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Brown is usually composed of a number of hues. It contains
- black
- red/orange
- yellow
- green
- gray
- even purple.
But on the other hand, it is much more 'biased' than clean whites, blacks and grays.
The psychological effects of the color brown depend largely on the mix of the colors that have gone into it, and when you look at the little swatches below you will probably like some and dislike others.
Brown can be quite a 'yummy' color (think chocolate, coffee, cookies); it reminds us of creature comforts and the Good Life.
Nature is full of the color brown, too – in many parts of the world, brown is the color of the earth, and most plants have got at least some brown in them. This is why the psychological effects of the color brown are often described as reassuring, safe and stabilizing - we tend to feel safe in nature.
In an interior design scheme, the color brown can add warmth and depth. It can inject earthiness into a cool or neutral color combination and make it more welcoming.
Obviously, the psychological effects of the color brown vary with its shades and tints, and also with the materials that ‘carry’ the color.
Chic, beautifully finished wooden furniture and floors in natural hues can look very sophisticated.
On the other hand, raw wood and woollen textiles in natural shades of brown have a more rustic effect.
Apart from wood and natural fibers, baked clay can add beautiful shades of the color brown to your home: Terracotta, raw/burnt umber and sienna, as well as red and yellow ochre are earth colors that have been used for thousands of years and can be a source of rich, organic, warming interiors.
For information on the effects of other colors, please click any of the following links:
White, Gray, Black
Yellow, Orange, Red, Pink
Purple, Blue, Green
Click here for some general information about Color Psychology.
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