13 Best Sherwin Williams Brown Paint Colors (Trend 2023)

Brown paint colors have always excelled at capturing that natural, earthy feel and vibe for any space or home. While they don’t often show up in interior and exterior decor, they can easily become a favorite when used correctly.

You might have noticed that these paint colors have been on the rise lately. The reason is that the trends recently began to move towards warm colors, and this will not stop anytime soon.

As such, I have made a list of the best Sherwin Williams Brown Paint Colors for 2023. Whether you want one for your home or workspace, I have got you covered!

Brown Paint Colors

The color brown occurs throughout nature and can easily represent warmth and the feeling of home. As such, it is more prevalent in home decor, where it shows up on furniture or doors and sometimes on interior and exterior walls.

According to Wikipedia, brown paint colors come from a mixture of orange and black, with varying shades that depend on the volume of black pigments in the mix. On the other hand, you can get brown using a mixture of green and red from the RGB color model.

Generally, brown paint colors fall on the warm side and can’t be grouped based on temperature readings. However, we can still make some distinctions based on their LRV, which is an important property of every paint color out there.

Types of Brown Paint Colors (LRV)

LRV refers to Light Reflectance Value and it is a numerical value that indicates how well a paint color reflects light. This property forms the basis for understanding if a paint color goes well in dark spaces or not.

It runs on a scale of 0 – 100, but the only colors with values 0 and 100 are true black and white, respectively. Higher LRVs indicate strong, reflecting power, which means that the paint color will absorb little light, making it suitable for dark areas.

Low Light Reflectance Values indicate strong absorbing and weak reflecting power, which is peculiar to dark paint colors. This is why experts generally recommend using them only in bright space, except you pair them with paint colors that have significantly high LRVs.

Dark Brown Paint Colors

As I mentioned earlier, dark brown paint colors have low light reflectance values. The larger percentage of brown paint colors fall in this category and, thus, work better in well-lit spaces and rooms.

While most homeowners use them as neutral in relevant settings, you will probably encounter just a few. The reason is that the paint colors have low versatility when compared to the likes of white and gray paint colors.

Remember that brown reads warm normally, therefore, using one with a low LRV in small dark spaces will give a gloomy and choked-up look.

Bright Brown Paint Colors

Although few, some brown paint colors have enough reflecting power to perform okay in dim rooms or spaces. Most of the time, they get categorized into the Greige paint color family. However, you can still get the desired earthy and nature-themed vibe for your space by using them on walls.

Brown paint colors that fall into this category don’t go well on cabinets and doors. You should avoid using them on such and instead, pair them with white trim colors for splendid results.

Pros and Cons of Brown Paint Colors

Pros

Nature-themed

Brown Paint Colors fit seamlessly into earthy-themed decor because they take the look of rich soil. On its own, it can easily look plain and ordinary, but when paired with the right colors, brown can effortlessly look breathtakingly beautiful.

Great for contrasts

If you want a paint color that contrasts well with white and has some extra energy to it, brown can fit in for you. Although mostly plain, the paint color looks more energetic than gray and more lively than black.

Depth

Brown paint colors will never wash out in bright light. Also, they rarely get influenced by other colors in spaces.

Great on furniture

Using a brown paint color on furniture and doors gives a natural look because the normal color of polished wood is brown. If you choose to use the paint color on cabinets or other woodwork, lighting might not be as important in such a setting.

Cons

Mostly Low LRVs

The larger percentage of brown paint colors have low Light Reflectance Values that limit their versatility. However, pairing them with significantly brighter colors can help in some large-spaced areas.

Limited Versatility

Apart from low LRVs that reduce the places you can use them, brown paint colors don’t fit into many decor ideas. Most of the time, they work best with specific themes, unlike popular paint colors, e.g., grays, greiges, blues, etc.

Best Pairings for Sherwin Williams Brown Paint Colors

The following paint color families pair well with Sherwin Williams Brown Paint Colors.

Grays, Beiges, and Greiges

Medium-toned gray paint colors go great with brown on interior walls. More often than not, earthy-themed decor use shades of brown and gray or beige.

Navy and Pale Blues

Not only do they look good together in interior spaces, Navy and pale blue paint colors read cool, creating a balanced vibe with brown’s warmth.

