Here’s a list of the top brown paint colors to help you choose the perfect rich and earthy shade for your home!
Gray paint colors have been the gold standard for home decor for many years now. I love gray colors as much as the next gal – what’s not to love? They’re as neutral, unobtrusive, and as deep or bright as you want.
But I’m seeing a trend in interior design that I’m really excited about. Move over gray because the world of neutrals is embracing warm tan and brown paint colors!
I never understood why brown colors weren’t used and recommended more. After all, they’re rich, velvety, earthy, natural, and beautiful. And they make you feel like you’re walking into a warm hug.
Whether you’re looking for light, medium, or darker browns, a gorgeous velvety hue may add just the grounded warmth your space craves.
Are you at a loss for which option may be the right shade for your own home? Never fear because I have you covered!
I have an entire series of paint posts that cover everything from deep dives into individual shades to collections of the best shades in a family of colors. My goal is to be your one-stop shop for all things paint decor-related and help you pick your new perfect shade.
Today, I want to introduce you to a new addition to our “best of” paint posts. Say hello to the top brown paint colors on the market. If you are searching for a rich and interesting shade for your home, we’ll see if we can find you that perfect paint color right now!
Best Brown Paint Colors FAQs
Is brown paint still in style?
Yes! In 2023, brown’s popularity is increasing quickly. It’s timeless, inviting, and very chic with a welcoming feel. I’m a huge fan of choosing classic colors over trendy ones because I don’t want to feel forced to redecorate as soon as a trend goes out of style. From what I can see, brown is going to be around for many, many years to come.
Where can I use brown paint colors?
Although some people may not think of it this way at first, brown is neutral, albeit a rich, earthy one. Let it enrich any space! Try it for:
– Stairways
– Family rooms
– Kitchens
– Cabinets
– Bathrooms
– Bedrooms
– Home offices
– Mudrooms
– Accent walls
– Exteriors
And it’s an ideal fit for contemporary, traditional, French country, and modern farmhouse-style homes.
Brown Paint Color Undertones
Here’s a quick design terminology lesson: the overtone (also called “mass tone”) is the main paint color that you see (green, purple, etc.). Undertones are the subtle differences you notice in the main shade that help differentiate one hue from another.
Brown paint colors can have an assortment of undertones that you may notice, including gray, red, purple, green, and blue.
Different types of lighting will influence the appearance of brown paint, so it’s essential to get large paint swatches to test any colors you think you like before buying them. Paint samples give you the chance to feel out those undertones before you cover your walls in a shade and have that dreaded “uh-oh” moment!
Because the reality is that even if a shade looks like it will work well here on your computer screen, the actual paint colors may behave differently.
As far as sampling goes, I highly recommend these mess-free, re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples ⤵
Brown Paint Colors Lighting Considerations
Although I mentioned that lighting can make a huge impact on how brown paint appears, that general statement can seem ambiguous.
Let’s fill in some color (ha!) by highlighting the impacts of different natural lighting types on brown paint.
- North-facing rooms have cool, shadowy natural lighting, which makes most colors look darker and draws out that shade’s cool undertones.
- South-facing rooms have consistent warm lighting all day, which makes colors look their best. They tend to look softer and lighter in southern lighting.
- West-facing rooms have shifting exposures, displaying shadowy light in the morning but warm light starting in the late afternoon. Most shades appear muted with cool undertones in the morning, then shift toward warmer undertones in the evening.
- East-facing rooms experience the opposite scenario. The way I recommend choosing a shade is to see how it reads during the time of day when you will mostly use the space.
Want the cliff notes for choosing the perfect color every time? Grab a FREE copy of my guide to help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make!
More Colors to Consider
Although brown paint is rich and gorgeous, it may not be exactly what you want in your home. If you’re looking for something lighter (but maybe brown-tinged?), greige paint could be a more natural fit for you!
If you aren’t ready to lock in your decision on one of these brown paint colors, check out some of these other popular shades in our paint exploration series!
- Worldly Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a popular medium greige with brown undertones.
- Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore) – a popular, medium-dark greige.
- Perfect Greige (Sherwin Williams) – a rich medium brown-leaning greige.
- Anew Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a medium warm color of greige with a touch of gray.
- Baby Fawn (Benjamin Moore) – a light greige with beige undertones.
- Agreeable Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a mid-toned greige with a good balance of gray and beige.
- Accessible Beige (Sherwin Williams) – a warm greige with brown undertones.
- Collingwood (Benjamin Moore) – a warm-leaning, brown-toned greige with gray undertones.
The Top 15 Brown Paint Colors
Ok, now we get to the fun part! I’ve pulled together a list of various popular brown paint options to show a range of possibilities.
Each shade on this list includes a photo and a short description to show a real-life example.
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider picking the right paint finish…it’s not only about getting the color right! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
One more thing: I have more in-depth paint color reviews on a few of these brown tones. If you want more information about them, simply click the links!
1. Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze
Urbane Bronze (SW 7048) is a deeply saturated shade of brown with an LRV (means “light reflectance value” which is a 0-100 scale with 0 being pure black, and 100 being pure white) of 8 that perfectly straddles the neutral spectrum. Its rich brown base has strong gray undertones, making this color the ultimate choice in sophistication.
Check out this kitchen from @laceymichalekinteriors and take note of how great this shade looks with the gray backsplash and gray tones in the countertop.
2. Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige
If you’re looking for something on the lighter end of the brown color palette, check out Kilim Beige (SW 6106). It’s certainly one of the lighter shades we’ll be exploring today.
