Design Recipes: The Beauty of Brown

Design Recipes: The Beauty of Brown
A case good in a warm brown wood serves as an inspirational piece in this living room. Handout/TNS
Tribune News Service
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By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service
Like black, the color brown is neutral, blends well with other colors and adds a sense of luxury. For many, brown is a wonderful and soothing alternative to black while viewed as not as harsh. The beauty of brown is it adds warmth to nearly any space without overwhelming it. Looking for ways to incorporate brown into your home? Here are some top tips.

Do’s

1. Do pair tints, tones and shades of brown in a space.
Upholstered furnishings in shades of brown add richness to a dining space. (Handout/TNS)
Upholstered furnishings in shades of brown add richness to a dining space. Handout/TNS

2. Do use shades of taupe and cream in spaces where you wish to incorporate shades of brown.

Toss pillows in shades of brown adds warmth and luxury to a living room sofa. (Handout/TNS)
Toss pillows in shades of brown adds warmth and luxury to a living room sofa. Handout/TNS

3. Do use brown in spaces of the home where you want to add warmth and coziness.

Artwork with brown accents helps to compliment a dining space with other warm tones. (Handout/TNS)
Artwork with brown accents helps to compliment a dining space with other warm tones. Handout/TNS

4. Do use shades of brown for upholstery, accents and accessories.

Brown bar stools help to add a contrast element when paired with light gray and white. (Handout/TNS)
Brown bar stools help to add a contrast element when paired with light gray and white. Handout/TNS

5. Do use artwork as a way to infuse bold elements of brown into your home’s color palette.

An oversized artwork in brown adds a strong warm tone to a living space. (Handout/TNS)
An oversized artwork in brown adds a strong warm tone to a living space. Handout/TNS

Dont’s

1. Don’t be afraid to pair black and brown in the same space. 2. Don’t bring in too many dark shades of brown in the same space. 3. Don’t avoid a monochromatic color scheme. Tints, tones and shades of brown will work well in the same space. 4. Don’t bring in too many brown elements in the same space, such as too many heavy furniture elements. 5. Don’t ignore blending darker shades of brown with lighter shades of brown and white to soften darker brown colors in a space.
Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning television host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.
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