Light brown is a versatile and neutral color that can work well in many design schemes. While pure brown contains only brown pigments, light brown is created by mixing brown with other colors to tone it down and give it a softer, lighter look. There are a few different color combinations that can be used to make light brown.
Mixing Primary Colors
One way to make light brown is by mixing the three primary colors – red, yellow and blue. Primary colors are colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors, and all other colors are derived from them. To make a light brown:
- Start with a yellow base, which brings warmth and brightness.
- Add a small amount of red, which brings in a brownish undertone.
- Add just a touch of blue, which grays down the brown slightly.
The exact proportions will vary depending on how light or dark you want the final brown to be. More yellow gives a lighter, warmer brown. More blue results in a cooler, darker taupe-like brown. When mixing primaries, it’s best to start with small amounts and gradually tweak the proportions until you achieve the desired light brown.
Mixing Secondary Colors
Another option is to mix secondary colors, which are created by combining two primary colors. For light brown, the secondary colors you’ll want are:
- Orange – Made from yellow and red.
- Purple – Made from blue and red.
- Green – Made from yellow and blue.
Mixing complementary secondary colors, such as orange and purple or red-orange and blue-purple, will create a nice balance. You can also mix adjacent secondaries, such as orange and green.
Some examples of color combinations using secondaries:
- Orange + Purple
- Red-orange + Blue-purple
- Orange + Green
- Yellow-orange + Blue-green
Again, adjust the proportions based on how light or saturated you want the final brown to look. More orange gives a warmer, lighter brown, while more purple results in a cooler, darker brown.
Mixing Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are made by combining a primary color with a secondary color adjacent to it on the color wheel. These include subtle color mixtures like red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple and red-purple. Mixing adjacent tertiary colors together can result in natural, soft browns.
Some tertiary color combinations that make light brown:
- Red-orange + Yellow-orange
- Yellow-orange + Yellow-green
- Red-purple + Blue-purple
Blending the colors between a warm tertiary like red-orange or yellow-orange with a cool tertiary like blue-purple or blue-green works well. Varying the proportions shifts the brown from warm to cool in tone.
Mixing Analogous Colors
Using analogous colors, which are adjacent colors on the color wheel, is another harmonious approach to making light brown. Analogous color schemes use colors located next to each other on the wheel, which naturally create pleasant color combinations.
Some analogous mixes for light brown include:
- Yellow + Yellow-Orange + Yellow-Green
- Orange + Red-Orange + Red
- Blue + Blue-Purple + Purple
Mixing analogous warmer colors like yellows and oranges makes a light, warm brown. Mixing analogous cooler colors like blues and purples makes a cooler, grayish brown. Vary the percentages of each analogous color to get the exact light brown hue desired.
Mixing Brown with Tints and Shades
Another simple option is to start with pure brown paint, and then mix in white, black, or gray to lighten or tone down the brown.
- Add white to make the color lighter and softer. The more white, the lighter the brown.
- Add gray to create a cooler, muted brown.
- Add a small amount of black to subtly deepen and refine the brown.
Pay attention to the undertones of the base brown paint used. Warm browns with orange, red or yellow undertones will create different effects compared to cool browns with blue, green or purple undertones when mixed with white, black or gray.
Mixing Brown with Accent Colors
Small amounts of accent colors can be added to brown to create unique light brown shades with extra dimensions.
Some examples of accent colors that work well with brown:
- Pink – Adds a warm, rosy quality
- Peach – Infuses a golden glow
- Yellow – Brings vibrancy and brightness
- Green – Provides an earthy, natural look
- Blue – Cools down warmer browns
- Purple – Neutralizes orangey-browns
The accent colors harmonize nicely with brown while giving the light brown mixture more visual interest. Start with a small amount of accent color and adjust to your liking.
Mixing Brown with Its Complementary Color
Using colors opposite each other on the color wheel often creates attractive color combinations. The complementary color of brown is blue. Mixing brown with its complement results in a neutralized, subtle light brown.
Some examples of brown and blue mixes:
- Warm brown + cool blue
- Orange-brown + blue-purple
- Red-brown + blue-green
The brown takes down the intensity of the blue, while the blue softens and cools the brown. Different browns and blues can be used to create a wide range of light brown shades.
Mixing Brown with Split Complements
Split complement color schemes use one color plus the two colors adjacent to its complement. This creates a more varied color palette than using direct complements.
For brown, this would involve browns mixed with:
- Blue-green and red-purple
- Blue-purple and red-orange
- Blue-green and orange
These combinations balance out the brown nicely while adding nuance and visual interest. Adjust the percentages of each until you find a pleasing light brown blend.
Using Pre-Mixed Paint
For convenience, many paint brands offer pre-mixed shades of light brown paint, so you don’t have to mix your own. Some popular pre-mixed light browns include:
- Khaki – A warm, yellow-brown
- Beige – A soft, creamy neutral
- Tan – A yellow-orange brown
- Fawn – A quiet, grayish light brown
- Buff – A warm, reddish-brown
- Oatmeal – A soft, muted, versatile light brown
These are just a sampling – there are many other pre-mixed light brown paint colors available from most major paint manufacturers. Having a swatch book makes it easy to find the perfect light brown for your needs.
Conclusion
Light brown can be mixed by combining brown with other colors to soften it and make it lighter. Some easy combinations include mixing primary colors, secondary colors, complementary colors, analogous colors, tints and shades of brown. Pre-mixed light brown paints are also readily available. With many possibilities, you can find the ideal light brown color for any design project.
| Color Mix | Resulting Light Brown |
|---|---|
| Yellow + red + blue | Soft, neutral light brown |
| Orange + purple | Warm, muted light brown |
| Red-orange + yellow-orange | Golden light brown |
| Brown + white | Soft, creamy light brown |
| Brown + green | Natural, earthy light brown |