6 brown colour pairings for a cosy home
Cosy and grounding, brown offers incredible versatility. This new neutral has a nurturing and cocooning quality; it can be dialled up to create a sensuous, indulgent space or toned down for a warm and cosy yet pared-back, unobtrusive look.
With Mocha Mousse as the Pantone Colour of the Year and Elderton as Graham & Brown's must-have hue, brown is set to dominate interiors in 2025. It's timeless enough to suit any space, whether you’re drawn to calming blues, grounding greens, or luxurious metallics.
'This is a very versatile shade; it will coordinate with most colours,' says Paula Taylor, head stylist and trend specialist at Graham & Brown. 'It's inviting and stable, a colour that creates a welcoming partnership with almost all of nature's hues, from sage to terracotta.'
What colour goes with brown?
Studio Dean, an interior design studio, has long used brown as their signature palette, as Cathy Dean, founder and CEO explains: 'It's not at all as dramatic as it sounds, as there are so many tones that you can ease into. Don’t go too stark and try to contrast with brown. Take things slowly and layer up and down through the palette you have selected, it is a colour that likes to be understated and simple. Add in a green for an earthy, nature inspired feeling, opt for a pink for a soft feminine space or a navy if you want something a little more bold.'
In light of Pantone's new 'it' colour, Mocha Mousse, we asked interior design experts to share their top brown colour pairings and we show you how the colours sit together alongside Pantone's 2025 colour palette.
1. Blue and brown: calm and organic
‘We’ve seen a real trend for a light blue and brown pairing, as it creates a really calm and organic feeling to a space,’ says Lucy Steele, paint and interiors expert at V&CO. ‘Using lighter shades of blue, such as Blue/Shade 1, will also make a small room feel more spacious and airier, like a relaxing day at the beach.’
Amy Wilson, interior designer for 247 Blinds, says 'the dustiest of soft blues' will make a striking pairing with chocolate brown, looking both sophisticated and stylish. 'One look at Pinterest will show you how beautiful this palette can be,' says Amy. 'Walls painted in the latest Mocha Mousse with soft dusky blue curtains or blinds at the window would work perfectly. Don’t forget to keep patterns to a minimum with this scheme and let the colour do the talking.'
2. Green and brown: reconnect with nature
The earthy nature of brown perfectly complements natural, organic interiors, so pair with olive or sage green for a serene, cohesive palette. 'Mother nature is the queen of colour, and brown and green could not be a better match,' says Cathy.
Lucy champions soft shades of green, such as Green/Shade 1, to create a calming and peaceful atmosphere. ‘These colours reflect the land, sea, and sky, helping us reconnect with the natural world,' she explains.
Vicky Floros, founder of Vicky Floros Studio, also recommends this colour pairing: ‘Sage green pairs beautifully with brown’s earthy tones. It creates balance and can be enhanced with natural accents like wooden furniture or soft textiles.’
3. Brown with metallics: glamour and depth
Rich earth tones like Mocha Mousse call for the warmth of aged metals, says Mark Harper, senior designer from Joseph Giles. 'Opt for antique brass or brushed gold to emphasise the natural, organic feel of these hues.'
‘My favourite thing to do is add metallic finishes to a brown interior,’ adds Vicky. ‘Think bronzed light fixtures, antique gold-framed mirrors, and sculptural floor lamps. These elements elevate the look and give the space a modern edge.’
4. Pink and brown: warm and uplifting
Pairing a soft pink with brown will uplift the mood and brighten a room. 'Pink instills feelings of love and kindness, making it ideal for creating welcoming spaces,' says Lucy.
Cathy suggests a 'dirty, muddy pink' (similar to Benjamin Moore’s Muddy York) as the perfect colour pairing with brown. 'Think outside of it being a wall colour, select the pink just as a throw, an object (think oversized battered stoneware with a matt pink distressed finish), or perhaps just use those tones in artwork in the room.'
5. Black and brown: bold and dramatic
Cathy explains how she uses this colour combination when designing rooms: 'A little more controversial and less obvious is a brown and black combination; we love it! I love to bring in drama to a room, light and dark combining together to give the space depth is something we bring to all projects. Feel free to try it, pick a brown undertoned black like Benjamin Moore Black Beauty for the walls and then choose a tan leather chair to sit in front of it, it's the perfect backdrop!'
6. Neutrals and brown: earthy and timeless
Pair chocolate brown with more neutral colours such as caramels, taupes, beiges, creams or whites to create a harmonious look and a living space that feels soothing and uncluttered. 'Pick a palette of tones of brown, you’ll need four or five shades going from light to dark,' says Cathy.
'Think about the floor, sofa, worktops etc. Keep the main features neutral and scatter the deeper tones into the mix. Paint the walls taupe, greige, or even cream if the others still feel too dark for you, bring in brown furniture, add wood, cushions, linen curtains in a taupe tone – all of these elements layer together so well. Try to get small samples of each of these things and place them all together before you hit the shops and get going. It will pay dividends to know where you are going and how much brown you can handle before you start.'
Brown paints to get you started
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