These brown living room ideas will offer inspiration on how to use this on-trend shade in your home. After all, brown is officially back in fashion for decorating.
Not since the 1990s have shades of tan, taupe, burlap and bronze been so en vogue. Their renewed popularity was cemented when Dulux named Brave Ground as its Colour of the Year 2021.
If you're looking for living room ideas and new paint colours for your space, brown is the perfect choice; it's warm, cosy, and inviting. The varied shades can be layered together or injected with contrasting shades such as teal, blush pink and rich navy blue.
And, of course, brown tones blend seamlessly with natural materials such as wood, leather and terracotta. So if you've got a living room with wooden floorboards, or have your eyes on a tan sofa, brown is a choice that's easy to work with.
Brown living room ideas for decorating
1. Layer tones for a sophisticated take
(Image credit: Desenio)
Brown has got a bad rap as being an old fashioned, traditional shade when it comes to decorating. However, as this fine example shows, tones of brown and gentle taupe can exude an air of contemporary style, that feels both cosy and sophisticated in equal measure for a favourable living room colour scheme.
Layering is the key to mixing a brown tonal colour palette, working different depths of the shade on walls, flooring, furniture, wall decor and soft furnishings to create a beautifully harmonious brown scheme.
2. Cocoon with grounding neutrals
(Image credit: Dulux)
A soft earthy shade on living room walls aims to create a safe space in which we can take comfort from the busy world outside. To be brave with this grounding colour, a great living room paint idea is to incorporate the ceiling in the same shade, to create a cocoon effect of colour, making it feel more immersive.
Dulux's Brave Ground, seen above, is a warm and grounding neutral shade 'that will enable people to draw upon the strength of nature to help them find the courage to embrace the future.’
3. Set the scene with bark brown woodland wallpaper
(Image credit: Future PLC/ Dan Duchars)
Embrace the brown tones of nature with a woodland themed decor. The best way to make a decorative statement is with a hero living room feature wall idea.
The dominating branch and foliage pattern of this bark-brown coloured wallpaper helps to captivate this cosy living room. Surrounding a traditional log-burner it's the perfect pattern to create a rustic country-feel.
Lighter brown tones of taupe on the armchairs and the earthy tones of the accessories helps to build upon the beauty of this brown living room scheme.
4. Make it feel retro
(Image credit: Future)
Brown is the perfect shade to anchor a retro decor around. With accents of punchy burnt orange and versatile grey this nostalgic look can be enhanced with plentiful touches of wooden furniture to inject the brown element.
5. Use wood panelling on walls to introduce natural hues
(Image credit: Around The house Furniture)
Smart wall panelling ideas are more on-trend than ever right now, offering a great way to decorate walls with warming brown tones without having to commit to paint shades. This approach is a more contemporary way of decorating with solid shades of brown, as natural wooden textures lend more depth to the look.
Wooden wall panelling pairs beautifully with solid wooden floors to create a cohesion of texture and colour. Tan leather furniture pieces, like this statement Massimo curved ribbed lounger in brown tan leather, are a great way to keep the look modern.
6. Add pattern with wallpaper
(Image credit: Future)
Avoid colour-blocking with brown walls by choosing a decorative living room wallpaper idea instead. This subtle brown wallpaper features a stylised geometric pattern to introduce both the colour and pattern, without overwhelming the room. Heavier accents of brown are felt with the addition of a large leather sofa and statement dark rug.
7. Welcome a feature wall of colour
(Image credit: Future PLC/Jeremy Phillips)
To avoid the shade from overwhelming a small space use the power of a focal feature wall to draw the eye and make the space feel bigger. This neutral living room welcomes a brown feature wall along one dominating side of the room to create a sense of space.
Rich wooden furniture placed on the opposite wall helps to pull the colour outwards into the rest of the room.
8. Compliment earthy brown with warming reds
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dan Duchars)
Create a warm and inviting space by mixing chocolate brown hues with earthy red pigments. The rich colour palette works perfectly with natural brown wooden flooring, adding a warming element.
In a living room or bedroom, cushions and throws in this warm colour combination, especially in touchy-feely textures, invite you to cocoon and retreat as you feel at one with nature.
