Brown Colour Schemes

Why Choose Brown?

Browns are wonderfully versatile, so there’s sure to be a shade (or three, or five) to suit your space. Whether your home is in the country, by the seaside or in the city centre, brown colour schemes bring warmth, comfort and elegance.

Discover our brown paint colours

If you've ever wondered what it is that makes Farrow & Ball so special, you'll find the answers here. From our high-quality ingredients to our artisanal methods, our 100% water based range of finishes and responsible practices, it's about so much more than just paint and paper.

Shop Brown Paint

Our Signature Brown Paint Colours

In our Signature Palette and Archive, you’ll find a beautiful array of browns to choose from. Tanner's Brown is rich and warming, Jitney is soft and sandy, and Reduced Green balances on the fine line between green and brown.

We design all our browns with complex undertones, creating irresistible depth but also giving each shade a distinct personality to add a unique look and feel to your space.

Reduced Green
No. 313

No. 313
Duster
No. 319

No. 319
Dibber
No. 312

No. 312
Cardamom
No. CB5

No. CB5
Roasted Macadamia
No. CB2

No. CB2
Oxford Stone
No. 264

No. 264
Jitney
No. 293

No. 293
London Stone
No. 6

No. 6
Dead Salmon
No. 28

No. 28
Stony Ground
No. 211

No. 211
Light Gray
No. 17

No. 17
London Clay
No. 244

No. 244
Tanner's Brown
No. 255

No. 255
Dauphin
No. 54

No. 54
Wainscot
No. 55

No. 55
Pantalon
No. 221

No. 221
Salon Drab
No. 290

No. 290
Mahogany
No. 36

No. 36
Drab
No. 41

No. 41
Cola
No. 9918

No. 9918

Sample Our Favourite Browns

The best way to experience our colours before taking the plunge is with a true-to-colour paint sample. To help you narrow down your shortlist of shades, we've curated three of our most popular brown shades to help you find your perfect match.

Sample selection contains 3 x 100ml Sample Pots of our beautiful Oxford Stone, Jitney and Dead Salmon.

How to Create a Brown Colour Scheme

When you’re choosing a colour scheme, the world’s your oyster. It’s both liberating and exciting but can also be a little overwhelming. The key is to ask yourself one question: how do I want this room to feel? Dark browns are excellent at creating cosy, comforting spaces, like bedrooms, snugs and dining rooms. Light browns bring an understated sophistication that still feels relaxed and inviting, perfect for living rooms and hallways.

With such beautiful browns to choose from, you might what a helping hand to narrow them down. That’s why we asked our in-house experts Joa Studholme and Patrick O’Donnell for three of their favourite brown colour scheme suggestions.

Joa's Brown Schemes

Joa Studholme is a best-selling author, Colour Curator and the mind behind many of our (and the world’s) most iconic paint shades. The original Colour Consultant, it’s no surprise that Joa knows our palette inside and out. You can book Joa to help with your transformation in-home or over video call.

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Scheme 1

Stony Ground
No. 211

No. 211
Light Gray
No. 17

No. 17
Mouse's Back
No. 40

No. 40

Scheme 2

Broccoli Brown
No. 198

No. 198
Stirabout
No. 300

No. 300
Jitney
No. 293

No. 293

Scheme 3

Tanner's Brown
No. 255

No. 255
Red Earth
No. 64

No. 64
Etruscan Red
No. 56

No. 56

Patrick's Brown Schemes

Patrick O’Donnell spends his life talking, thinking and playing with colour. Our Brand Ambassador, the face of Farrow & Ball on social media and the host of our podcast, The Chromologist, he’s transformed homes of every shape, style and size. For personal advice from Patrick, you can book a colour consultancy.

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Scheme 1

Strong White
No. 2001

No. 2001
Charleston Gray
No. 243

No. 243
Pink Drab
No. 207

No. 207

Scheme 2

Stirabout
No. 300

No. 300
Jitney
No. 293

No. 293
Marmelo
No. 316

No. 316

Scheme 3

Tailor Tack
No. 302

No. 302
Dibber
No. 312

No. 312
Cola
No. 9918

No. 9918

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best brown paint colour?

Often overlooked, brown is a wonderfully grounding shade. This earthy colour family offers a rich palette of shades that evoke a sense of comfort and warmth. Each shade has its own character and responds differently to light, so choosing the "best" brown depends on what look and feel you want to create. From rich chocolate tones to soft beige hues, our palette offers a selection of shades to add timeless elegance to your space.

What colour goes best with brown paint?

A versatile neutral, brown works wonderfully with a variety of colours. From soft whites to deep purples, colour schemes that feature brown are cosy, inviting and sophisticated. You can find recommended pairings, including a complementary white, for each of our browns — simply find the colour on our website or colour card.

What effect does brown paint have on a room?

Brown is an inherently comforting colour and brings a soothing sense of security to a space. Depending on the specific shade you choose, it can feel effortlessly sophisticated or add a rustic charm. Rich browns work particularly well in rooms you retire to in the evening, creating an inviting, relaxing atmosphere.

Should I paint my whole room brown?

Whether you colour drench your space in one shade or layer a selection of similar tones across different surfaces, painting a whole room brown creates a wonderfully cosy feel. Light brown tones act as neutrals, so these are ideal if you’re looking for a simple, sophisticated scheme. On the other hand, deep, dark shades are irresistibly inviting. So, if you want to paint your whole room brown, we’re right behind you.

How can I choose the right shade of brown?

There is no right or wrong shade of brown, there’s only the shade that creates the look you want, and those that don’t. So, to find that shade, you have to decide how you want your finished space to look and feel. If you want an intimate, cosy room you may want a darker brown than if you’d like a soft, open space. Once you’ve decided what you want, sample a few shades to see how they work with your light and furnishings.

How do I make sure I get the best finish with brown paint?

We always recommend using a Primer & Undercoat in the correct tone for your topcoat. It’s tempting to skip this step, but preparing your surface creates an even, easy-to-paint canvas and a durable, deep finish. Also, be sure to stir your paint thoroughly before you start — and by thoroughly, we mean for at least a couple of minutes.