Chocolate brown for a living room

Anonymous
We have a big living room with high ceilings-most furniture is tan.

I’m thinking of chocolate brown for the color.

Thoughts?
Anonymous
Reminde me of that trading spaces episode with the crying lady
Anonymous
Do you mean the walls?

Dark walls make a dark room. If you haven't lived with dark walls before, you will be surprised at how much light they suck up. You'll have to completely change your lighting to match. And all the various browns would feel very dated, to me. Very mid-70s.

You could get away with it, provided other updates (lighting, decorative elements) and constant maintenance (all that brown would not be kind to clutter) but I don't have a lot of enthusiasm for it. Tell us more, maybe I could be persuaded.
Anonymous
I'd go blue or green with chocolate accents
Anonymous
Our kitchen had brown walls -- it was light - sort of like chocolate milk. I loved it. The kitchen has a lot of light so it worked

Then we renovated and went in a different direction
Anonymous
It depends on how you want the room to feel and what you use it for. If you do this, please consider painting the ceiling too, with rich colors like this, it's quite jarring to juxtapose with a bright ceiling and trim. Usually when people think these dark colors don't work, it's because you halfassed and got scared and didn't commit. Make sure you like the undertone. Swatch and sample at least 3-4 shades. If you are afraid to totally color drench the space you could do something in the same tone but like 25-30% lighter on the ceiling/trim. Also please be sure to use the most matte finish you can find.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:We have a big living room with high ceilings-most furniture is tan.

I’m thinking of chocolate brown for the color.

Thoughts?


Wouldn't that look like literal shit?
Anonymous
Chocolate brown would have been great for the furniture.

With tan furniture I would go with a warmer blue or green.
Anonymous
Is it combined with the dining room ?
I think it will create a cosy space.
Anonymous
We have Benjamin Moore Davenport Tan in our living room. There are really only two full walls - one side is open to the next room, which is painted in a lighter color, and one wall is filled with sliding glass doors to the backyard - so it doesn't feel too closed in. It's a nice warm, earthy brown. Feels cozy. I don't think I would want to go much darker though.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:We have a big living room with high ceilings-most furniture is tan.

I’m thinking of chocolate brown for the color.

Thoughts?


The answer is no.

Dark and gloomy with no contrast with your tan furniture. You'd have to have big windows and lots of light to even think about it.

But even then, it's still a sad room.
Anonymous
That sounds awful.
Anonymous
Only if you have the money to install custom craftsman designed custom solid oak hand wrought panelling and woodwork.

But then, you would need to switch your furniture to aged leather and deep forest green, and add a giant log fireplace.

Other than that scenario, brown walls seem like a terribly depressing idea.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'd go blue or green with chocolate accents


This is my family room, a deep navy (newburyport blue) but I have a cognac leather chair and ottoman, brought in brown pillows this fall ( striped and block print). Op I love a good brown on the wall I just don't love tan furniture with it, test it out, see how you feel about it. I thought briefly about where I could put a rich brown on my house walls and I can't find a place that I can live with. But I've seen gorgeous brown living, dining and bedrooms. It's been done for many years...is now on trend.
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