What Colours Go With Brown?

If you're serious about interior design, you need to be open to exploring new colour combinations. You might not have thought about adding brown to your colour palette, but brown tones can beautify with very little effort. 

Chocolate brown shades bring a level of luxury to an interior, while a more neutral shade will evoke feelings of nature. These earthy hues can be used alongside greens and organic materials to enhance the appearance of wooden furniture and indoor plants. 

However, brown walls can also serve as the perfect backdrop to a more sophisticated style makeover. With a light tan or cool brown, you have a refined blank canvas that can be used to create a standout space. If you want to introduce jewel tones and metallic accents into the mix, use warm browns as your base. 

Wondering what colour goes with brown? While pairing brown with complementary colours can be a little tricky, there's no shortage of options. At Tikkurila, you'll find just about every colour brown going. What's more, we've got plenty of breathtaking accent colours for you to discover as well. 

The Range of Brown Paint Colours

Light browns like tan are the way to go if you're looking to liven up your interiors. Alternatively, use a cool brown that's underscored with hints of pale blue or grey. All of these can be used in place of a standard neutral. 

Searching for a bright and vivacious shade of brown? Go with something that's bolstered with yellow undertones. This sunny base makes for a rich shade of brown that's not lacking in vibrancy. 

If you want darker shades with more intensity, choose a brown with reddish undertones. A dark brown like maroon or umber will make a fine addition to more social spaces, such as dining areas or family living rooms. 

What Goes With Brown?

If you're a fan of earthy hues, you don't have to resign yourself to adding brown accents to a neutral space. In fact, using brown as a primary colour is easier than you think. 

Pinks are particularly effective when used alongside brown. They're a great choice for more elegant interiors like master bedrooms or grand reception rooms. Dusky pinks are a favourite with many, but more vibrant hues can be used to bring out the warmth of darker brown tones. 

Looking for an effortless colour combination? Pair your go-to brown with something like sage green. Both of these colour families evoke feelings of the great outdoors, making them ideal if you want an interior that celebrates nature. 

Red is another dream pairing with brown. Many brown and red paint colours tend to be fairly complex and often share warm undertones. If you're decorating a space that you use for entertaining, this heated colour pairing is an ideal addition to your palette. 

Blue and brown might not seem like the best pairing, but these two shades can produce stunning results when used alongside each other. They create classic contrast, but you'll need to be highly selective when picking out paint colours. 

Bright shades like orange and yellow are also something to think about. With their warm undertones, they'll easily turn up the heat in a brown-infused interior. If you want to create a more relaxing space, stick with saturated yellows or golden hues. 

Off-Whites

When in doubt, it's all too tempting to reach for a tin of crisp white. While this pure shade works nicely alongside earthy paint colours and brown furniture, it's not the most inspiring choice. Instead, think about using off-white. 

When in doubt, it's all too tempting to reach for a tin of crisp white. While this pure shade works nicely alongside earthy paint colours and brown furniture, it's not the most inspiring choice. Instead, think about using off-white. 

A rich brown like Wilderness N462 will make a statement in any room, but you'll need a versatile off-white to alongside it. Use Arctic Fox S503 to bring your room together. This warm off-white has a hint of yellow, bringing vibrancy to your colour scheme. 

Forest Greens

A green and brown colour scheme will always prove successful. It can transform any room into a tranquil escape from everyday life. 

For a more subtle take on this classic colour pairing, start with an earthy brown like Driftwood V484. Its brown pigment plays nicely with leafy hues, while grey undertones mean you introduce all manner of decorative accents. 

Choose a more low-key green if you're using this colour to paint your walls. Fjord M442 works well, with its misty quality making it a welcome addition to living spaces, bedrooms, and offices alike. 

Just because you're taking your inspiration from nature, doesn't mean you can't go bold with your design plans. A vivid green like Basilica M384 will bring dynamic energy to your rooms, while working nicely with hardwood floors and brown cabinets. 

Because it's a fairly intense green, you don't have to hold back when selecting a brown. A deep umber like Sacher L462 is a great pick, with its warm undertones creating a more relaxing atmosphere. 

Yellows

Brown might be a sophisticated choice, but sometimes those paler shades need a little help to shine. A splash of yellow is an effective way of bringing out the innate warmth and vibrancy of your favourite brown shade. 

Think about using a rich chocolate brown like Alexandrite N464 if you're out to impress. It will work as an all-wall colour in smaller spaces, but can also be used to accentuate feature walls. 

Gardenia F309 will bring some essential balance to a room decked out in richer brown shades. In fact, you can use this in place of classic white for all those little finishing touches.

Even a medium brown like Shiitake N484 can benefit from an uplift with the right yellow shade. If you're using a more reserved brown shade, pair it with a creamy yellow like Eggnog Y308.

Blues

Ready to embrace some contrast? A hint of navy blue alongside an intense brown creates a visually inspiring space. A contrasting scheme is a great choice for home offices, but can also be used to produce one-of-a-kind living spaces. 

Looking for a rich shade of brown that's bound to turn heads? Use Wilderness N462. It might be an intense choice, but you can dial things down by saving it for architectural details. 

A light blue will bring some balance to this eye-catching shade. With its blue and grey undertones, Prince G490 pairs beautifully with anything from the brown colour family. 

Thinking about using a more refined brown? Driftwood V484 won't disappoint thanks to its earthy character and grey undertones. However, you'll want to use a more dramatic blue alongside this one. 

Indigo L429 fits the bill nicely. Deep and packed with inky character, it's a go-to hue for adding colour to recesses, display backdrops and unusual architectural details.