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By: Natalie Elmhurst
Updated: 9/26/2024
What do you envision when you think of earth tone colors? Do you picture an endless sea of browns and muddied yellows? The truth is that an earthy color palette encompasses so much more than brown, just as the earth itself is so much more than dirt.
From greens to blues and reds, interior designers love earth tone colors for the pleasing warmth they bring to a home. After all, a home is where we go to unwind and let go of the day’s worries, right? Natural earth tone colors mimic the power of nature by letting us relax and feel at peace.
In this article, we’ll look at 20 of the top earth tone colors that interior designers love in 2024.
Earth colors all have a slightly muted appearance thanks to the inclusion of brown pigment. This means that while you will find reds, yellows, and blues, they won’t be the flashy, popping sort that you’d find on guests at a Hawaiian luau.
Creating an earth-tone color palette for your home begins with choosing a shade of brown. You can think of earthy browns as the foundation color for any space. They’re the trunk of a tree contrasting with foliage.
Leathery brown has a deep, golden base that creates warmth and intimacy. Whether from a real leather upholstered chair or the slats on wood blinds, leathery brown can be paired with reds and yellows to heighten the inviting effect the color brings to a space.
Imagine the rich brown of fawn’s fur and you’ll have a good sense of how soothing and peaceful this shade of brown can be. Fawn brown has a neutral look that’s best paired with lighter hues.
Cedar brown is darker than fawn brown and has less yellow than leathery brown. Pairing it with whites or muted greens and blues will give your space a minimalistic look that’s great for modern homes.
Cedar brown looks great when used as an accent on window treatment hardware or trimmings.
Cafe au lait is an earth-tone color similar to beige or tan. This is the lightest brown on the list and has a look similar to coffee with lots of milk.
The slightly cool hue of cafe au lait brown gives your home an airy spaciousness. The color is light enough to be used as the main color for a window treatment.
Along with browns, greens form the backbone of an earth tone colored home. Earth tone greens can play a supporting role, letting other colors shine, or be placed center stage.
The gentle hue of sage green gives a space an organic, calming vibe that’s great for living rooms or studies. Selecting sage green as the primary color for shades or drapes, especially when placed against light-colored walls, will make your window coverings pop.
Although similar to sage green, olive green has a subtly muted look that doesn’t draw quite so much attention to itself. The pale green color reminiscent of green olives is perfect for modern, minimalistic spaces.
Evergreen, also known as forest green, is a classic, bold green with intimacy-inviting depth. With its namesake, it’s no surprise that this earth tone color pairs well with browns, but you’ll want to include some earth tone whites in the mix to balance out the palette.
Straddling the border between green and yellow, savannah green is almost golden. This rich tone is strong enough to take center stage. Pair it with an earthy white tone to soften the look or stand it beside a bold red or blue and go all in.
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Earthy reds bring warmth that can either blend into the backdrop or draw your attention. Often a small amount of earthy red will go a long way in creating a strong mood, making red an excellent accent on window treatments such as blinds or valances.
Red brick red is a stunning, bold red that brings to mind the timelessness of a grand old building. Interior designers love pairing red brick with earthy whites and yellows, both of which will let the earthy red tone shine.
Oxblood red is a burgundy-like red with undertones of brown. In low light, oxblood red darkens to near-black, while well-lit rooms will highlight the deep purple. Interior designers love how oxblood red pairs well with almost any color.
More muted than red brick but brighter than oxblood, wine red enlivens a room without overpowering the colors it’s paired with. Also known as Bordeaux, wine red has a color reminiscent of classic French red wines to help you linger and unwind.
Earthy white colors draw inspiration from granite stones and aspen tree bark. Earthy whites pair easily with almost any color to brighten a room. From modern to contemporary-styled homes, you can’t go wrong with earthy whites.
Concrete white is a great neutral color that pairs well with bold earthy tones. Concrete may have an industrial image, but the color itself is seen in the actual stones concrete is made from.
Oxford stone white has strong undertones of brown, giving it a beige appearance. This is a great color for roller shades.
Ivory white is a light cream color that’s stood the test of time. This earthy white will bring a sense of elegance into any home. Interior designers love to use ivory white as the main color on cellular shades, Roman shades, and more.
Earthy yellows most often resemble fruit and vegetables, giving them a nourishing aura that pairs extremely well with earthy browns, greens, and reds.
Burnt lemon yellow is a bold color that still retains earthy brown undertones. Set the mood by placing this color front and center, or dial it back by using it as an accent to reds and browns. No matter where you put it, though, this color pops.
Mustard yellow has strong earthy tones through its prominent brown base. More muted than burnt lemon yellow, mustard yellow won’t drown out other colors.
Butternut yellow gets its name from the skin of a butternut squash, giving this earthy hue a vegetal vibe. This light yellow is a great choice for solar shades.
Blue may not be a color that comes to mind when thinking of earth tones but, just as most of the earth is covered in water, it’s incredibly popular among interior designers.
This maritime-inspired color calls to mind naval uniforms and the deep sea. Marine blue is a dark navy color that pairs wonderfully with earthy whites for a classically modern look.
Deep navy blue is even darker than marine blue, giving you an earthy color that only fully reveals itself under well-lit conditions. Deep navy blue contrasts well with lighter-toned whites and yellows. Interior designers love to use this color in sunny living rooms and kitchens.
This light blue invites you in and says “Chill.” Reminiscent of the pastel-like blues that saunter across the sky just after sunset, dusk blue is beloved for the way it calms the soul and soothes the heart.
Understanding the psychology of color in spaces is an integral part of creating the perfect mood for your home. Earth tones are beloved for their inviting nature that lets you relax, and window treatments play a huge part in shaping that mood. Schedule a free design consultation with Stoneside today to work with a team of interior designers to discover the perfect earth tones for your home.
