Trending: Brown Interiors Are Back

Like many of us who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, I’ve got a complicated relationship with brown interiors. Images of shapeless microfiber sofas and our first kitchen reno come to mind but fast forward to 2022, and shades of brown are back in a completely new way. The revival of this earthy hue coincides with the larger shift towards moodier spaces, and everyone from interior designers to celebrity influencers are getting on board. From rich chocolate to warm chestnut, these are my favorite brown interiors broken down into wall color, curtains, flooring, and upholstery.

trending: brown interiors

Chocolate brown wall color via Moore House Design

Design: Moore House Design | Photography: Erin Little

Chocolate brown fireplace and wall color, design by Heidi Caillier Design 

Design: Heidi Caillier Design | Photography: Haris Kenjar

Chocolate brown cabinetry, design by Ashley Montgomery Design

Design: Ashley Montgomery Design, Photography: Lauren Miller

Dark brown plaster wall in powder room, design by Christina Cole

Design: Christina Cole | Photography: Shade Degges Photography

Moody chocolate brown wall color in the bedroom, design by Chris Loves Julia

Design: Chris Loves Julia

Brown Interiors: Wall Color

Neutrals are nothing new to the design scene, but it’s rich shades of chocolate brown wall color that are really commanding attention. We’ve seen charcoal gray and even black applied in a similar way, but there’s something about the warmth of a brown-painted room that brings a lot of depth and character. And it doesn’t hurt that dark brown plays particularly well with taupe, terracotta, and other likeminded neutrals. Here are a few brown paint color suggestions to get the look:

London Clay by Farrow & Ball

Mississippi Mud by Benjamin Moore

Black Fox by Sherwin-Williams

Tanner’s Brown by Farrow & Ball

Coffee Date by Clare

Forest Floor by Portola Paints

More to Read: 25 Paint Colors Designers Love

Brown linen curtains, design by Hoedemaker Pfeiffer

Design: Hoedemaker Pfeiffer | Photography: Haris Kenjar

Brown curtains in the dining room, design by Katie Hodges Design

Design: Katie Hodges Design, Photography: Haris Kenjar

Brown Interiors: Curtains

I’m a firm believer that a room never really feels complete until the windows are fully dressed. And while I once wrote off brown in favor of airy whites, I’m definitely ready to reconsider. Not only do brown curtains really bring richness to a space, but they pair beautifully against black curtain rods and hardware. The arbitrary rule to never mix brown and black is finally a thing of the past.

Dark brown bathroom vanity, design by Park & Oak

Design: Park & Oak

Dark wood tones in kitchen, design by Heidi Caillier Design

Design: Heidi Caillier Design | Photography: Haris Kenjar

Brown Interiors: Flooring

Blonde wood and white oak have long been the darlings of the flooring world, but there’s a noticeable movement towards dark brown tones from hardwoods to floor tile. And while I’m seeing this play out quite a bit in kitchens and main floor hardwoods, it’s also spilling over into bathroom design. Park & Oak‘s use of dark brown floor tile is particularly striking with contrasting white grout for a heightened effect. 

Dark brown chair, design by Katie Hodges Design

Design: Katie Hodges Design, Photography: Haris Kenjar

Velvet brown chairs in the living room, design by Amber Interiors

Design: Amber Interiors, Photography: Shade Degges Photography

Oversized brown sectional, design by Jake Arnold

Design: Jake Arnold, Photography: Michael P. H. Clifford

Brown Interiors: Upholstery

I know the general concept of brown furniture can feel dated, but I’m genuinely excited to see how designers are bringing back the look with their own fresh take. I’ve seen brown upholstery show up in the work of everyone from Amber Lewis to Jake Arnold, and it really sets the scene for a calming, grounded environment. I personally love a deep brown velvet side chair, but the options are pretty endless.

GET THE LOOK


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For more interior design inspiration, have a look at these posts:

IDCO Studio is a boutique creative agency specialized in beautiful and unique marketing solutions for interior designers. Focused on branding, web design and Instagram marketing, IDCO Studio is a woman owned and operated team of creatives based in Austin, Texas. The Identité Collective, which began as a business blog quickly grew into a collaborative community focused on providing business strategy and visual inspiration to the interior design community.

Now you can find our shop of resources, templates and custom branding and web design work over at IDCO Studio – leaving The Identité Collective as a permanent resource for our beloved design community.

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