How to Decorate With the Color Brown

A good interior designer understands how to pair colors well together, but they also have the dynamic skillset of making their color choices tell a story about the space they are designing. Using color is a powerful tool in design because they evoke certain emotions in people. In this article, I will dive into the color brown and show you how you can incorporate this hue into your fall design plans at home.

Before we officially get to the "good stuff," it's essential for you to have a little background about the color brown. I'm a huge advocate for doing your homework to understand how your design choices affect your space. According to Color Psychology, colors can have both positive and negative associations. On a positive note, brown appears to be a solid earthy color associated with resilience, dependability, security, and safety. While on the other hand, brown can also possibly trigger feelings of loneliness, sadness, and isolation, and in large quantities, can be viewed as dull or devoid of life, like a desert. Therefore, understanding how to use this powerful color in your designs and color palettes can make or break your design experience.

Here are three ways to positively incorporate brown into your fall design schemes this season.

Don't be afraid to use different shades of brown in the same design.

Mixing tones of brown in your designs, especially brown-colored woodwork, can feel complicated—but if you master it, you can have fantastic results. One way to do this effectively is by limiting your choices to three dominant brown color shades in your color palette and then incorporating those three brown colors throughout the entire design of your home to create a cohesive design. If you feel adventurous this fall, you can pair your three shades of brown with a fourth color. If you go this route, I recommend pairing your brown trio with cream, yellow, sage, or terracotta colors.

Pieces of decor that work well with this design concept are throw pillows, core furniture pieces, artwork, or drapery.

Think about incorporating patterns and accent pieces into your design.

Brown can still be the star player in your design without taking up the entire space. One creative way to add brown to your designs is by using the color brown as an accent color. You can do this by using patterns or by adding brown accent pieces. Patterned throw pillows, rugs, throw blankets, rattan furniture pieces, and tapestries work well for this concept. Remember, using too much brown can evoke negative feelings, so try using it sparingly in spaces; this will help avoid potentially negative emotions while still allowing the color brown to bring about feelings of comfort and sophistication.

Allow nature to create harmony in your design.

There is no denying that brown is a crucial color for bringing nature-based elements into your designs. When paired with other colors, browns can bring out the best of nature's calming effects. Blue is an excellent color to combine with brown because of the earth-water harmony. Some creative ways to bring natural brown elements into designs include adding pampas grass into vases, wreaths made of wood that feature greenery or light florals, dried flowers, or large live plants.

Now that you have my three tips on how to design using the color brown this fall, you'll be able to create the ultimate autumnal space you've been dreaming up.