Golden brown is a rich, warm, earthy color that has many different uses across art, fashion, interior design and more. To make golden brown by mixing paint colors, there are two primary color combinations that work well: orange and brown, or yellow and red.
Combining Orange and Brown
One way to make golden brown is by mixing the primary colors orange and brown together. Orange is a secondary color made from the primary colors red and yellow. Brown is made by mixing all three primary colors – red, yellow and blue – together but with more red to give it that deep, earthy brown tone.
By taking orange paint, which already contains yellow and red, and mixing it with mainly red and some blue to get brown, you end up with a vibrant golden brown color. The amount of each color can be adjusted to make the golden brown more yellow-orange or more reddish-brown depending on the exact hue desired.
Some examples of paint colors that work well for this are:
- Orange – Cadmium Orange or Mars Orange
- Brown – Burnt Umber or Raw Umber
Mixing a bright cadmium or mars orange with a deep burnt or raw umber brown produces a classic golden brown shade. The orange gives it vibrancy and brightness while the umber brown adds earthiness.
Combining Yellow and Red
The other way to make golden brown is by mixing the primary colors yellow and red together. When blended, these two primary colors produce the perfect balance for a golden brown hue.
Some examples of yellow and red paint colors that mix well are:
- Yellow – Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow or Yellow Ochre
- Red – Cadmium Red, Vermillion, Indian Red or Venetian Red
A bright cadmium or lemon yellow mixed with a vivid cadmium red, vermillion or venetian red makes a beautifully rich golden brown. The yellow gives it brightness and warmth while the red provides depth.
Using paints with good opacity and pigment load will result in the most vivid golden brown. More opaque paints mix together better than transparent ones.
Proportions for Mixing Golden Brown
The exact proportions needed to mix golden brown will vary slightly depending on which specific paint pigments you use. However, a good starting point is:
- If mixing orange and brown:
- 60% orange paint
- 40% brown paint
- If mixing yellow and red:
- 70% yellow paint
- 30% red paint
Adjust the proportions from there to get your perfect golden brown. Mix the colors thoroughly before painting to ensure an even color.
When mixing colors, it’s always best to start with small amounts of paint first. This way you don’t waste paint and can gradually adjust the shades to your liking. Mixing just a dab of each color first makes it easier to achieve the exact golden brown tone you want.
Tips for Mixing Golden Brown
Here are some helpful tips for successfully mixing a beautiful golden brown:
- Use a plastic or wooden palette for mixing – metal can affect the colors
- Make sure paints are fluid and well-mixed before blending colors
- Mix with a palette knife for uniform blending
- Add a third color like burnt sienna for more depth
- Start with thick paint rather than thin for better color mixing
- Mix enough paint to complete your whole project to avoid color variations
- Let test strips dry fully before assessing the color
- Adjust color with more yellow, orange or red as needed
- Remix occasionally during painting as colors can separate
Taking your time to properly blend the colors together is important for creating an even, consistent golden brown. Testing strips allow you to perfect the shade before committing it to your actual artwork or project.
Uses for Golden Brown
There are endless possibilities for using golden brown in design and art. Here are some of the most popular ways to utilize this warm, rich color:
- Painting -Golden brown makes an excellent color for painting elements like earth, trees, animals, fall leaves, wood, etc. It brings warmth and depth to artwork.
- Fashion – Golden browns pair beautifully with other natural tones like cream, tan and black in clothing and accessories.
- Interior design – Golden brown can be used when painting walls or furniture to create a cozy, welcoming look. It also compliments wood tones.
- Jewelry – Jewelry featuring golden brown gemstones like tiger’s eye, citrine, bronze and copper is striking and elegant.
- Cosmetics – Eye shadows, blushes, lipsticks and nail polishes in golden brown shades complement most complexions.
- Crafting – Craft papers, ribbons, fabrics, yarns and other materials come in gorgeous golden brown hues perfect for DIY projects.
The warmth and earthiness of golden brown makes it a versatile, easy to use color for nearly any type of creative work. Keep golden brown’s rich aesthetic in mind and it will lend beauty to your projects.
Matching Golden Brown
If you need to match an existing golden brown precisely, these options can help identify or recreate the color:
- Use a color matching system like Pantone, Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore or Dulux to match a swatch of the golden brown.
- Scan the golden brown with a digital color matching tool to get its exact RGB or HEX color values.
- Refer to the above mixing ratios to recreate the golden brown from basic paint colors.
- Adjust premixed golden brown paints like “Golden Brown” or “Raw Sienna” with more yellow, orange or red to get an accurate match.
- Look for golden brown options at arts and crafts stores if matching a material like yarn, fabric or clay.
With some careful color comparisons and mixing tests, you can recreate any golden brown shade. Keep sample swatches, take detailed notes and don’t forget to let test strips dry fully before assessing the color.
Conclusion
Golden brown is a timeless, versatile color that can be easily created by mixing the primary colors orange and brown or yellow and red. With a wide range of uses across artistic mediums and design applications, its earthy warmth and brightness make golden brown universally appealing. By following some basic color theory and mixing techniques, you can easily achieve the perfect golden brown tone for your next project.
Color Mixing Ratios
| Color Combination | Color 1 | Color 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Orange + Brown | 60% Orange | 40% Brown |
| Yellow + Red | 70% Yellow | 30% Red |
