Caroline
When we think of exciting colors, brown doesn’t always come to mind. However, it’s a bit of an unsung hero in color theory as it can be used in so many different ways.
We have 25 amazing shades of brown for you to consult for any projects you may have in the home and beyond, so let’s see what this color has to offer us!
Here are our Readers Most Voted for Shades of Brown
Brown
RGB: 165, 42, 42
Hex: #A52A2A
Common Uses: Outdoor spaces and color accents.
Matches well with: Light blue.
This first standard shade of brown is a great starting point that can be used for many things from outdoor spaces and walls to color accents within your interior color schemes and décor.
Next, we will look at lighter and darker shades to fit any style or need!
Saddle Brown
RGB: 139, 69, 19
Hex: #8B4513
Common Uses: Doors and floors.
Matches well with: Dark purple.
Saddle brown has a rich, earthy feel to it that makes it perfect for a dark accent to a room. You could use this for doors and floors to make a great contrast to the other colors in the space.
Sienna Brown
RGB: 160, 82, 45
Hex: #A0522D
Common Uses: Walls and home exterior.
Matches well with: Deep maroon.
Sienna brown is a bit lighter than the previous shade, but it still has a dark richness to it. Using it for walls of spaces that you want to feel cozy and intimate would be a great way to use this beautiful shade.
Chocolate Brownh3>
RGB: 210, 105, 30
Hex: #D2691E
Common Uses: Color accents and highlights.
Matches well with: Neon blue.
Chocolate brown is as rich and inviting as its namesake, and you could use it for so many things. Paired with something bright like neon blue can create an interesting combination and contrast.
It will bring a richness to any space you use it for, that’s for sure!
Maroon Brown
RGB: 128, 0, 0
Hex: #800000
Common Uses: Outdoor features and accents.
Matches well with: Deep purple.
Maroon brown is a rich, dark shade that will create a contrast with any lighter colors. It’s also perfect for outdoor features and rock inspired décor for a more rustic feeling to an outdoor or indoor space.
Redwood Brown
RGB: 164, 90, 82
Hex: #A45A52
Common Uses: Bedroom walls and rustic themes.
Matches well with: Light blue.
Redwood brown is a lighter shade of brown that can be used in more indoor spaces in a more prominent way. You could use it for bedroom or living room walls to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. How else could you use it?
Mahogany Brown
RGB: 192, 64, 0
Hex: #C04000
Common Uses: Wood accents and highlights.
Matches well with: Burnt yellow.
Mahogany brown is another lovely rich shade that isn’t too overpowering. You could use it as a dominant color theme for an area or keep it to highlights and accents as well.
It’s certainly a versatile shade indeed!
Auburn Brown
RGB: 165, 42, 42
Hex: #A52A2A
Common Uses: Garden walls and rocky features.
Matches well with: Lilac purple.
The dark, muted look of auburn brown makes it perfect for outdoor spaces or areas with a prominent rocky theme. It can be used indoors though, and can even be a great color highlight for brighter hues.
Rust Brown
RGB: 183, 65, 14
Hex: #B7410E
Common Uses: Outdoor walls and color accents.
Matches well with: Burnt yellow.
Rust brown has an earthy, rustic quality that makes it perfect for outdoor spaces and earthy themes. Pairing it with a color like burnt dark yellow can create a really interesting color scheme that can be quite versatile.
Chestnut Brown
RGB: 205, 92, 92
Hex: #CD5C5C
Common Uses: Warm indoor spaces and décor.
Matches well with: Baby blue.
Chestnut brown is one of the lightest shades we have seen so far, and so it’s more suited to indoor spaces. It’s light enough that it could be a dominant color in a room and not be overpowering or too dark. Paired with a color like baby blue, it can also look stunning!
Walnut Brown
RGB: 128, 64, 0
Hex: #804000
Common Uses: Wood features and earthy themes.
Matches well with: Dark blue.
There is such a richness to walnut brown that really catches the eye. It draws you in whether it’s used as a dominant outdoor color or an indoor accent to other colors.
You can come up with some stunning effects when you use this shade wisely!
Burnt Sienna Brown
RGB: 138, 51, 36
Hex: #8A3324
Common Uses: Office spaces or dens
Matches well with: Dark purple.
One should always use dark colors in the right way to prevent it overtaking the color palette of a room. Burnt sienna brown can create a cozy, meditative space that could work well if used for an office or den color scheme.
Copper Brown
RGB: 184, 115, 51
Hex: #B87333
Common Uses: Interior, rustic décor and outdoor spaces.
