Choosing an area rug to go with brown furniture can be tricky. You want something that complements the brown while adding visual interest. Well, as a professional custom rugs manufacturer, I’m going to walk you through the best rug color options to match brown sofas, chairs, tables, and more.
Why Color Matching is Important
Picking the right rug color is crucial for pulling your living room together. What color area rug goes with brown furniture comes down to figuring out which hues look cohesive.
The goal is to create a space that “flows” and feels unified. That’s why I always start by determining the undertones of any brown furniture pieces. Are they more red? Gray? Once that’s decided, choosing a rug hue gets much easier.
So let’s dive into the hues that work best…
What Color Area Rug Goes With Brown Furniture?
Warm Rug Colors For Brown Furniture
Brown is a cool color. And it looks fantastic paired with warm hues. Think rich reds, oranges, yellows, or tans that can break up the richness of the brown.
What makes these colors “warm”? They evoke imagery of things like deserts, sunsets, campfires, etc.
Let’s take a closer look at the warm options for matching an area rug with brown furniture:
Red Area Rugs
Red is an energetic color. It can conjure feelings from excitement to anger to romance. And a vibrant red floor covering can infuse brown spaces with life.
The key with red is picking the right shade. Here are some red rug ideas:
- Brick reds: These muted, rusty shades pair very well with rich mahogany and walnut furniture colors.
- Burgundy reds: For darker brown furniture, try deep wine reds. They contrast nicely and provide a classical look.
- Coral reds: Go bright and bold with a pinkish-red rug against lighter beige and maple browns.
Orange and Yellow Rugs
Very similar advice for orange and yellow rugs. Bright shades give a playful and summery look. While muted golds and mustards help ground darker brown decor. Some ideas:
- Mustard or amber: More subdued oranges and yellows work with nearly any shade of brown. Great for a farmhouse or rustic style.
- Sunset orange: A gradient orange rug adds a glam yet cozy vibe for rooms dominated by brown hues.
- Canary or lemon: Go super bright if you want your rug to feel fun and cheerful against espresso and darker furniture.
Cool Area Rug Colors For Brown Decor
While warm tones complement brown furniture beautifully, don’t rule out cooler hues. Especially lighter shades of blue, gray, and green that provide an appealing contrast.
Cool colors are relaxing and reminiscent of water, snow, or shadows. So they can offset the grounded feeling from all the brown elements.
Some specifics for finding the perfect cool-toned rug:
Blue Rugs
Blue color psychology shows it’s a soothing yet quality color. So it balances nicely against rich browns that can feel weighty.
- Navy: Navy grounds a light and airy space with brown accents. Or consider it to tone down a dark mahogany media room.
- Light or sky blues: Go even lighter to keep your room feeling open. Works well with maple, beige and grey-brown shades.
- Royal blue: Make a sophisticated style statement with a bold, jewel-toned rug against mid-tone wood furniture.
Green Rugs
Greens and browns pair awesomely due to their connection with nature. But it’s not the only option. Bolder greens infuse spaces with energy against more neutral oak and walnut browns.
Some shades to try:
- Lime green: Make a fun and contemporary statement with bright green against lighter maple furniture.
- Forest or emerald green: For more traditional rooms, deeper hunter greens help ground cherry and mahogany brown wood tones.
- Jade or sage green: Muted, dusty greens complement brown leather and oak furniture beautifully in boho or eclectic spaces.
Gray Rugs
Gray is an incredibly versatile neutral that works with pretty much any color. Different shades can contrast with and balance out every type of brown.
- Charcoal gray: Deeper, cooler grays offset orangey brown leather or maple furniture nicely.
- Light gray: Open up a darker walnut or mahogany themed space with an airy, pale gray rug.
- Silver or iron gray: Metallic grays provide an industrial vibe against mid to lighter brown wood pieces.
More Options for Brown Furniture Area Rugs
While warm and cool tones make fantastic complementary rug colors for brown decor, don’t overlook neutral and patterned options:
Ivory or cream rugs keep things clean and airy against brown furniture and wood floors.
Black and white rugs add a graphic punch – experiment with check prints or contemporary painterly designs.
Cowhide and animal print rugs provide organic texture that feels woodsy and character-filled next to oak dressers or end tables.
Moroccan and geometric pattern rugs can offset all the straight lines and angles inherent in most brown furniture pieces.
Ombre rugs offer dimension through a shift from light to dark. Great for defining a seating zone near your brown couch or chairs.
And lastly…
Don’t be afraid to pick a rug color you love even if traditional wisdom says it “clashes”.
Brown is incredibly versatile. Feel free to take risks! The most important thing is choosing an area rug that makes you happy.
At the end of the day, the “right” what color area rug goes with brown furniture comes down to personal preference. You do you when decorating your space!
Now that you know your options, hopefully it’s a bit easier to narrow down that perfect rug to complement all your brown decor.