How To Embrace The Brown Furniture Trend & The Right Way To Do It

Brown is one of the trendiest colors in 2026, pushing aside outdated grey and greige hues for warm and cozy neutrals. With tones like chocolate brown being cited as a top color for the year, according to reports like the 2026 Designer Trends Survey by 1stDibs, folks might be eagerly searching for ways to implement this comforting hue into their homes. A simple method for embracing brown in your living space is to make some intentional furniture swaps. While we're seeing this color shift in wood tones, particularly on cabinetry, flooring, and tabletops, it's making an overhaul throughout our spaces. A designer from Marpipe shared on TikTok that we're seeing a "return to darker, richer materials. Dark woods replace light, Scandi oak."

Chocolate brown has become the warm color that designers love that perfectly complements vintage decor, and we're seeing this played out via furniture materials, textiles, and finer details. Sophie Salata, of Vinterior, told Homes and Gardens, "At Vinterior, we're seeing shoppers gravitate towards those rich tobacco leathers, warm walnut woods, and deep chocolate textiles that defined some of the most timeless interiors of the 20th century." Vintage pieces that feature these rich wood tones, such as dark wood armoires or elegant chocolate brown dining tables, are replacing lighter oak pieces in trending interiors. If you want to take a page from HGTV designer Erin Napier's book, add brown into your interiors for 2026 for that cozy vintage feel.

With brown being the once-hated color that is becoming a cozy home decor staple all over again, we're seeing a resurgence of vintage furniture pieces that offer a more timeless quality. Think, as Salata told Homes and Gardens, "A 1970s coffee table in a moody walnut stain" or "A caramel-toned leather chair brings warmth to a minimalist space." You can find many of these aged brown furniture pieces in thrift stores. Make furniture swaps by changing out light wood side tables and console pieces for dark wood vintage alternatives. Or, change out light upholstery for ones with warm brown notes.

As you decorate with brown furniture, designers suggest focusing on visual layering throughout your space, utilizing other trending neutrals like cream, beige, or taupe to offset yet enhance deep brown hues. Adding too much brown in the same undertone and shade could make your room feel flat or suffocating. Instead, be intentional with visual layering. For example, adding tactile elements like a chunky knitted throw blanket with something like a smooth marble coffee table could add more depth to your design.

If you don't have the budget for a new espresso-colored leather sofa, you could ground your space with a warm, chocolate brown rug to add a tactile element that feels cozy and earthy. Paired with an existing light-toned couch, deep brown furniture accents can still offer that rich aesthetic. Some designers also note that black metallic accents could enhance the look and feel of your brown furniture without weighing down the visual appeal of the space.