This "Grandma" Color Is Making a Chic Comeback—And It's About to Be Everywhere in 2026

It's no secret that the '60s and '70s are back in a big way—in home design, but also in fashion. And with it, the triumphant return of a versatile color that was so big during that time: brown! This color may evoke memories of your grandma's home, but the brown shag rugs, wood paneling, and laminate flooring are a world away from what the coolest designers are doing now to bring this color back into style in a fresh, modern way.

"Our studio loves to incorporate the warmth of brown for how well it contrasts with other colors," says Liz Hoekzema, creative director and co-founder of Michigan-based design studio KLH Homes. She cites loving brown when paired with soothing blue, celery green, or even a pop of persimmon. "It also just feels inherently grounded," she explains.

Interested in incorporating this color into your own home? We pulled a collection of designer images that prove to be a masterclass in using brown in modern, sophisticated ways.

Get Bold With a Brown Checkerboard Wall

Checkerboard is a classic tile pattern choice and has seen an enormous resurgence over the past few years. This bathroom, by KLH Homes, uses brown and white tiles with light blue sconces—a color combo that's also on the rise—for a playful, cool space that makes a splash.

Mix and Match Your Furniture

If you're a little color-shy or on the fence about using brown paint or tiles in your space, consider adding more of the shade through furniture. Obviously, natural materials like leather and wood are an easy way to do that, but in this room by KLH Homes, you'll notice that they mixed those materials with brown upholstered pieces for a variety of shades and textures. This gives an all-white space maximum impact and interest without requiring a more significant change.

Let the Walls Speak for Themselves

Designer Alvin Wayne showed us just how cool brown paint can be, with this gorgeous primary suite he designed in our 2025 Real Simple Home. And when you use this earthy neutral in a textured application (it's Venetian plaster from Valspar), you don't need a ton of decor on the walls—they make a statement all on their own!

Mix Materials in the Same Color

Now here's a bar area we would absolutely love to have in our own homes or visit for happy hour! This gorgeous setup by KLH Homes features a reddish-brown hue in two different materials—tiles and paint—to give the space textural contrast. The wine rack continues the color scheme, and we love those on-trend wavy shelves!

Tile an Entire Shower in Earthy Brown

Due for a bathroom reno? Consider tiling a shower or bath in head-to-toe warm brown zellige, like in this bathroom designed by KLH Homes. "The texture of brown tiles can feel like a reference to tree bark, or a deep, rich, painted brown can feel like a cozy cup of freshly brewed coffee," Hoekzema says.

Work Brown into Your Kitchen

This charming kitchen from L.A.-based design duo House of Rolison proves neutrals can be dramatic! The deep brown tile keeps things interesting, and funky pulls, sophisticated stone backsplash, and shearling stools create quite the setting for cooking or entertaining.

Add Rich, Dark Wood

While lighter wood certainly ruled the design world for a few years, deeper wood tones have come back around, and we're here for it. Whether you're staining an existing piece of furniture a deeper hue or embracing original features (like the beams shown in this room designed by House of Rolison), these rich colors will add a moody coziness to any space.