The world looks fabulous wrapped in the colors of fall. And at the base of this beautiful bouquet of radiant color is brown. Earthy, warm, soothing and satisfying, brown encourages us to slow down and snuggle in. And eat hot, buttery popcorn. Or, is that just me? But, I digress. Here are my favorite ways to work this dramatic but undemanding neutral into your home decor.
1. Pair Brown with Lighter, Brighter Colors
A few years ago, brown was da bomb. So much so, that we saw people going overboard with this dramatic neutral. Folks were washing their homes from ceiling to floor in brown. Before long, customers came into Nell Hill’s looking for a way to let the light into their overly cozy cocoons.
It didn’t take much to make the Brown Houses, as we began to call them, more visually appealing. The trick? Pair brown with lighter, brighter colors. In the photo above, we created a palette that is perfect for a living room, dining room or bedding ensemble using fabrics featuring browns, creams and pops of warm reds. Switch the red for navy and you have the same stately look.
Brown also looks great mixed with brighter, bolder accent colors. In this mix of fabrics, we added in a liberal amount of cream, then threaded in a bit of sage and celadon. I also love turquoise, apple green, fuchsia (any pink, actually), orange and yellow with brown.
2. Bring Brown Alive through Pattern
There are lots and lots of shades of brown in this bedroom grouping at Nell Hill’s Briarcliff. The secret to keeping a focused palette interesting and alive is to swirl the colors together with lots of different patterns. The buffalo check in brown and cream sets the stage here.
This dreamy living room suite at Nell Hill’s Briarcliff found the perfect fulcrum between brown and blue. It’s soft and stately, yet livable and warm. The mix of patterns in the furnishings is the key to success.
Brown doesn’t have to be traditional. This adorable chair, with its sparky brown dot and transitional silhouette, is an energetic shout-out to brown’s younger, fresher persona.
3. Use Brown to Spotlight Lighter Accents and Artwork
Great artwork can get lost on a light colored wall if you are not careful. But when you hang lighter pieces against a moody, dark canvass of brown, holy smokes! It pops!
In my friend Cynthia’s cottage, the light cream trim keeps the dark walls from feeling heavy or dull. And, wow, does it look great with her casual dining room furnishings. The brown is content to recede into the background and let the individual elements in this room shine.
4. Add Brown to Make Spaces Soothing
Warm and wonderful, the brown pillows on this comfy cream sofa look ready for your Sunday nap.
My top 10 list of decorating faves? A pair of brown leather winged back chairs flanking a fireplace. Be still my beating heart! The light stone fireplace, blue walls and plump plaid pillows keep these chairs from feeling too dark. All this serene setting needs is you, a cup of tea and a good book.
Here’s that same soft, soothing watch plaid on a chair. Love it!
5. Pair Brown with Earthy Accents
The color of bark and soil and fall leaves, brown is a natural when paired with earthy accents. My friend Jean made her covered porch an ode to nature’s rugged side by furnishing her space in brown wicker chairs and irresistible textiles in a mix of browns.
This rustic wood table is a perfect partner to the chairs in this room, celebrating brown in all its many shades and finishes.
Next Week … It’s time to begin cozying up your home for winter. I’ll have three simple tricks to get your home snuggle ready before the first snow falls.
Spring Open House 2020 Recap
Make Sense Out of Scents: Incorporating Fragrance Into Your Home Design
It’s Easy Being Green
The Art of the Vignette
Doris wilson says
October 20, 2014 at 10:14 amDo you have these fabrics in stock,especially the fabric the good pillows are made from? Also, could you also use these fabrics and add a touch of black?
Doris wilson says
October 20, 2014 at 10:14 amOops! My hat should have said “gold” pillows!
Gerri Thomas says
October 20, 2014 at 2:19 pmI am looking for wicker-like furniture for a screened in porch. Do you carry it?
Beulah Hendrix says
October 20, 2014 at 3:17 pmI Love these decorating tips, cool air and the warmth of these posts and tips are fabulous.
Makes me want to add some more warm colors.
Thanks for always keeping these hints out there for us.
