It might not be the flashiest color, but brown is far from boring.

The color brown too often gets a bad rap for being lackluster or boring.

Or, pair chocolate tones with crisp neutrals for an elevated andsophisticated living space.

assortment brown paints lids

Clockwise, from top right: Transcend by PPG, Gingersnaps by Benjamin Moore, Turbinado by Clare, Toffee Crunch by Behr, and Oak Creek by Sherwin-Williams.Credit: Carson Downing

Deciding which brown is right for your walls depends largely on how you want the room to feel.

Do you want it to feel open and airy?

Then go lighter, saysNicole Gibbons, designer and founder of Clare paint company.

Living room with wall paneling

Credit:Julie Soefer

Do you want it to feel cozy and moody?

Warmer than black or charcoal gray, deep browns are rich, enveloping, and dramatic.

Either way, plan on decorating with multiple browns of the same temperature but different tones.

Living room with dark grey walls

Credit:Adam Albright

Here are our favorite ways to pair brown with colors.

Brown + Gray

Julie Soefer

Create asophisticated living spacewith deep brown walls and neutral accents.

A potted tree brings natural texture and color without disrupting the brown palette.

Living room with a dark brown leather couch, dark fireplace, lamps and built-ins

Credit:Jared Kuzia

Here, a painted accent wall provides a calming background for brown leather chairs and soft textures.

A gold picture light above a large art print adds sophistication and ties the space together.

Brown + Khaki

Victoria Pearson

Bring warmth to aneutral roomby incorporating rich brown hues.

Brown couch with an animal skull and baskets

Credit:Victoria Pearson

Here, a cozy brown leather sofa and dark wood floors add depth to the room.

The deeper tones ground the otherwise bright beige space, accented with shades of khaki and cream.

Brown + Olive Green

Werner Straube

Elevate aformal dining roomwith bold brown walls.

brown dining room with green

Credit:Werner Straube

Black accents and olive green furniture give this sophisticated space a modern edge inspired bymidcentury style.

The two warm shades blend harmoniously when set against clean white walls.

Variousshades of pinkrepeat on this dining rooms curtains, framed artwork, and furniture upholstery.

fuchsia-wood-tones-white-living-room-fca5bb96

Credit: David Tsay

When pairing similar colors, texture is everything.

A shag-style rug, bamboo blinds, and wood furniture prevent this family room from falling flat.

In this formal living room, the crisp white ceiling balances rich dark-brown walls.

white livingroom with brown couch and grey chairs

Credit: Kat Teutsch

Small pops of bright red add energy to the built-ins and furnishings.

Brown + Neutrals

Who says gray and brown cant work together?

Opt for ashade of gray with warm undertonesto keep the color palette cohesive.

gray room with wood desk

Credit:Max Kim-Bee

Brown + Warm Hues

Nature puts on a vibrant display in the fall.

A brown sofa is a practical choice, as is wood furniture.

Pale pastels never appear juvenile when dramatic brown fabrics or wood furniture are near.

living room with leather chairs and black walls built ins

Credit:David Greer

Brown + Purple

Dark-stained wood cabinetry paired withplum wallsheightens the drama in a bathroom.

green midcentury modern living room with plants

Credit: Carson Downing

retro living room with wooden rafters

Credit: John Bessler

Sofa wing back chairs living room

Credit: Werner Straube

brown living room with fireplace

Credit:Werner Straube

high-contrast navy blue bedroom

Credit: Anthony Masterson

Eclectic style living room

Credit: Annie Schlechter

elegant formal living room

Credit: Edmund Barr

brown white pink living room set up

Credit: David Tsay

bathroom

shades of brown color scheme

Credit: Stacey Branford