White Paint Colors

With the brightest LRVs of any paint color category, white paint colors pair nice brown in any space. The pure vibes from white goes nicely with brown’s richness and and sometimes plain looks.

Orange Paint Colors

Remember that brown can come from a mixture of orange and black. Pairing orange and brown together works best for autumn-themed decor, thanks to the similar but distinct shades.

Red Paint Colors

If you want an energetic vibe in your space, try pairing brown paint colors with red. Their vibe and undertones can be exactly what you need to charge up the atmosphere!

13 Best Sherwin Williams Brown Paint Colors (Trend 2023)

1. Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze (SW 7048)

Although originally a superb blend of brown and gray, Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze can easily look greige or dark gray. However, it retains all the rich and warmth of brown and the majestic look of bronze.

The paint color won the Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year, thanks to its rising popularity for living and workspace. SW Urbane Bronze also works wonders on cabinets and doors.

It has an LRV of 8 and shouldn’t be used alone in dark spaces. The reason is that Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze absorbs light and will cast a gloomy look on dim-lit spaces. On the other hand, you can use it on accent walls if you are working with bright colors that fall in the category I covered above.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Urbane Bronze	8	R: 84 G: 80 B: 74	Gray	Warm

2. Sherwin Williams Tea Leaf (SW 9604)

Here we have a paint color that looks carton-brown, which the color most people associate with brown. Sherwin Williams Tea Leaf has an LRV of 9 and gives you an authentic and undiluted brown look.

However, the paint color belongs to the Emerald Designer Edition and might not be readily available for purchase. Sherwin Williams Tea Leaf feels warm and welcoming, especially when used in large spaces in the home.

It has well-hidden undertones because it maintains its depth and richness always.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Tea Leaf	9	R: 98 G: 83 B: 70	Subtle Green	Warm

3. Sherwin Williams Black Fox (SW 7020)

Sherwin Williams Black Fox falls in the category of black neutral but has very strong brown and greige undertones that give it a solid brown look. The only time this paint color ever looks black is when used in dark spaces. You can easily see its resemblance to dark chocolate and the sophisticated vibes that accompany its look.

The paint color has an LRV of 7 and can look mesmerizing on accent walls or in workspaces. Sherwin Williams Black Fox goes great with bright colors like SW Eider White and Greek Villa.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Black Fox	7	R: 79 G: 72 B: 66	Greige and Brown	Warm

4. Sherwin Williams Porpoise (SW 7047)

If you desire a dreamy look for your space or room and want a fitting dark neutral, go for Sherwin Williams Porpoise. The paint color not only brings the richness of fertile soil, it can also warm up your space for a cozy feel.

Sherwin Williams Porpoise looks great on accent walls and can give a lovely pop when paired with bright colors like SW Eider White. It has an LRV of 13 and a luxurious appearance.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Porpoise	13	R: 107 G: 100 B: 91	Dark Gray and Greige	Warm

5. Sherwin Williams Turkish Coffee (SW 6076)

You can’t miss the energetic look of Sherwin Williams Turkish Coffee in any space. The dark brown paint color adds some red to the mix to give it an adventurous vibe. Whether you choose to use it in interior or exterior spaces, the paint color will not wash out in bright light.

Sherwin Williams Turkish Coffee feels welcoming and warm, hence its popularity in dining spaces. However, the paint color can also work wonders in offices and workspaces

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Turkish Coffee	5	R: 77 G: 57 B: 48	Red and Subtle Yellow	Warm

6. Sherwin Williams Homestead Brown (SW 7515)

Although it’s in the same color strip as SW Turkish Coffee, Sherwin Williams Homestead Brown has a totally different look and vibe. Where the former looks vibrant and vivid, the latter leans more into a relaxing and welcoming vibe, hence its name.

Sherwin Williams Homestead Brown gives you that feeling of having hot coffee on a cold winter morning with a loved one. As one would expect, the paint color feels more at home in living spaces (pun intended).

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Homestead Brown	12	R: 110 G: 95 B: 83	Gray and Beige	Warm

7. Sherwin Williams Dark Clove (SW 9183)

Sherwin Williams Dark Clove might have the same LRV as SW Turkish Coffee and belong to the same color. However, the paint color brings more depth to spaces, thanks to its rich and deep brown look.

