1. FARROW & BALL, SALON DRAB
Salon Drab by Farrow & Ball came up a lot when we asked designers for their best brown paints. Despite the name, it's far from drab and is an incredibly rich and warm brown which makes it a very liveable shade that pairs wonderful as part of a tonal neutral palette.
2. CAPONATA, BENJAMIN MOORE
Another very popular pick, Benjamin Moore's Caponata is so warm it's almost a dark purple. And you can choose to really bring out those red tones by layering it with maroons and eggplant shades for a gorgeously sumptuous feel.
3. MOUSE BACK, FARROW & BALL
If you are after a brown paint that leans slightly gray, Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back is perfect. It's got green undertones so it's not as rich as the previously mentioned best brown paints but that does mean it has a freshness to it. It's a brown paint that doesn't appear too muddy or overly cocooning so you can pair it with crisp whites for a palette that feels both soft and light.
4. CHATEAU BROWN, SHERWIN WILLIAMS
A very dark warm brown Chateau Brown is a bit of a chamleon shade and changes drastically under different lights and depending on what colors you pair it with so be sure to order samples. It does need quite a lot of natural light if you want it to appear more brown than purple, but it can make for the best brown paint if you want to cozy up a light-filled space.
5. HIDDEN VALLEY, BENJAMIN MOORE
If you are after a really soft cinnamony-brown, Hidden Valley is perfect. It teeters being on a terracotta paint but with the orange tones toned down. It's perfect for rooms that don't get a lot of natural light as, even though this shade may get deeper in a darker room, it will never become drab or flat.
6.UNIVERSAL KHAKI, SHERWIN WILLIAMS
This is the first of our pale brown picks. Universal Khaki by Sherwin-Williams is a very pale yellow-toned brown that can appear darker or lighter depending on the light in the room. It's a very on-trend dark tan paint, that's perfect for creating an earthy color palette. Pair with crisp whites for a fresh look or even deep browns for something cozy and tonal.