Design: Jake Arnold
Color psychology, or how different shades affect our emotional being, states that humans feel a sense of safety and security when surrounded by brown. Why? its associations with the earth: the calming and resilient element that keeps us quite literally grounded.
Another factor that contributes to brown’s appeal? The rise of warm minimalism. Too often, minimalism or the interior art of simplicity in form and color has been interpreted as all white everything: white couches, white walls, white accents. Beautiful, yes, but also stark. And as the pandemic made everyone sit at home staring at their walls, that monochromatic aesthetic was the last thing many of us wanted. Enter brown: a color that’s comforting yet can still fit within a neutral, pared down palette beloved by minimalism devotees. “I think people are looking for a new ‘old’ neutral,” says Colding. Fellow interior designer Jake Arnold, principal of Studio Jake Arnold, agrees: “My motto is always brown, never gray. Shades of brown bring about warmth, earthiness, and calm that feel timeless and grounding,” he says.
-Vogue
Photo: Lee Industries
“For 2024 we will continue to see designs trending out of grays and into browns. Not only will this be seen in fabrics and textiles but also in cabinetry and case goods,” says Next Wave Designer DuVal. This wave of chocolate neutrals has also been noted by a survey on design trends the New York Design Center conducted. Over 90 percent of respondents predicts that brown will be the color of choice in 2024.
-House Beautiful
Design: Jake Arnold
Here at Ciao we believe brown brings a timeless warmth to any space that can be cherished for generations to come.