Brown is back – and we’re embracing it in all its warm, earthy glory. From soft, understated neutrals to rich, chocolatey shades, brown is one of the most versatile ways to bring warmth and depth to your home.

As the seasons change, we naturally look for colours that make our homes feel warm and inviting. French Linen, Coco and Honfleur are three very different browns from the Annie Sloan palette, each with its own personality and endless decorating possibilities.

“Brown is a wonderfully grounding colour. It brings warmth into a room and makes other colours sing.” Annie Sloan

French Linen: soft and sophisticated

A beautiful, understated grey-brown, French Linen takes its inspiration from natural, aged linen. It is a wonderfully versatile neutral – warm enough to feel cosy but light enough to keep a room feeling fresh.

French Linen is perfect for larger pieces of furniture, kitchen cabinets or anywhere you want a gentle, timeless colour.

Pair it with Paloma for a sophisticated tonal scheme, Versailles for warmth, or Antionette for a soft contrast. For an autumnal scheme, try adding a deeper shade such as Burgundy.

“French Linen is one of those colours that just works. It’s quiet, elegant and incredibly easy to live with.” Annie Sloan

Coco: warm and wonderfully versatile

Coco is a soft, warm brown with subtle grey undertones. Inspired by the pigment Burnt Umber, it has a lovely, earthy quality that works equally well in traditional and contemporary interiors.

Coco is a brilliant choice if you want to embrace brown without going too dark. Use it on a whole piece of furniture or combine it with another colour for a two-tone effect.

Try Country Grey or Paloma for a calm, neutral palette, or introduce Louis Blue or Duck Egg Blue for contrast. For something bolder, Primer Red creates a striking combination.

“I love Coco because it’s warm without being overwhelming. It’s a really useful brown – and it looks beautiful with colour.” – Annie Sloan

Honfleur: rich and earthy

If you’re looking for a deeper, more dramatic brown, Honfleur is the one.

Named after the beautiful French harbour town, Honfleur is a rich, earthy brown inspired by rustic French interiors and Mid-century Modern design. It brings depth and character to furniture and is particularly beautiful on larger statement pieces.

Don’t be afraid to pair such a deep shade with colour. Emperors Silk and Barcelona Orange create playful combinations, while Duck Egg Blue and Old Ochre give Honfleur a softer, more classic feel.

“Honfleur is brown with attitude! It’s rich, earthy and wonderfully dramatic, but it can be surprisingly playful when you put it with brighter colours.” – Annie Sloan

How to decorate with brown this autumn

Brown doesn’t have to mean traditional. Use it as a grounding colour and combine it with unexpected shades from the Chalk Paint palette to create something fresh and contemporary.

For a calm, tonal look, layer French Linen, Coco and Honfleur together. For an autumnal feel, bring in natural textures such as linen, wool, rattan and aged wood. Brown is also the perfect partner for pattern. Florals, checks and botanical prints all look beautiful against warm, earthy furniture.