This Once-Hated Color Is Becoming A Cozy Home Decor Staple All Over Again

The world is finally making peace with the color brown. After a decade of monochromatic interiors, the trend train has come full circle, arriving back at what was, at one point, one of the least desirable colors to bring into homes. The renewed love for the color of chocolate, coffee, tree bark, and the earth is part of a wider movement aiming to make living spaces cozier and warmer. Many point towards the global pandemic that trapped everyone inside at the beginning of the decade as one of catalysts for the rejection of the coldness and starkness of black, white, and gray palettes and clean-lined modern furniture. Instead, homeowners and designers are now embracing a connection with both nature and history, in order to feel more grounded and evoke simpler, less synthetic, mass-produced times. And no color embodies either of those philosophies better than brown.

What started with celebrating the rich, dark woods of antique furniture and original woodwork around the house, evolved into a love for brown leather and velvet upholstery, and culminated with color-drenched brown walls. This color's timeless appeal and exceptional versatility have landed it the title of 2025's "Color of the Year" for brands like Graham & Brown and Pantone. For the skeptics, who still shudder at the idea of their grandparents' overdecorated dark brown furniture or their parents' honey oak kitchens – fear not. There's a way to incorporate brown into your home decor that is as fresh as it is classic.

There's a simple explanation for the downfall of brown in interior design. The color was ubiquitous, appearing in furniture, floors, and textiles. Its dark shade became synonymous with stuffy environments and a time in interior design where more was, effectively, better. Large dressers and bookshelves adorned living rooms, while intricate, ornamented chairs and tables populated the dining areas. With a new generation of home buyers and decorators itching to downsize their decor and streamline their interiors, brown's association with the dated styles of older homes was just too strong. It had to go.

One minute, brown was everywhere; then everyone had enough, so the next minute it was being painted over or switched for minimalistic gray and white furniture. These shades emerged as the calming, understated, neutral antidotes to the business of 20th century homes. Now, the exact same thing is happening to that aesthetic, which has been not-so-affectionately labeled "millennial gray" and dismissed as charmless and depressing. Interior design is very much cyclical and, after having too much of the same thing, people will inevitably gravitate toward the alternative.

With brown making its big comeback, it's important to learn from the mistakes of the past to avoid it becoming interior design public enemy number one all over again. Incorporating the color in modern design is all about being mindful of its intensity and using it sensibly. For bolder decorators who are considering color drenching, all-brown interiors are definitely trending, but if you're looking for a more timeless solution, that you won't tire of so soon, it's best to use brown in doses. 

To dip your toes in the brown trend, start with accessories and decorative accents around the house. For textiles like curtains, pillows, blankets, or throws, bring in natural materials such as linen and wool that will complement the color's earthy essence. If you're ready to move on to furniture, it's best to stay away from the orangey woods of the 1990s and dare to venture beyond the paleness of light Scandi-style stains. Dark brown wood furniture is making a big comeback, so don't be afraid to invest in beautiful dark oak, walnut, cherry, and mahogany pieces. Combine them with earthy neutrals that can enhance the warmth of the brown and bring a sense of harmony to your space. When it comes to paint, chocolate brown is all the rage, evoking a sense of quiet luxury.