Matches well with: Blues.
Copper brown is another shade that is light enough to be versatile for both indoor and outdoor spaces. You could use it as a prominent shade in a room that has a rustic feeling to it.
Or, it could be used for outdoor walls and features.
Cinnamon Brown
RGB: 210, 105, 30
Hex: #D2691E
Common Uses: Floor and ceilings.
Matches well with: Light red.
Cinnamon brown is another rich and lovely shade, and it really comes alive when you pair it with colors like light red or beige. It’s subtle enough that you can use it for larger surfaces like walls and ceilings as well.
Coffee Brown
RGB: 111, 78, 55
Hex: #6F4E37
Common Uses: Intense color schemes and wood accents.
Matches well with: Dark blue.
Coffee brown is quite a dark and intense shade, so it’s one I would personally use minimally as an accent. It could be a dominant color feature if used right though, so this will depend on your style and tastes!
Tawny Brown
RGB: 205, 87, 0
Hex: #CD5700
Common Uses: Living room or office walls.
Matches well with: Light green.
Tawny brown is a good halfway point between the lighter and darker shades we have seen. This makes it applicable to a wide range of uses and styles, so you could really have fun with this versatile shade. Do you have a use in mind?
Sandy Brown
RGB: 244, 164, 96
Hex: #F4A460
Common Uses: Bedroom walls and linen.
Matches well with: Light blue.
Sandy brown is one of the lightest shades we have seen this far. It’s a popular choice for bedroom walls, and it’s also good for pillows, duvets and linen. You could also use it as a rustic element in a bathroom color scheme.
Tan Brown
RGB: 210, 180, 140
Hex: #D2B48C
Common Uses: Bedroom walls and exteriors.
Matches well with: Light blue.
Tan brown is another lighter shade that can easily be used for larger spaces like interior and exterior walls. It can be paired with so many other colors like light blue that will really bring out the best in this shade.
Beige Brown
RGB: 218, 165, 32
Hex: #DAA520
Common Uses: Kitchen color schemes.
Matches well with: Pastel red.
Beige brown is a popular shade because of how well it pairs with so many colors. You can use it as an accent or dominant theme, and it has enough warmth to be great for areas like the kitchen and bedroom. Beige brown may be my favorite so far in this collection!
Khaki Brown
RGB: 192, 192, 0
Hex: #C0C000
Common Uses: Nurseries and playrooms.
Matches well with: Light orange.
Khaki brown is a greenish shade that is perfect for areas such as nurseries and playrooms for young children. It could be used for a girl or a boy, and it will create a warm and comforting feeling no matter where you use it.
Olive Brown
RGB: 128, 128, 0
Hex: #808000
Common Uses: Rustic themes and color accents.
Matches well with: Deep purple.
Olive brown is another greenish hue that can be used for many amazing purposes such as rustic themes and as a color accent to other colors like rich purple. It could also be used for nurseries and living room spaces!
Umber Brown
RGB: 176, 224, 230
Hex: #635147
Common Uses: Outdoor walls and dark styles.
Matches well with: Deep blue.
Umber brown is a dark shade that could seem a bit limited in how severe it is, but it can be used to great effect if used wisely! It could be great for outdoor spaces or for pillows, lampshades and other pieces of décor.
Sepia Brown
RGB: 112, 66, 20
Hex: #704214
Common Uses: Rocky and rustic themes.
Matches well with: Dark blue.
Sepia brown is another dark shade that has a dusty rockiness to it. For this reason, you could use it for a rich outdoor rocky theme. It’s also a great shade for wooden elements like doors and floors.
Burnt Umber Brown
RGB: 138, 51, 36
Hex: #8A3324
Common Uses: Windowsills and doors.
Matches well with: Deep purple.
Burnt umber brown is a woody, rich brown that is popular for actual wooden elements like windowsills, doors and floors. You could pair it with a deep purple for an absolutely stunning combination!
Raw Sienna Brown
RGB: 210, 125, 45
Hex: #D27D2D
Common Uses: Bedrooms or offices.
Matches well with: Light blue.
The final shade we have for you here is a milder brown that would be a perfect choice for so many rooms like a bedroom or an office. It’s warm and mild, making it a good bet for a wide range of styling circumstances.
In Summary
Brown may not seem very varied, but after this list we see that is not the case! Hopefully this selection will be helpful in making your choice easier.
My favorite was tawny brown because of how rich it is, but you will likely have a few of your own favorites, so get decorating and experimenting!
