Brown – a color that spans a whole spectrum of emotion from bland to epicurean; such is the protean characteristic of this hue. In the hands of a skilled designer, a space painted with this color could change the room’s ambience depending on the shade chosen.
A personal favorite is that of hot, dark chocolate lazily flowing down in thick folds. Luxurious, voluptuous, earthy, hedonistic, tempting, decadent – just a few words that come to mind. It’s a color that invites, embraces and caresses. It gives a feeling of belonging. Maybe this isn’t so surprising since brown is the color of the earth and the color of skin.
Masculine and Feminine
There’s also something old world about brown. It speaks of Establishment, solidity, wealth and power. From gentlemen’s private clubs, to posh hotel suites with their plush piles of virgin-wool carpets, to trendy smoky speakeasies with jazz playing in the background, to cozy bedrooms with bed linens made of 100% pure Egyptian cotton with a thread count of 1000, brown is the preferred color. The warmth of the hue and its deep tones give an air of privacy, intimacy, grounding.
Brown, although considered a masculine color, is co-opted by more and more women nowadays. Taupe and blush really work well together.
The Browns from Boysen
Brown is a composite color that combines yellow, red and black (or blue). Boysen has different shades of this hue, here’s a sample palette.
If there’s anything here that tickles your fancy, go visit a Mix & Match Station close to you and see the swatches.
