Things You'll Need:
- Paint swatches
- Fabric swatches
- Potted plants
-
Step 1
Analyze the space. Is it small or large? Well-lit or dark? All of these factors play a role when selecting shades of brown for a room. A dark brown, for example, does best as a main color in large, well-lit rooms. Beige and tan shades tend to open up smaller, darker spaces.
-
Step 2
Choose complementary shades from paint and fabric swatches. Once the main shade of brown has been selected, pick one or two other browns to work into the room. Adding several different tones of the same color gives depth and warmth to an area. For instance, if the walls of the room will be dark brown, consider adding medium and lighter shades through wall trim, drapes, furniture and rugs.
-
Step 3
Add a brighter color into the mix in the form of furniture, rugs or accessories, such as lamps. It is fine to have brown as the main color scheme in a room, but introducing other less-neutral colors gives the space a bit more energy. Though most colors are complemented by browns, try shades of blue, yellow or red first.
-
Step 4
Add some potted plants to the decor. Brown is a very earthy color, and potted plants really play up that aspect of the color scheme.
-
Step 5
Light the room properly. Brown can fall flat if it is not displayed correctly. Make sure that rooms decorated in darker shades have open drapes and overhead lighting. Lamps can make a room decorated in a lighter shade feel cozy.