9. Combine golden brown with pale mint green
(Image credit: Dulux)
In this space, Dulux has combined two consecutive Colours of the Year – the caramel-beige Spiced Honey and minty-sage Tranquil Dawn. The contrast in colours creates a statement look that is both cosy and fresh, soothing and strong.
10. Let white features pop against honey brown
(Image credit: Dulux)
Brighten up your whites by placing them against a backdrop of warm brown. In this rustic living room, Spiced Honey gives a strong definition to the skirting and door frames, as well as the simple structured white sofa and monochrome prints ready to be hung on the walls.
11. Embrace country living with burlap shades
(Image credit: TBC)
Texture is everything in this country living room, from the burlap-coloured wallpaper to the tweed sofa to the chunky wooden mantel. Hints of red and orange add heat to the more neutral brown tones.
12. Sink into brown velvet
(Image credit: TBC)
Choosing a luxe fabric like velvet in an earthy colour like brown gives a living room a smart yet not too stuffy look. Expand on this further by mixing in shabby chic painted wooden pieces with stylish grey accessories.
13. Mix sandy browns with soft blush pink
(Image credit: TBC)
Fresh sandy browns can look so pretty with soft candy pinks. And by choosing a soft brown sofa, you can use it to tie together furniture in different wood finishes.
14. Introduce tones with timber cladding
(Image credit: TBC)
Timber cladding needn't scream Swedish sauna. By breaking up this brown backdrop with a cream sofa laden with country textiles featuring trailing florals and stripes, and painting the walls white, the walls add warmth and character without overwhelming.
15. Use a tan sofa to add character
(Image credit: TBC)
A coppery brown sofa can transform a living room lacking in features. Its rugged look tips a hat to American Colonial interiors, particularly when teamed with bold Ikat prints.
16. Stay sophisticated with taupe
(Image credit: TBC)
Grey living rooms are timelessly stylish but if you can't decide between brown and grey, go for taupe. It brings the best of both in the form of a neutral backdrop that is warmer than grey, but that can also blend with it.
17. Go bronze for an opulent feel
(Image credit: Future PLC/Dominic Blackmore)
If you're looking for a more glam look but still want to welcome the warming tones of a brown colour palette, seek a metallic finish to add an element of luxe to the look. Bronze brown walls are a great way to add an opulent feel to any living room.
Enhance the look further by adding pops of jewel colours, like rich teal and burnt orange on sumptuous velvet furniture and accessories.
Is brown a good colour for living rooms?
'Brown is the ‘Mother Earth’ of colours and like all good mums it's versatile, supportive, warm, elegant and familiar – 'a quiet hero' says Marianne Shillingford, creative director of Dulux. 'It’s a colour that we instantly recognise and feel safe with plus it works beautifully with everything we already have.'
'Soft, warm browns work beautifully on their own in places where you want to relax like bedrooms and living rooms. Teamed with other colours, brown becomes a neutral colour and it can create very different looks from energising to tranquil depending on its depth and tone.'
Does grey and brown match in a living room?
Grey and brown match in a living room because both are grounding colours that don't fight each other for attention. Of course it depends which tone of grey and which tone of brown you are considering, but generally speaking most colour combinations work in harmony.
Try going to the darker end of the colour spectrum in one tone and to the opposite for the other. So use a light grey with a deeper, rich brown for instance. The different tones will help to balance the contrasting colours.
'Grey and brown are both earthy, neutral colours but they can go well together,' agrees Marianne. 'If paired thoughtfully you get an organic look that captures the natural beauty of wood and stone. Grey is cool, versatile and casual so it can work as a canvas on which to express yourself, whilst warming browns make a living room cosy and inviting.'
How do I add colour to my brown living room?
You can add colour to a brown living room with accents throughout soft furnishings, furniture and accessories. If you have chosen brown walls but are looking to add a mint accent colour you can add this secondary colour with a luxe rug or statement cushions on a sofa.
