A brown living room can feel dull and uninspiring. While brown is a warm, natural color, too much of it can make a space feel dark and dated. The good news is there are many simple ways to inject color into a brown living room to liven it up. Whether you add pops of color with accessories or make over the room with a fresh coat of colorful paint, even small changes can make a big visual impact. Here are some tips on easy ways to add color to a brown living room.
Add Brightly Colored Accessories
One of the easiest ways to add hits of color to a brown living room is through accessories like throw pillows, area rugs, and blankets. Choose accessories in colors that complement the existing brown while also creating contrast, like blues, greens, reds, oranges, or yellows. Bold patterns and colors will stand out against the neutral brown background. Place colorful accents throughout the living room for maximum visual impact. Focus on adding color to seating areas, coffee tables, shelves, and walls.
| Accessory Type | Color Suggestions |
|---|---|
| Throw pillows | Red, teal, lime green, cobalt blue, sunny yellow |
| Area rugs | Persian styles in red, blue, and ivory |
| Blankets | Southwestern patterns in orange, turquoise, and purple |
| Artwork | Black and white photographs, abstract art with pops of color |
| Sculptures | Colorful glass, pottery, or wood |
When selecting colored accessories, aim for about 3-5 core accent colors that are repeated throughout the room. This helps the color feel cohesive. Mix patterns and textures as well for visual interest. Just go slowly to avoid the space feeling too busy.
Update Window Treatments
Your brown living room likely came with neutral window treatments like white or beige blinds and curtains. Switch these out for colorful window treatments to let light and color shine into the space. Opt for curtains, valances or roman shades in brighter hues and prints. For blinds, look for ones with colored slats or stripes. Hang floor-length curtains high and wide to maximize light and draw the eye up, making the room feel more open.
Here are some colorful window treatment ideas for a brown living room:
– Pair white curtains with a vibrant patterned valance in shades of orange, yellow, green or red
– Hang floor-length curtains in a bold print like graphic zigzags or large florals
– Install casual roman shades in a colorful striped fabric
– Get creative patterned blinds with colorful horizontal slats or stripes
– Layer neutral sheer curtains with printed curtains for visual depth
Aim to pick window treatments that complement your existing furniture and accessories while also adding color contrast. Bold patterns work well to energize a dull brown room.
Paint an Accent Wall
Painting one wall a different color than the rest is an easy way to add a punch of color to a brown living room. The accent wall draws the eye, becoming a focal point. Choose a wall with minimal windows and doors for painting. Pick a vibrant hue a few shades lighter or darker than your brown walls. Here are accent wall color ideas to try:
| Current Wall Color | Accent Wall Color |
|---|---|
| Mocha brown | Burnt orange or olive green |
| Taupe | Sapphire blue or golden yellow |
| Beige | Brick red or sage green |
| Chocolate brown | Royal purple or seafoam green |
If your living room has high ceilings, painting the accent wall color on the ceiling is another option. Use the accent wall to highlight a specific area like behind the sofa, fireplace, or entertainment center. The pops of color immediately jazz up the room.
Update Dated Brown Furniture
Over time, brown furniture can start to look faded and worn. Instead of replacing it, give tired furniture new life with coats of colorful paint. Almost any solid wood or veneer piece can be painted. Sand and use spray paint formulated for furniture. Opt for glossy finishes in vivid shades like lime green, sky blue or bright white for maximum impact.
Painting worn brown furniture in fresh colors is an affordable way to update the living room that still keeps your existing furniture footprint intact. Plus, you can always repaint down the road. If a complete overhaul seems too bold, start smaller by just painting the inside backs of open bookcases in a vibrant color for a fun surprise pop of color.
Layer Colorful Rugs
Layering rugs is a clever way to infuse color into a brown living room floor. Start with a neutral foundation like a jute or sisal rug. Layer a colorful area rug on top in a size that fits underneath the front legs of major seating. Choose a patterned rug with lots of bright colors and interesting textures for visual depth. The layered rugs can also help define sitting areas within the open living room.
Some layer rug color combinations to try:
– Natural jute rug + Persian-style red and blue patterned rug
– Seagrass rug + Southwestern stripes in orange and turquoise
– Sisal rug + Moroccan trellis pattern in yellow and green
Vary the pile height and materials of each layer for more dimension. Keep the rugs large enough so they don’t feel busy. The color and interest underfoot make a big impact.
Display Colorful Collections
Displaying colorful collections is an easy way to decorate a brown living room while also showing off your personality. For shelves and tables, display collections in one vivid color like:
| Collection Item | Color Theme |
|---|---|
| Glass bottles | Aqua |
| Vintage pottery | Cobalt blue |
| Framed botanical prints | Green |
| Stacks of colorful books | Crimson red |
A mass of one vibrant color makes a major style statement versus items scattered randomly. For bonus points, repeat the color from your collection in your window treatments, area rug, or accent wall to tie it all together.
If your collections include a mix of colors, group items by color sections for visual impact. The color blocking effect against the brown backdrop looks bold and beautiful. Change up what is on display seasonally to keep your room looking fresh.
Add Pops of Pattern
Inject energy into a tired brown living room with pops of vibrant pattern. Introduce patterns on furniture like a statement chair or pouf. Choose graphic prints in contrast colors like stripes, geometrics, or abstract florals. Start small with just one or two patterned furniture pieces so the room doesn’t get too busy.
Here are some ways to add pops of pattern to a brown living room:
– Patterned slipper chair in teal and ivory zigzags
– Distressed leather pouf with embroidery in reds, pinks, and purples
– Benches or stools with Moroccan trellis upholstery in blues and yellows
– Patterned cushions in bright ikat or floral prints
– Vibrant striped or chevron area rugs
Mixing multiple patterns works best when they share similar color palettes. The patterns make a big visual impact against the solid brown background. Have fun and get creative with unique accents that show off your style.
Fresh Coat of Colorful Paint
For the biggest color transformation, consider repainting the entire living room in more vibrant, saturated hues. Painting over dark brown walls with lighter colors makes the whole room appear brighter and more spacious. The key is choosing the right undertones that complement the existing brown.
Here are suggested paint colors for brown living rooms:
| Current Paint Color | New Color Suggestion |
|---|---|
| Espresso brown | Benjamin Moore Wythe Blue |
| Mocha | Sherwin-Williams Passionate Plum |
| Chocolate brown | Behr Candlelight |
| Chestnut brown | Valspar Dockside |
Look for colors with hints of orange, red, green or blue undertones to complement brown walls while still making a bright color statement. You can even do an ombre effect, painting the top half of walls a lighter color. Painting ceilings white or off-white will further reflect light and make the space feel more open.
Conclusion
A brown living room doesn’t have to be boring. With a few simple upgrades like colorful accents, window treatments, rugs, and fresh paint, you can easily transform the space from drab to fab. The key is infusing bold, saturated hues that provide contrast with the brown. Aim for a cohesive color story that is repeated in accessories, artwork, furniture, and paint colors. Don’t be afraid to take risks and have fun with vibrant colors and prints that show off your personality. A colorful living room redesign can be done on any budget. The end result will be a warm and welcoming space your guests will love.