All about Brown!

What are your feelings about brown? Does it have positive connotations and evoke hot chocolate, tree trunks and your trusted doggy’s fur? Or can you not move on from horrible brown swirly patterned carpets and heavy wooden panelling?

Love it or hate it, I predict it will be a colour trend that will be around for a long time, especially now Pantone have announced Mocha Mousse as their 'Colour of the Year' for 2025.

Stanley always has his paw on the pulse when it comes to colour!

So to deep dive into this colour trend, I have asked my fabulous friends and colour experts Marianne Shilingford, creative director at Dulux, and Colour & Design Psychology Expert Karen Haller, what their thoughts are about brown. Here is what they had to say...

What are your feelings about Brown?

Marianne: I love a bit of brown, but like many people I have a problem with its name.  “I’m going to paint the kitchen brown” isn’t something that sounds very appealing and when I hear the word ’brown’, I think of sensible shoes and instant gravy.  And yet it is a colour name that covers so many of the most gorgeous hues on earth.  I’m now thinking of walnut wood, chocolate, conkers, leather and the silky fur of a friendly spaniel. 

Karen: Brown is like the dependable friend you can always rely on. In the world of colour psychology, brown often calls to us when we’re craving that grounded, supportive feeling. It’s the colour that says, ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got your back.’ Whether it’s the rich warmth of chocolate, the natural beauty of wood, or the light touch of tans and caramels, brown wraps us in a comforting hug of stability and reassurance.

Why do you think it has become a trend?

Marianne: We have so many beautiful browns in our colour collections that are starting to have their moment back in the spotlight having been mainly hiding in the shadows since the 80s. And now the 80s are cool again it’s back with a bang, plus it’s such a versatile colour to pair with other colours.  We should put firmly back on our decorative radars and the darker and warmer it is, the more interesting and timeless it looks. Think bitter choccy and mahogany.

Karen: Brown has definitely been making a comeback over the last few years. It’s a colour people are increasingly bringing into their homes because it feels warm and inviting. Plus, Pantone naming it their 2025 Colour of the Year has given it an extra boost. With their collaborations with so many home brands, it’s no surprise brown is popping up everywhere - from cosy textiles to furniture finishes. It’s that perfect balance of timeless and trendy that really resonates right now.

Rialto Terazzo tiles, Ca'Pietra. Tania's Garden mural in Cocoa, Clarissa Hulse.

Will you be introducing anything brown into your life?

Marianne: I have painted my sitting room in Dulux Heritage Cherry Truffle (always easily seduced by the confectionery). It’s a colour that makes everything you pair with it look like it cost you a fortune. It’s both classy and cosy which is hard to pull off and makes grown up relaxing rooms even more relaxing. What’s not to love?

Karen: I already have quite a bit of brown in my home, thanks to natural wood—it’s such a beautiful way to bring in warmth and texture. That said, brown isn’t a colour I’d personally choose for paint, but I do love how versatile it is. From light tans and caramel tones to rich chocolate browns, there are so many ways to introduce it into a space, whether through furniture, accessories, or fabrics. It’s a colour that can really ground a room.