Despite its luxurious look, avoid using SW Dark Clove in areas with limited lighting, as the paint color will look black. While you can pair it with brighter colors, using it on cabinets remains a much safer way to integrate it into your decor.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Dark Clove	5	R: 76 G: 61 B: 49	Red and Dark Gray	Warm

8. Sherwin Williams Oak Leaf Brown (SW 7054)

Like its name implies, Sherwin Williams Oak Leaf Brown has a natural leaf look that makes you feel like you are taking a walk in the woods. It has an LRV of 10 and goes great in both interior and exterior spaces.

Sherwin Williams Oak Leaf Brown fits well into forest-themed decor, thanks to its gray and green undertones. Also, the paint color has impressive versatility and pairs nicely with other colors like SW Nuance and Tempe Star.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Oak Leaf Brown	10	R: 100 G: 90 B: 75	Gray and Green	Warm

9. Sherwin Williams Warm Stone (SW 7032)

One would expect this paint color to look a little brighter than others on this list because of its LRV of 20. However, Sherwin Williams Warm Stone is a deep and dark brown paint color with undertones that keep it warm in any setting.

It goes great with Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray or Incredible White for a wonderful homely vibe in living spaces. As with other dark colors on this list, avoid using SW Warm Stone in dim-lit spaces.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Warm Stone	20	R: 136 G: 123 B: 108	Gray and Greige	Warm

10. Sherwin Williams Status Bronze (SW 7034)

Sherwin Williams Status Bronze has an LRV of 8 and can bring a rich welcoming vibe to your home. While you can detect some hints of red sometimes, the paint color maintains its deep brown look, regardless of lighting.

It reads warm and can easily heat up your space if you don’t add other cool colors or lighting. Note that Sherwin Williams Status Bronze doesn’t go so great on woodwork. Therefore, it’s generally better to use the paint color on walls.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Status Bronze	8	R: 92 G: 77 B: 60	Greige and Little bits of Red	Warm

11. Sherwin Williams Enduring Bronze (SW 7055)

Sherwin Williams Enduring Bronze leaves a lasting impression on anyone wherever you use it. The paint color also does an excellent job of hiding its undertones and maintaining its look, regardless of any color you pair with it.

It has an LRV of 7 and belongs to the same color strip as SW Oak Leaf Brown. Sherwin Williams Enduring Bronze is goes great in interior and exterior spaces as a dark and warm neutral.

Like its name implies, the paint color reminds one of the enduring warmth and love found in a home.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Enduring Bronze	7	R: 85 G: 76 B: 62	Greige and Little bits of Green	Warm

12. Sherwin Williams Pier (SW 7545)

With an LRV of 9, one would expect this lovely neutral to look dark than its sample shows. However, Sherwin Williams Pier adds some cheerfulness to its rich brown look, giving it a little more brightness than usual.

SW Pier belongs to the Timeless Paint Colors collections and gives a refreshing vibe always. It pairs nicely with cool bright colors like Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Grecian Ivory. However, the paint color can standalone in exterior spaces, thanks to its depth.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Pier	9	R: 99 G: 82 B: 62	Greige and Little bits of Green	Warm

13. Sherwin Williams Rockwood Dark Brown (SW 2808)

If you want a dark neutral that borders between brown and orange, Sherwin Williams Rockwood Dark Brown is what you need. The paint color can lean towards either of the color categories depending on the lighting and color pairings in your space.

Sherwin Williams Rockwood Dark Brown belongs to the Historic Paint Colors collections and fits nicely into vintage and Victorian decor. It has an LRV of 8 and can yield splendid results in dark spaces if paired with brighter paint colors.

Paint Color	LRV	RGB Value	Undertones	Reading
Rockwood Dark Brown	8	R: 95 G: 77 B: 67	Orange and Gray	Warm

Conclusion

Although they don’t fit into as many pairings and decor themes as SW white and gray neutrals, Sherwin Williams Brown Paint Colors possess impressive levels of richness. They excel in both interior and exterior spaces, especially with brighter and more energetic paint colors.

If you want something a little more versatile and still suitable for earthy-themed decor, check out Sherwin Williams Greige Paint Colors.