Painted furniture seems to be very popular right now, however brown furniture (assuming it is in a classic stain color) is timeless.
Brown furniture is a slang term for stained wood furniture as well as other furniture that is colored brown.
Whether you are decorating with stained pieces of furniture, brown leather pieces, natural tan bamboo, or other brown pieces, there is a good way and a not-so-good way to decorate for the best result.
Here are some interior designer tips & tricks for how to decorate a living room with brown furniture.
How to Decorate a Living Room with Brown Furniture - AI generated image for inspirational purposes onlyUnderstand the Undertones
Before starting to decorate your living room, you must understand the meaning of undertone.
Undertones are the color added to brown to make the color unique.
It could be a reddish brown, an orange brown, a yellow brown, or another color undertone to your brown furniture.
Browns can range from warm tones to cooler neutral shades.
Identifying the undertone will help you select the other pieces for your living room.
Be cautious of mixing brown furniture of different undertones because the colors might clash and not be cohesive.
If you have a collection of matching brown furniture that you don't love and it is not valuable, consider painting one or two pieces to complement your current design style and make your decor more unique and less matchy-matchy.
How to Decorate a Living Room with Brown Furniture - AI generated image for inspirational purposes onlyArrange Furniture ThoughtfullyMake sure to properly arrange your living room furniture to promote the activities that you want to happen in that room.
Consider the shades of your brown furniture when creating your furniture layout - avoid putting brown furniture that almost matches, but not exactly, too close together because the shades of brown will clash.
What is Your Style?
Determine what style you want in your living room.
Just because your brown furniture is traditional, does not mean that your entire room needs to be decorated in a traditional style.
Some of the most interesting designer rooms mix traditional brown furniture with bold colored abstract art.
Eclectic rooms enable you to mix and match your favorite things to create a one-of-a-kind room that is uniquely you.
Consider mixing 2 different styles together, one style that is yours and the other style is your partner's, that creates a new style that captures both of your preferences.
How to Decorate a Living Room with Brown Furniture - AI generated image for inspirational purposes onlyChoose a Complementary Color Scheme
Make sure to select a color palette that complements the undertone of your brown furniture.
The easiest way to create a color palette is to find a large item, such as a rug or large piece of art, that will be the focal point of your room.
Use 3 colors in your focal point item as your color scheme.
If your focal point items has the colors yellow, blue, and pink, then duplicate each of those colors at least 3 times in your room to make the color scheme look intentional and cohesive.
A designer tip is to use 2 additional shades of each of your colors to create a richer and more complex color palette that allows more color choices when decorating. For example, if one of your colors is turquoise, you can also use a dark turquoise and aqua to your color palette.
Consider the Color of Your Home's Architecture
Also consider the color of your home's architectural features when working on your color scheme.
For a cohesive design, duplicate the color of your living room's flooring and any other architectural feature, such as trim color, brick, or stone, at least 3 times per room.
To duplicated the color of wood flooring, you could add a wicker basket in the same tone as your floor, a pretty bucket of logs in the same tone as your floor, and a wood framed mirror in the same tone as your floor.
Add Pops of Color
If you want to offset the basic brown furniture in your living room with some extra bold colors, then add even more colors beyond the 3 colors in your color palette when decorating.
You can introduce extra pops of vibrant colors found in your focal point item through accent pillows, artwork, or decorative accessories.
These colorful elements can enliven the space and make it more interesting.
Balance with Lighter Shades
To counterbalance the richness of brown furniture, consider using lighter shades for your walls and ceilings.
Lighter colors create a sense of openness and prevent the room from feeling too heavy.
If you prefer a dark and moody aesthetic when decorating your living room, you can use darker walls.
Add Metallic Accents
Metallic accents, such as gold, bronze, brass, or silver, can add a touch of glamour to your living room's decor.
Decorate with metallic finishes on decor items like picture frames, door knobs, coffee table trays, and lamp bases.
Avoid using more than 2 different metal finishes per room for a cohesive look.
How to Decorate a Living Room with Brown Furniture - AI generated image for inspirational purposes onlyIncorporate Natural Elements
Decorating with natural elements (like potted plants or stone accents) can harmonize with your brown furniture and create a connection with the outdoors as well as incoporating more texture to your room.
Other natural elements you can use to decorate your living room are fresh flowers, feathers, branches, sea shells, wicker items, decorative rocks, and pine cones.
You can purchase natural elements from the store or collect them from your own garden.
Be careful to not collect items at places where it is forbidden, such as pine cones from certain national parks or certain sea shells that might contain protected animals.
Experiment with Patterns and Textures
Incorporate a variety of textures and patterns in your living room decor to add depth and visual interest.
Consider using patterned area rugs, a soft textured throw blanket, a rough basket, and different fabric finishes to create a layered look.
How to Decorate a Living Room with Brown Furniture - AI generated image for inspirational purposes onlyIlluminate with Proper Lighting
One light fixture in the middle of the ceiling of your room is very basic and feels very sterile.
Install a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting to highlight your brown furniture and create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Avoid ceiling mounted lights that create unappealing shadows (perhaps just use them when you need the maximum light level when cleaning).
Instead, use wall sconces, floor lamps, and table lamps to bring light closer to eye level.
Use dimmers with your lighting so you can adjust the light level depending on the time of day, your mood, and your activity.
Choose Coordinating Window Treatments
You might opt for a solid colored curtain the same color as your wall, a solid colored curtain in a contrasting color to your wall, a neutral colored patterned curtains, or a patterned curtain with many colors.
