How to Decorate With Brown, Black — or Both
Black is best for engineered materials; brown works great for textures — and more designer tips for working with these two classic colors
Brown and black are seemingly on two opposite sides of the neutral coin: Black can be considered bold or brash, while brown is sometimes seen as boring or beautiful, depending on who you ask. While you may never change your mind about which is your favorite, both definitely have their place in design. Read on to learn when, where and why you should choose black or brown in different decor scenarios, and why it’s certainly possible to truly have the best of both worlds.
Brown is understated. Unlike black, brown doesn’t usually cry for attention, which makes it an excellent choice for a room already busy with patterns, or where you want a more cohesive, restful look.
The sofa here, despite being in the middle of the photo, could easily be one of the last details you notice. It is subtly beautiful and lets the mural be the feature. Choose brown for large furniture pieces that don’t need to put on a big show.
The sofa here, despite being in the middle of the photo, could easily be one of the last details you notice. It is subtly beautiful and lets the mural be the feature. Choose brown for large furniture pieces that don’t need to put on a big show.
Using black and neutrals. The boldness of black can sometimes be too strong for other colors, especially in large amounts. However, when mixed with other neutrals, black accentuates their undertones to add drama and life. When working with a mostly neutral palette, you can add some brown, but it’s a hit of black (large or small) that will really make the difference between boring and beautiful.
Using brown and other colors. One of brown’s major strengths is its ability to relate to other colors. Brown is usually a mix of all colors, just with more red or orange for an overall warm look. Thus, it works well in a space with an eclectic palette, because it can connect with each hue to provide harmony without pulling focus. Black can sometimes work with colors, but brown is a safe bet.
Patterns with black. The crispness of black makes it a great choice for patterns and prints, especially bold geometric patterns with strong angles.
Patterns with brown. Brown, on the other hand, is better for soft patterns with organic curves and plenty of white or light in the background, such as leaf or branch motifs.
Use black for engineered materials. Because brown is so associated with nature, it can look wrong on synthetic materials, such as plastic or poly-blend carpeting. For a piece like a smooth Panton chair, stick to a bold black or another strong hue, and use brown for items with more visible texture, such as the window covering shown here.
Use brown for textural touches. Not only does brown look great in rich textures, but textures look great in brown. The softness of the hue puts the emphasis on the texture, whereas black can visually overpower it. Choose brown for elements like a hide rug, a faux-fur blanket or a fluffy shearling-style pillow to round out any scheme.
The kitchen is another place where some black accents are likely to exist anyway, such as on the dishwasher controls, microwave and other appliances. Adding a few black accents, like a pendant, a countertop, a floating shelf or even backsplash grout, plays with these elements and works with a kitchen’s clean appeal.
Black works better for clean spaces. Even more than kitchens, bathrooms are expected to be a bit visually cleaner than other parts of the home, so black is usually the better choice. However, a little brown or gold veining on a slab of black stone helps soften the look in a small space.
You can’t go wrong with a brown leather sofa. When in doubt, choose a chocolate brown or tan shade for a leather sofa. It brings a touch of masculinity to balance a space without looking like it came right out of a bachelor pad.
Black is great for accents. Because black makes a strong feature instantly, it’s great for smaller punctuations, such as a door or a window sash, creating an architectural look that adds drama to break up light walls.
See reasons to paint your interior doors black
See reasons to paint your interior doors black
Use brown walls for a historic look. Brown makes a great backdrop, but brown paint can be tricky: A vast stretch of it can go from subtle to overwhelming, and it can look a bit off on hard, flat walls. However, it works beautifully with delicate wall moldings to create a heritage feel, and then you can mix in traditional or modern accoutrements, or both.
See how to pick the right brown
See how to pick the right brown
Another classic option is a brown textural wall covering, especially when used above a chair rail, so only half the room height is dark.
Tan also works well in modern settings, because it gives a worldly feel that lends itself to an eclectic, art-collector vibe. It has more orange than other browns, for a little more edge.
Traditional. In a more traditional scheme, embrace warm browns and choose charcoal-blacks, or go for an antiqued finish to literally soften black’s hard edges.
This is especially true on an exterior, where a softer charcoal black will make a much less modernist statement than a true black. Brown paint, however, would likely look too inauthentic when compared to any surrounding nature.
You can also choose a black material with multi-tonal variations, such as this wall covering, so the black appears more approachable and less minimalist.
The Best of Both Worlds
When mixing the two, be sure to let one dominate. You can love both, but you can’t avoid choosing sides. Usually leaning toward more brown and less black is safer, but as this space proves, any ratio can work. Just make sure to include some other neutrals to bridge the divide, and everything will work out beautifully.
More:
How to Work With Black
How to Work With Brown
8 Reasons to Paint Your Interior Trim Black
When mixing the two, be sure to let one dominate. You can love both, but you can’t avoid choosing sides. Usually leaning toward more brown and less black is safer, but as this space proves, any ratio can work. Just make sure to include some other neutrals to bridge the divide, and everything will work out beautifully.
More:
How to Work With Black
How to Work With Brown
8 Reasons to Paint Your Interior Trim Black
See reasons to paint your ceiling black