Brown is officially having its moment in interior design, with top designers declaring it the color of the season. Following its dominance on fashion runways and Pantone's designation of "mocha mousse" as the 2025 Color of the Year, this rich, earthy hue is now transforming homes across the country. The warm, grounding color offers a sophisticated alternative to traditional neutrals like white and gray, bringing comfort and elegance as we transition into the cooler months.
Interior designer Alex Dauley notes that brown's resurgence shouldn't come as a surprise. "Coffee tones have been a staple on the catwalks for the past few seasons, and we often see fashion trends filter down into our homes," Dauley explains. "If you're happy wearing it, you'll probably be happy living with it." The color's appeal lies in its versatility – warmer than white and easier to work with than gray, brown is quickly becoming the new go-to neutral.
The trend is backed by solid market data. Louisa Tratalos, founder of cult fabric brand Colours of Arley, reports that over 25% of their striped orders in the second half of the year featured brown. "Our customers love brown," she says. "I think it's because these tones bring warmth and neutrality, while still being elevated and more adventurous than beige or gray." Jules Haines, founder of eco-textile platform Haines, confirms this surge, noting that brown has become one of their top four bestselling colors.
For those looking to embrace this trend, experts recommend starting with unexpected color combinations. Interior design influencer Laura Jackson, who runs homeware marketplace Glassette, suggests pairing brown with electric blue for a bold statement. "Brown with electric blue isn't a color combo for the faint-hearted, but looks fabulous in living rooms, kitchens and even bathrooms," Jackson advises. "Think cozy brown walls with bright blue bedding or cobalt tableware on a natural wooden table."
Upholstery expert Micaela Sharp, author of the bestselling "Modern Upholstery" and creator of online courses, recommends tackling a furniture project as your first brown introduction. "I'd recommend thinking about staining the legs or arms with a rich, natural wood finish, especially if they've previously been white-washed," Sharp suggests. "Brown tones look best when teamed with texture, so think boucle or velvet in anything from dark espresso to neutral stone."
For those ready to make a bigger commitment, Franky Roussel, founder of interior design studio Jolie, advocates for investing in large brown pieces. "This resurgence ties to our craving for nostalgia and cocooning," Roussel explains. "As autumn arrives, we're reminded of fallen leaves, aged woods and burnished landscapes. Brown is more than a color; it's an emotional connection to nature." In her own projects, Roussel grounds spaces with textural pieces like Nordic Knots Tigris rugs and caramel velvet chairs that bring depth and quiet indulgence.
Art can also serve as an accessible entry point into the brown trend. Emma Lang, founder of accessible art marketplace SOTA, notes the growing popularity of chocolate-toned artworks. "Rich tobaccos and soft biscuits provide a sophisticated, elegant touch to a scheme and – most importantly – tend to cohere with most materials and finishes," Lang observes. She recommends pieces like "Sad Espresso" by Ayesha Pearce or "New Moon" by Myriam Achour for those looking to warm up their spaces.
The key to successfully incorporating brown lies in understanding your space's architecture and surroundings. Gem Boner, co-founder of Suffolk farmstead Restaries, worked with studio Design & That to create a brown-focused scheme that reflects the natural environment. "Different styles of architecture can steer you toward different ends of the brown spectrum," Boner explains. "Rustic farmhouses look great with deep, earthy clays, while mid-century homes lean naturally toward warm walnuts. Victorian terraces can handle rich coffee hues, and contemporary builds feel softer with pale taupes and sandy browns."
For those who prefer subtle approaches, layering brown patterns offers an elegant solution. Colours of Arley specializes in striped fabrics that combine different brown tones side by side. "It's the perfect color if you're not that brave – it's practical, warm and easy to live with, yet it also feels really luxe in a modern interior," Tratalos notes. She recommends pairing Umber and Cocoa together in thick, wide stripes, then adding bright contrasting piping for visual interest.
Ultimately, brown's strength lies in its ability to function as a sophisticated neutral. Designer Alex Dauley emphasizes brown's advantage over cooler alternatives: "It's softer than black, and I find it works well as a great alternative to gray, which can feel cold and sterile in the cool light of our northern hemisphere houses." For those ready to commit to paint, Farrow & Ball has reintroduced Broccoli Brown from their archive collection – a mid-weight color that pairs beautifully with weathered wood or flagstone floors, perfectly capturing brown's moment as the color that's reshaping how we think about home design.
