Brown and taupe rugs

The brown and taupe rug has outlasted decades of passing trends. These earthy shades bring a natural warmth all their own, a grounded, comforting feeling that few other colours manage. They call to mind wood, earth, chocolate and spice: sensory references that reassure just about everyone. In a contemporary scheme, brown and taupe offer a warm alternative to grey that more and more people are looking for.

Brown and taupe shades, and the moods they create

This colour family runs deep:

• Taupe: a soft grey-brown, thoroughly contemporary. A safe bet that sits happily anywhere
• Greige: grey-beige, right on the line between grey and brown, endlessly versatile
• Camel: a warm golden tone that has been everywhere these past few years
• Cappuccino / latte: a soft mid-brown, instantly cosy
• Chocolate / espresso: deep brown, quietly luxurious
• Weathered brown / cognac: rich and warm, with a real "leather" feel
• Hazelnut brown: a warm brown with russet lights

Which colours to pair it with

Brown and taupe are remarkably easy to live with:

• With beige and cream: a soft, natural tone-on-tone pairing
• With white: measured freshness, a deliberate break
• With teal or petrol blue: a sophisticated contrast
• With sage green or olive green: a natural, botanical mood
• With terracotta: a rich autumnal palette
• With dusty pink: soft, contemporary femininity
• With black and brass: Art Deco chic

Which style to go for

It depends on the mood you are after. A taupe Berber rug adds graphic texture to a Scandinavian living room. A chocolate shaggy turns a bedroom into a luxurious cocoon. A red-brown Persian brings style to a library with character. A faded camel vintage rug gives soul to a mid-century interior. A greige textured plain is the last word in contemporary restraint.

Is brown out of fashion?

Far from it. Long stuck with memories of eighties decor (dark brown plus burgundy), brown has come back strongly in far more sophisticated shades: taupe, greige, camel. The most talked-about interiors of the 2020s have brought it right back, especially in "wabi-sabi", japandi, warm Scandinavian and contemporary bohemian schemes. Deep chocolate brown has even become a signature colour of high-end contemporary design.

Which room?

Brown and taupe suit almost every room. In a living room, they bring warmth and character. In a bedroom, they encourage that cocoon feeling (especially in shaggy). In a dining room, they create a "warm restaurant" atmosphere. In an entrance hall or a corridor, darker tones are brilliant at hiding the marks of daily traffic.