Nancy Burns says
October 20, 2014 at 3:53 pmI love all your decorating tips but all you are showing colors with white trim. I live in 100 year old house which has all oak wood. I need help with putting color on the wall that will make my woodwork pop.
Mary Carol says
October 20, 2014 at 5:20 pmHello! Thanks so much for your comments, you guys. Let me answer a few of your questions …
Doris, yes, the fabric on the pillows shown in my blog is available at Nell Hill’s Braircliff. We sell lots and lots of different fabrics by the yard. Give us a call at 877-7446-4320 for more info.
Gerri, we carry wicker furniture, but it’s not weatherproofed for outdoor.
Beulah, thanks!
Nancy, your home sounds lovely. If you want your trim to pop, you will need to paint your walls a contrasting color.
Kate Thompson says
October 20, 2014 at 5:59 pmCan you give me a range of what the winged chairs in your blog pictures run? I’m in Dallas but have travelled to your store often as my daughter attends William Jewell. I remember liking these quite a bit. I can understand that the price might depend on the fabric chosen, so a price range is fine. Also, what is your turnaround time? Thanks!
Karen Riggs says
October 20, 2014 at 7:27 pmIn the sixth picture, the chairs with the beautiful blue and brown floral and fauna fabric, do you sell that by the yard by any chance?
Thank you so much!
MSH says
October 20, 2014 at 7:31 pmThis post made me say ahhhh. As in ahhh at peace and so comfy and cozy. Absolutely LOVE the brown – tone on tones – with the beautiful green accent fabric & gorgeous bright blue jars. Makes me so very happy!!!
franki says
October 20, 2014 at 8:43 pmMy husband is the “brown lover” in our family….so, our lower level (tv area) is all about the brown leather chair, sofa, hassock…and then mine…the burgundy and light aqua…we make it work. 🙂 franki
Diana says
October 21, 2014 at 8:16 amWhat is the name of the paint color in the brown dining room?
Gloria Williams says
October 21, 2014 at 4:48 pmLove it! All of it, as usual. I bought some dupoini silk draperies at Nell Hills and have been toying with what to use for accents. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas. I never get tired of brown.
It always looks rich, and you have wonderful ideas to make it even more so.
Mary Carol says
October 22, 2014 at 11:23 amHi Kate and Karen, I would love you two to call the store and we can give you the up-to-the minute answers to your questions. Things change daily around here – like fabrics in stock and turnaround time on custom orders, so I don’t want to tell you wrong. You can reach us at 877-746-4320.
Franki, marital bliss is all about compromise, isn’t it?
Diana, the brown paint is Molasses from my Mary Carol Custom Paint line. Call us for details, OK?
mimi tafour says
October 22, 2014 at 2:39 pmFor many years I have wanted to buy a nice leather chair for my husband in honor of one of his many achievements. It has yet to happen for various reasons…not enough money saved, emergencies and non-emergencies that use up the chair kitty, can’t find one I like or not in my budget. I’m not a great fan of the “recliner” which I know he would prefer. Everyone says buy a pair….when I am trying to afford one. Question: the leather chairs you feature….are they recliners or chairs with ottomans? what is the price for the chair pictured? do you have other styles of leather chairs/recliners that can be ordered WHEN I have the money to purchase? I know that all leather chairs are not created equally and I feel confident in your advice and merchadise. If you could only afford one leather chair, what style, color, size, features would you choose? from one of your biggist fans with one of the smallest pocketbooks 🙂
Nancy West says
October 22, 2014 at 3:54 pmIs the brown and cream buffalo check comforter or duvet a custom piece or is it available to order. It is gorgeous! So is the whole bedroom!
Mary Carol says
October 22, 2014 at 7:56 pmHi Mimi — these are all great questions, and more than I can answer here. Can you please give us a call at the store and we can talk through your question? 877-746-4320. Talk to you soon!
Nancy, yes, everything on the beds is for sale 🙂 If that comforter is sold, we can make another for you, no problem. Or, you could pick out other fabrics from the huge selection in our fabric room. Give us a call or come on by our Briarcliff store!
Nancy West says
October 25, 2014 at 3:20 pmI just enjoyed to 2 new friends at Nell Hill’s! They were both very helpful. Hope I can order something soon!