Sherwin-Williams brown paint colors
150 brown paint colors from the ColorSnap deck. LRV ranges from 39 (lightest) down to 3 (darkest). Click any swatch to see how it cross-matches at the 10 other US paint brands.
Brown is in. Pantone naming Mocha Mousse the 2025 Color of the Year confirmed what designers had been spec'ing for two years already — a return to warm, grounded earth tones after a decade of cool greys. The family runs from milky lattes (light, near-cream) through mid-tone taupes and mochas to deep espresso and cocoa at the saturated end.
All 150 brown paint colors from Sherwin-Williams
Grouped by undertone (warm → cool)Hex values are display approximations from Sherwin-Williams's published swatch tools — not guaranteed to match a physical sample under controlled lighting. Order a brand-direct sample before specifying.
Sherwin-Williams brown paint colors by room
6 roomsRooms where brown paint commonly works. Each link jumps to that room's curated picks across every brand — Sherwin-Williams included — so you can compare Sherwin-Williams brown paint colors alongside the alternatives in context.
Other Sherwin-Williams color families
Brown paint colors at other US brands
About Sherwin-Williams brown paint colors
What Sherwin-Williams Browns Look Like
Sherwin-Williams browns run warm and earthy, with the predictable, well-balanced undertones the brand is known for. The brown family here holds 141 colors, so you get a real range instead of three token shades. At the light end you find soft, putty-leaning browns like Cabbage Rose (SW 3), while the deep end lands on rich, near-espresso tones like Van Dyke Brown (SW 7041).
Undertones in this slice lean red, clay, and chocolate rather than gray. Reddened Earth (SW 6053) and Rojo Dust (SW 9006) carry a clear terracotta warmth, while Chocolate Powder (SW 9082) and Spicy Hue (SW 6342) read as true cocoa browns. If you want a brown that stays warm and grounded in most light, this family delivers it.
Choosing by LRV: Light to Dark
LRV (light reflectance value) tells you how much light a color bounces back. In this brown slice the range runs from 3 at the darkest to 39 at the lightest, so every option here is a mid-tone to deep brown, not a pale neutral. The higher the number, the lighter and airier the color reads on the wall.
For a brown that still keeps a room open, look near the top of the range, like Cabbage Rose (SW 3) at LRV 39 or Chocolate Powder (SW 9082) at LRV 28. For cozy, enveloping depth, drop lower: Pier (SW 7545) at LRV 9 or Van Dyke Brown (SW 7041) at LRV 7 will absorb light and feel intimate. Mid-range picks like Steady Brown (SW 6110) at LRV 16 and Spicy Hue (SW 6342) at LRV 12 give you saturated color without going fully dark.
Best Rooms and Uses
Lighter browns in this family suit walls in rooms you want warm but not heavy, like a living room, bedroom, or home office. Mid-tone browns such as Steady Brown (SW 6110) and Reddened Earth (SW 6053) work well in dining rooms and dens where you want color and warmth without darkening the whole space.
The deepest browns earn their place on accent walls, libraries, studies, and cabinetry, plus exterior doors and shutters. Pier (SW 7545) and Van Dyke Brown (SW 7041) make strong, sophisticated cabinet and trim colors. Because dark browns hide scuffs and wear, they are also a smart pick for high-traffic spots like mudrooms and stair walls.
Pairing With Trim, Ceiling, and Coordinating Colors
A warm brown wall almost always looks best with a soft white trim rather than a stark bright white. Sherwin-Williams's Alabaster is a popular warm white that flatters browns without fighting them, and a clean off-white ceiling keeps the room from feeling closed in. For deeper browns like Van Dyke Brown (SW 7041), a creamy trim adds contrast while staying cohesive.
To coordinate, lean on the brand's trusted neutrals. Accessible Beige and Agreeable Gray sit comfortably next to these browns as adjacent wall or open-concept colors, while a black like Tricorn Black sharpens deep-brown cabinetry. Reddish browns such as Rojo Dust (SW 9006) pair nicely with greens and warm whites for an organic, earthy scheme.
How These Colors Are Sold and Mixed
Every brown here is mixed to order at a Sherwin-Williams store or for online pickup, so the color is the same no matter which paint line you choose. Note that the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams line sold at Lowe's is a separate, lower-tier brand; the colors on this page are from the company's own ColorSnap deck and its company-owned stores. Lines run good to best: Cashmere (around $55/gal), SuperPaint (around $68), Duration (around $75), and Emerald (around $80).
Those list prices are mostly nominal because Sherwin-Williams runs 30 to 40 percent sales almost constantly. Plan to wait for a sale before you buy, and always order a sample first since deep browns shift noticeably with your room's light. The brand's recent Colors of the Year were Upward (2024) and Universal Khaki (2026), which can hint at the warm, grounded direction these browns fit into.
Sherwin-Williams brown paint — frequently asked questions
Are Sherwin-Williams browns warm or cool?+
Most browns in this family are warm. The undertones lean red, clay, and chocolate rather than gray, so colors like Reddened Earth (SW 6053) and Chocolate Powder (SW 9082) feel earthy and inviting. If you want a cooler, grayer brown, you will have fewer options in this slice.
Which Sherwin-Williams brown is best for a small or dark room?+
If you want to keep a small room feeling open, choose a lighter brown high in the LRV range, like Cabbage Rose (SW 3) at LRV 39. If you want to lean into cozy and intimate instead, a deep brown like Van Dyke Brown (SW 7041) at LRV 7 can make a small room feel rich and finished. Always test a sample on the actual wall first.
What white trim goes with a brown wall?+
A soft, warm white works far better than a stark bright white. Alabaster is a reliable choice that complements brown without clashing. For deeper browns, a creamy off-white trim adds gentle contrast while keeping the look cohesive.
How much do these paints cost?+
List prices run from around $55 a gallon for Cashmere up to about $80 for Emerald, with SuperPaint and Duration in between. Those numbers are nominal because Sherwin-Williams runs 30 to 40 percent sales almost constantly, so it pays to wait for a sale. All colors are mixed to order at the same price regardless of the shade you pick.
Can I match a Sherwin-Williams brown to another brand?+
Yes. Most paint stores can color-match a Sherwin-Williams brown like Steady Brown (SW 6110) into another brand's base, and you can match the other way too, including into the Kompozit deck featured on this site. Bring the name and code, such as SW 7041, and ask for a sample before committing, since cross-brand matches are very close but rarely identical.
Where do I actually buy these colors?+
These browns are sold at company-owned Sherwin-Williams stores and online for pickup, mixed to order on the spot. The HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams line at Lowe's is a different, lower-tier brand and will not carry these exact ColorSnap colors. Choose your paint line, then have the store tint your chosen brown into it.