Brown and Red Are Back: How to Use These Rich Hues in Interiors with Stuart Graham

Brown and red are making a bold (and beautiful) return to interiors – and this time, they’re all about warmth, richness, and comfort.

Forget the saturated shades of seasons past. 2025’s take on these classic hues leans into luxurious, cocooning tones that turn any space into a sanctuary. Think deep chocolate browns, terracotta reds, and everything in between – colours that wrap around a room like your favourite winter knit.

Here, the tea from Stuart Graham shares how to incorporate these two sophisticated colours to create a scheme that’s both soulful and stylish.

Create visual depth and interest by combining different brown tones.
Use brown to form the base layer of your scheme, thanks to its versatile nature. Desert and umber tones through to chocolate browns fill a space with warmth. These also appear more inviting than darker shades such as black. Layer these with light browns for a varied look. Use darker browns on large expanses of furniture to create a cocooning scheme. Pair with lighter hues in accessories such as scatter cushions, or vice versa. Use gentle tones at your window to help a room feel bright, too.

Use cherry red as an accent colour
While it can feel overwhelming using such a rich colourway if done correctly, the results can be beautiful. Lean into the unexpected red theory and introduce cherry red accents for hints of drama. Use items such as scatter cushions, throws, as well as lamps and other smaller accessories. Base your choices of red depending on other colourways in the room. Pair lighter, mellow browns with complementary vibrant reds, or vice versa.

Balance the richness and intensity of reds by combining with earthy browns
Brown, with its earthy undertones, is said to be the new neutral. It encourages calm and relaxation in a space. Red’s more vibrant nature creates a beautiful contrast. Mix more delicate browns such as taupe, sand and clay with richer oxblood or burgundy shades. For added drama, use moodier browns such as sienna and cinnamon with darker cherry reds.

Take inspiration from Pantone’s 2025 Colour of the Year, Mocha Mousse and its rich, inviting nature
Mocha Mousse is the perfect shade to find inspiration from when forming a scheme. Described as a “warming brown hue imbued with richness”, its blend of sophistication and comfort is perfect for interiors. Be inspired to introduce similar brown colourways into your own space. Add in complementary accent shades such as red for added impact.

Purveyors of fine fabrics, Stuart Graham stocks a wide range of premium fabrics, including Echo, Inca Trail, Kyoto, Savannah, and Scandi, that beautifully capture this trend.