Brown and tan are versatile neutral colors that can work with a wide range of coordinating colors. When selecting coordinating colors, it’s important to consider the shade and tone of the brown and tan. Lighter tans and browns will pair well with lighter, brighter colors while deeper, richer browns and tans can handle darker, more saturated colors. Ultimately, the coordinating color palette depends on the specific brown or tan and the aesthetic you are trying to achieve.
Coordinating Colors for Light Tans
Light tans are soft, warm neutrals that add a subtle earthy feel. Some popular light tan shades include ivory, khaki, cream, champagne, desert sand, and fawn. These pale hues have a bright, airy quality to them that pairs nicely with other light, cheerful colors.
Pastels
Soft, powdery pastel shades complement the inherent delicacy in light tans. Colors like mint green, lavender, baby blue, blush pink, and butter yellow create a sweet, romantic look. The muted nature of pastels keeps them from overpowering the tan.
Neutrals
Different neutral tones add nice dimension and depth with light tan. Lighter neutrals like pearl, beige, and ecru blend seamlessly, while mid-tone neutrals like heather gray and taupe offer subtle contrast. Crisp white looks fresh against light tan, creating a beachy vibe.
Earth Tones
Earthy colors derived from nature accentuate the natural warmth in light tan. Airy sandstone, coral, seashell peach, mossy olive, and clay terracotta add harmonious, organic color. Avoid pairing muddy or intense earth tones that may overwhelm the lightness of tan.
Jewel Tones
Using a light hand, jewel tones can inject light tan with some bold yet elegant color. Soft rose quartz, serene turquoise, and relaxed sapphire blue give a modern, lively pop. Dilute the saturation of jewel tones like emerald, magenta, and violet to match the quiet energy of tan.
Coordinating Colors for Medium Tans
Medium tans like sand, almond, and desert have more pigment than light tans, adding flexible neutral contrast. They straddle the line between light and dark, making them highly versatile.
Nautical Colors
The inherent golden quality of medium tans ties in nicely with colors of the sea and sand. Creamy nautical whites, watery blues, from sky to teal, and anchoring reds, oranges and yellows inspired by life preservers, all pair attractively with medium tan.
Warm Brights
Vibrant yellow, orange, turquoise, lime and coral inject medium tan with cheerful energy. These clear, friendly hues liven things up while still harmonizing with the cozy warmth of tan. Avoid neon brights that may clash with the subtler nature of tan.
Deep Greens
Rich emerald, hunter and forest greens complement medium tan’s warm, earthy personality. Green conjures up images of lush vegetation against golden desert sand. From olives to sages, these deep greens have enough complexity to stand their ground with tan.
Browns
Shades of brown naturally coordinate with one another. Milk chocolate, cocoa, coffee, chestnut, hazelnut, caramel and toffee browns add lovely dimension and depth with medium tan. Contrasting shades prevent the pairing from becoming flat or monotonous.
Coordinating Colors for Dark Browns
Dark browns have a sophisticated, cocooning effect that calls for bolder, darker coordinating colors. Popular dark brown shades include chocolate, coffee, mahogany, chestnut, and ebony. These swarthy tones come alive when accentuated with intensity and richness.
Deep, Saturated Colors
The inherent boldness of dark brown allows it to be paired with dramatic, heavily saturated colors. Intense crimsons, deep plums and purples, ritzy golds and bronzes, sophisticated emeralds and sapphires energize and enhance the dark brown.
Moody Neutrals
Mysterious, muted neutrals complement dark brown’s gravitas and intimacy. Weathered gray, scuffed charcoal, dusty blue, and inky black all feel grounded and substantial against the enveloping darkness of deep brown.
Earthy Metal Tones
Metallic bronzes, coppers, brassy golds, rusty oranges, and silvery grays bring shimmering warmth and depth to dark brown. These elemental metals and minerals evoke an earthy, weathered atmosphere reminiscent of dark timber and stone.
Autumnal Colors
Dark brown associates strongly with the colors of autumn – harvest oranges, spicy reds, mustard yellows, rustic olives. These seasonal hues add to the cozy, natural atmosphere brought out by rich dark brown. Avoid neon brights that may jar against the enveloping nature of dark brown.
Neutral Colors that Work with Both Brown and Tan
Some versatile neutral colors coordinate beautifully with any shade of brown or tan. Relying on these harmonious neutrals is an easy way to design a cohesive color palette.
Cream
Cream has a soft, comforting quality that works equally well with light or dark browns and tans. It creates an elegant, sophisticated look.
Beige
This pale, warm neutral effortlessly blends with all shades of brown and tan for a clean, contemporary look.
Gray
Cool, moody gray acts as the perfect counterpoint to warm up both light and deep brown and tan tones.
Navy
From faded blue denim to rich inky navy, these sophisticated blues complement both the warm and cool aspects of brown and tan.
Greens
Complex green hues like sage, olive and moss have an earthiness that nuances all shades of brown and tan.
Factors that Impact Coordinating Colors
A few other factors influence which colors best complement different shades of brown and tan.
Room and Use
The purpose of the space should inform the color palette. A children’s playroom could utilize brighter, more playful colors with tan than a living room which may use more subtle sophisticated tones.
Adjacent Colors
Look at colors, furnishings, and materials already in the space and select coordinating colors that form a cohesive palette. For example, brown furniture would pair better with warm reds versus cool blues.
Lighting
The level and warmth or coolness of the lighting impacts color perception. For example, soft incandescent light emphasizes browns’ and tans’ warmth while fluorescent lighting can drain them of color intensity.
Personal Preference
Some colors simply appeal more than others so consider your tastes, style and mood board when finalizing a color scheme. Your personal response to the colors together matters most.
Examples of Color Palettes Coordinating with Brown and Tan
Here are some examples of attractive color palettes with different brown and tan bases:
Light Tan and Soft Pastels
| Almond tan | Lavender | Mint green | Blush pink |
Medium Tan and Warm Brights
| Khaki tan | Coral | Turquoise | Yellow |
Dark Brown and Deep Jewel Tones
| Chocolate brown | Emerald green | Plum | Sapphire blue |
Light Tan and Earth Tones
| Fawn tan | Moss green | Sandstone | Terracotta |
Conclusion
Brown and tan offer a versatile neutral foundation for countless gorgeous color schemes. Light browns and tans pair well with soft, muted hues like pastels, neutrals and whispering earth tones. Medium shades can handle brighter, bolder colors like primary hues and rich greens. Deep brown comes to life alongside dramatic saturated jewel tones, moody neutrals and autumnal colors. Regardless of the brown or tan shade, rely on harmonizing neutrals like cream, beige, gray and navy to seamlessly tie a palette together. Most importantly, choose colors that appeal to your personal taste to create a warm, welcoming space with brown and tan.