sure everyone wants to make their home cosier. While grey will never go out of style, sometimes we crave warm neutrals that create an instant feeling of cosiness and shades of brown do just that.

When I say brown, I mean a wide range of hues on the brown spectrum. Think pale beiges, smooth caramels, deep beiges, pinky-browns and even terracotta-browns. Whether you’re in to lighter shades or darker shades, there is a warm neutral shade on the brown spectrum for you.

Having said that, it’s important to remember that there are beautiful browns and then there are those that aren’t as pretty. Basically not all browns are equal and so decorating with brown colours can get tricky. I mean when you think of a brown room, you don’t always have the most beautiful image in your mind. But done right, brown spaces can be warm, inviting and aesthetically pleasing. You’ll know exactly what I mean from all the pictures.

Some tips for decorating with brown

1. before you pick a shade of brown, know what colour undertone you want (this can vary hugely – you can read more about how to choose paint colours)
2. to keep the look neutral and cohesive, stick to one or two shades of brown with the same undertone.
3. check the undertones of the wood in the room (e.g. wooden flooring) and stick to the same undertones
4. avoid any flat, dirty browns (you’ll know one when you see one)
5. add some white/off white in to the mix as it works so well with browns
6. if in doubt, err towards light browns like beiges and sandy tones rather than deep dark colours
7. brown decor doesn’t just mean walls – think things like sofas, rugs, curtains, cushions and throws

As you can see from all the pictures, there are so many different shades of brown. From the palest of beiges with grey undertones to deep browns with reddish undertones. When picking a brown, the most important thing is to know what undertone you want and test it in your space. If you hate red, the last thing you want is a brown paint that ends up looking red in your home!

Are you tempted to try decorating with brown shades?