This shade has an LRV of 57 and neutral beige undertones, which gives it plenty of saturation to deliver an unobtrusive yet luxurious vibe. I love this cozy family room from Terracotta Design Build! (Photo credit: Jeff Herr)
3. Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray
Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) is a deep neutral with a gray base and brown undertones. With an LRV of 17 (lower light reflectance values are darker colors), it may feel too dark to many people, but when used intentionally, it can give a room interesting depth.
At first glance, the walls in this bathroom from Buckeye Paint look dark gray, but when you look closer, you can see the brown undertones and notice how well Gauntlet Gray pairs with the rich brown accents.
4. Benjamin Moore Gargoyle
Move over gray; brown is the new favorite. It makes sense, given the sense of comfort that the color of a bar of chocolate brings (just me?).
And that feeling is exactly what you get walking into this entry from Greenhouse Studios painted in Gargoyle 1546, a rich mahogany, and a perfect brown paint color in this space.
5. Benjamin Moore Copley Gray
Brown paint colors can have several different undertones, including green.
One look at this example from Seeking Lavender Lane makes me want to say hello to Benjamin Moore’s Copley Gray (HC-104) in my home! Its LRV of 25 gives it plenty of depth without being too dark.
6. Sherwin Williams Porpoise
I’ve heard some people describe Porpoise (SW 7047) as a dark gray bronze.
Personally, I see a deep (LRV 13) and beautiful, grounding green-leaning brown in this image from @littlerosefamily.
7. Sherwin Williams Black Fox
Despite it’s name, Black Fox (SW 7020) is one of Sherwin Williams’s most popular brown paint colors, and it’s easy to see why!
This deep (LRV 7), rich, velvety shade straddles brown and black. Pair it with bricks and white trim like Go Willow Homes for a dreamy exterior (or interior!) color choice.
8. Benjamin Moore Weimaraner
Modern farmhouse love! Like the dog breed by the same name, Weimaraner (AF-155) has a brown base with gray undertones to give it a shape-shifty appearance.
In this room from @postuptothetopspot, this shade is a gorgeous neutral brown, and its LRV of 29.26 makes it inviting without looking too dark.
9. Behr Toffee Crunch
My #1 requirement in a bedroom is that the paint color needs to be inviting, relaxing, and gorgeous (ok, maybe that’s 3 requirements?). Toffee Crunch (700D-5) easily checks off all three boxes to make the cut as one of the top brown paint colors!
With an LRV of 26, it’s a deep enough shade that it can look dark in rooms with little natural light. However, Addicted 2 Decorating made great use of its depth to create a chic retreat!
10. Benjamin Moore Appalachian Brown
Take a close look at this gorgeous brown paint color in this image from @melissachartranddecor. Notice its deep (LRV 5.97), rich, chocolatey color in the sun, and subtle purple undertones that appear in the shadows.
Like the mountains that inspire its name, Appalachian Brown (2115-10) is one of the darker tones we are discussing today. It offers incredible surprises that are sure to please. On this quaint cabin’s exterior, Appalachian Brown is an excellent choice paired with the bright red, Ben Moore Caliente shutters.
11. Behr Mocha Latte
I could happily crawl into bed and read a book in this room from Life on Virginia Street.
Mocha Latte (PPU5-4) may just be my favorite color on this list. It’s a silky brown with an LRV of 17 and a softness that’s perfect for a stylish yet relaxing bedroom.
12. Sherwin Williams Backdrop
Sometimes a name just fits like a glove, and that’s the case with Backdrop (SW 7025).
Notice how it looks stunning on those cabinets but also takes a back seat and lets the other decor elements take center stage in this kitchen and dining room space from Decor Designs Inc.
As you may notice, with an LRV of 20, this color will shift quite a bit depending on the light exposure.
13. Sherwin Williams Warm Stone
Warm Stone (SW 7032) is a dark greige that lends warmth to a room with plenty of saturation (LRV 20) to make you feel like you’re basking in the sun even though your feet are firmly planted indoors.
Use it as an accent color like @cubedhomes did for just the right effect.
14. Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray
Love! I’ve highlighted several deep shades on this list, and after looking at this image, it may surprise you to learn that Kingsport Gray (HC-86) has an LRV of 25.05, putting it in the same saturation range as many of the brown paint colors on this list.
Why does it look so light in this image from Pine and Prospect Home? The bright natural lighting, friends! The contrast with the white paint colors in this home make brown a good color choice here.
15. Farrow & Ball Tanner’s Brown
Similar to Sherwin Willilams Black Fox, Tanner’s Brown (#255) straddles the line between brown and black.
It looks (and is) very dark, but as you can see here from @irishvernacularnewbuild, the undertones offer a soft look that’s timeless and proof of the versatility of brown and the wide range of diverse hues that this color carries.
That wraps up my roundup of the top brown paint colors. Are you digging the color brown by now? I hope this has inspired you to consider a timeless and neutral brown for your home!
And if you are seriously considering any of these brown shades, remember paint-sampling is better than ending up paint-sorry! To get the best results, I highly recommend these large peel and stick samples because they are inexpensive, re-usable and re-positionable…
Pin this paint color for later! And if you use this paint shade, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! And before you’re on your way, make sure you grab your free copy of the 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Picking Paint, so you can avoid the heartache (and hole in your wallet) when your paint choices don’t quite work out! Click here, and I’ll send your free copy right now!
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