What color walls go with brown furniture? That is a question that many homeowners are asking themselves, and the answer is definitely not as straightforward as it might seem. In fact, the best color scheme for your living room will depend on the style of your home, the color of your furniture, and even whether or not you have children in the house. Read on to find out more about what colors look good with brown furniture and how to choose an interior design scheme that looks great in your home!
Brown Furniture and Color Schemes
Ideally, I would say you want to pair colors that are on opposite sides of the color wheel. Blues and yellows, for example, are complementary colors and therefore have a natural harmony. These colors can make for a very relaxing living room or bedroom. Or try gold and green — these colors together make a beautiful fall-like setting in any space. Another good idea is to explore deep colors like black or dark purple paired with lighter shades like light grey or cream (depending on the shade of your brown furnishings). Finally, always keep in mind what other things you will be decorating your home with (e.g., black curtains work well with most any shade of wall).
Choosing a Neutral Color Scheme with Brown Furniture
Neutral colors are known for creating a sense of balance, order, and harmony. They are also calming to the eye, especially darker shades that act as a form of camouflage against dirt or stains. Because of this, they may be the best choice if you have kids who will be using the space. Light neutrals like taupe and light cream make great neutral-toned bases to which you can add pops of contrasting colors throughout your home in pillows, wall art, or other accessories without disrupting the underlying balance of the room.
Working with Strong Colors with Brown Furniture
One thing that can really change the feel of a room is whether or not you choose to paint the walls. When we think about painting the walls, it’s easy to gravitate towards either black and white or warm colors like orange, red and yellow. But if you are trying to introduce a more subtle atmosphere in your space, try a hue on the cool side like lavender, blue or green. If you have brown furniture in your space and want to achieve an inviting feel with cooler tones then consider a muted gray for example this chic taupe gray from Benjamin Moore paired with these bedrooms feels peaceful and serene yet masculine at the same time.
Combining Neutral Paint Colors with Brown Furniture
A difficult color scheme to pair together are blue and green. The rule is if you have too much of one the other will fade into it. For example, if there is too much blue then the green will wash out and vice versa. A way to achieve this same result without needing to worry about not enough of one is by using a complementary color instead. Complementary colors sit opposite from each other on the color wheel. In this case, orange sits next to blue and red sits next to green so they should complement each other nicely! If you want something that is more subtle, try off-white or cream for the walls. If you want something more neutral that still has a bit of personality, try going with beige or camel (aka warm colors).
Different Types of Brown Furniture
Luxury
Muted, softer shades of chocolate and cocoa are very classy in hues of grey or cream. You’ll need plenty of throw pillows and a statement chandelier to really get the room feeling elegant.
Minimalist
Clean and simple yet plush in texture, lighter colors such as sand or light camel will keep your space feeling fresh. This one is for the purists out there!
Rustic
Can you even have neutral colors for a rustic themed home? Of course! Earthy colors like olive green or even wine red make this design pop so don’t be afraid to step outside the box here!
What color walls can you paint with Brown furniture?
A rule of thumb when picking paint colors is to stay within two shades from the one you’re looking for. With brown, this means cream, white, or light beige are good colors to try. Darker versions of any of these colors would work as well. Red and gold are also trendy picks for a bedroom but might not work if you don’t want the space to look too over-the-top at night. If you have other pieces of wood in your room like a desk or shelving unit, a lighter shade that complements them might be what you’re looking for. While most people prefer black or gray trim around their doors and windows, if you choose a warm tone like yellow it can help the walls seem warmer and more inviting.
How to re-paint your walls to go with Brown furniture
It’s easy to start transforming your room into the place you’ve always wanted it to be by selecting the right paint color. Your design goals are really the only limit when it comes to finding the perfect shade for your home, but for a space that needs some guidance and inspiration, there are a few tried-and-true ways to get started. Use these paint colors as a jumping off point as you begin designing and picking out décor items like pillows and artwork. I bet you’re already starting to feel at ease with how much more confident you’re feeling about your new space!
Combinations you may want to avoid
- Light brown walls and dark cherry wood cabinets: The contrast between the two colors can make it seem like a 1970s house in a suburb where you always had to tiptoe around. It’s a bold look that some people love, but is not for everyone.
- Light purple walls and light oak furniture: This combination has too many shades of one color, making the room feel cluttered or too busy.
- Navy blue wall with forest green couch: You’re going to end up spending more time explaining why your home doesn’t work than giving advice on how to fix it. Avoid this combo at all costs.
Final Thought
Just like you want to make sure that your decor matches or complements your flooring, colors in a room should complement the colors in the furniture. You want the colors of your walls to match or complement the colors of your furniture. Colors that often go well with brown and orange include bright, warm colors such as reds, yellows, and golds. These colors are rich and vibrant, adding warmth to a space. Blues and purples also complement these two colors nicely since they’re just cooler shades on each side of the color wheel. Brown walls are especially great because they don’t limit you to only one hue, so you can get creative! The next time you’re wondering what color goes best with brown furniture, keep this guide handy for inspiration!