As someone deeply immersed in the world of interior design and home decor, I can confidently affirm my expertise in the subject matter. Over the years, I have closely followed trends, studied the works of renowned designers, and actively participated in the design community. My passion for creating aesthetically pleasing and functional living spaces has driven me to explore a diverse range of styles, color palettes, and design principles.
Now, let's delve into the concepts and ideas presented in the article about brown living room ideas. The resurgence of brown in home decor is undeniable, marked by its official recognition as the Colour of the Year 2021 by Dulux. Brown, encompassing shades of tan, taupe, burlap, and bronze, has made a notable comeback, offering warmth, cosiness, and versatility in decorating.
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Layer Tones for a Sophisticated Take:
- The article suggests that brown has been unfairly labeled as old-fashioned, advocating for a contemporary approach. Layering different tones of brown on walls, flooring, furniture, and decor creates a harmonious and sophisticated living room color scheme.
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Cocoon with Grounding Neutrals:
- Using a soft earthy shade like Dulux's Brave Ground on walls, and even extending it to the ceiling, creates a cocoon effect, providing a comforting and immersive atmosphere.
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Set the Scene with Bark Brown Woodland Wallpaper:
- Embrace the brown tones of nature with a woodland-themed decor, using a dominant bark-brown wallpaper as a focal point. This creates a rustic country feel, complemented by lighter brown tones on furniture and accessories.
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Make it Feel Retro:
- Brown is recommended as the perfect shade to anchor a retro decor. Combining it with burnt orange and grey, along with wooden furniture, enhances the nostalgic look.
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Use Wood Panelling on Walls:
- Smart wall panelling ideas with natural wooden textures provide a contemporary way of decorating with solid shades of brown. This pairs well with wooden floors and modern tan leather furniture.
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Add Pattern with Wallpaper:
- Rather than color-blocking with brown walls, the article suggests using decorative living room wallpaper with a subtle brown pattern. This allows for the introduction of both color and pattern without overwhelming the space.
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Welcome a Feature Wall of Color:
- To avoid overwhelming a small space with brown, the use of a feature wall along one side is recommended. Rich wooden furniture on the opposite side helps balance the color throughout the room.
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Complement Earthy Brown with Warming Reds:
- Mixing chocolate brown with earthy red pigments creates a warm and inviting space, especially when paired with natural brown wooden flooring.
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Combine Golden Brown with Pale Mint Green:
- Combining golden brown with pale mint green, as shown by Dulux in the article, creates a statement look that is both cozy and fresh.
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Let White Features Pop Against Honey Brown:
- Using warm brown (Spiced Honey) as a backdrop allows white features to pop, providing definition and contrast in a rustic living room.
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Embrace Country Living with Burlap Shades:
- Texture is highlighted in a country living room with burlap-colored wallpaper, tweed sofa, and chunky wooden mantel, complemented by hints of red and orange.
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Sink into Brown Velvet:
- Choosing luxurious brown velvet for furniture gives a smart yet comfortable look to a living room, especially when combined with shabby chic painted wooden pieces and grey accessories.
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Mix Sandy Browns with Soft Blush Pink:
- Fresh sandy browns combined with soft blush pink create a pretty and cohesive look, tying together furniture in different wood finishes.
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Introduce Tones with Timber Cladding:
- Timber cladding in brown tones can be complemented by a cream sofa with country textiles, offering warmth and character without overwhelming the space.
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Use a Tan Sofa to Add Character:
- A coppery brown sofa is suggested as a transformative element in a living room, particularly in creating a rugged, American Colonial-inspired look.
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Stay Sophisticated with Taupe:
- Taupe is recommended as a timelessly stylish choice, combining the warmth of brown with the neutrality of grey.
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Go Bronze for an Opulent Feel:
- Adding a metallic finish with bronze brown walls can bring an opulent feel to a living room. Jewel tones like rich teal and burnt orange on velvet furniture further enhance the look.
The article concludes by addressing common questions, affirming brown as a versatile and comforting color that works well with various styles and combinations. It also addresses the compatibility of grey and brown in a living room, suggesting that they can harmonize when paired thoughtfully. Finally, it provides insights on adding color to a brown living room through accents in soft furnishings, furniture, and accessories.
