I'm Calling it – Brown is the Chicest Shade to Decorate With Right Now, as Proved by Jasmine Tookes' Rich Chocolate Dining Room

Sculptural furniture, earthy elements, and soft lighting bring this controversial shade into 2026

Jasmine Tookes / brown dining room
(Image credit: Getty Images (Photo by Roy RochlinGetty Images for PAIGE) / Future)

When you think of luxurious interior schemes, brown might not be the first color that springs to mind, but hear us out. This underrated shade can bring an unparalleled warmth and depth to a space, as we've recently seen in model, Jasmine Tookes' luxuriously rich dining room, which is filled with texture and earthy elements.

Decorating with brown is, contrary to what you might think, surprisingly versatile. Guillaume Coutheillas, Founder of design studio, frenchCALIFORNIA, says: 'We’re seeing brown replace black as the new neutral. It’s softer, more inviting, and incredibly chic... When done right, brown doesn’t darken a room – it grounds it.'

Buys Inspired by Jasmine Tookes' Chocolate Brown Dining Room

When it comes to dining room color schemes, you can afford to be a little playful and expressive. Elisha Niebuhr, Founder and CEO of the Colorado-based Modern Interior Company explains: 'Dining rooms should feel a little sexy and dramatic. They’re inherently more formal spaces, so they’re the perfect opportunity to embrace moody, deeper tones. Brown – especially the new wave of cooler, dark chocolate shades – creates a rich, enveloping backdrop that feels intimate and elevated rather than dark or dated.'

In Jasmine Tookes' dining room, brown forms the backdrop for an earthy scheme, which embraces both modern and natural forms, punctuated by the softness of a sleek off-white marble dining table (find similar at Williams Sonoma), the rustic stone planters, and the statement olive tree. Guillaume Coutheillas, Founder of design studio, frenchCALIFORNIA says: 'In a dining room especially, brown works beautifully when balanced with sculptural forms and natural materials. Think rounded tables, curved chairs, hand-thrown ceramics, and soft lighting. These elements catch light differently and keep the room feeling alive and tactile.'

Brown dining room

(Image credit: Future)

Take a look at our guide to the best brown paints before taking the plunge and painting the whole room, and do try some test swatches, checking how the shade looks in different lights at various times of day. 'Treat brown as a layered, tonal backdrop rather than a flat statement. Use a warm tobacco or chestnut on walls and then build in contrast.' says Lenny Kharitonov, CEO of Furniture Retailer, Emma Mason. 'Stone is a powerful partner. Calacatta marble with warm veining or creamy limestone adds luminosity against deeper walls.'

If you're feeling dubious about decorating with brown, and worry that it will look dated, Lenny has this advice: 'When brown is paired with thoughtful lighting and strong silhouettes, it reads as tailored and timeless rather than reminiscent of early 2000s interiors.'

Ultimately, Jasmine Tookes' stunning dining room is a warm, luxurious, and effortlessly elegant example of how to use brown. Lenny concludes: 'After years of cool neutrals dominating American homes, clients are gravitating towards warmth and intimacy, particularly in formal dining rooms where atmosphere is paramount. Brown feels grounded and confident. It photographs beautifully in candlelight and creates a cocooning effect that enhances evening entertaining.'


If you're feeling inspired to give your dining room a new look, now could be the perfect time, as the dining room is making a comeback for 2026, and we have plenty of ideas to help you find the look you love.

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Katrina Harper-Lewis
Head of Living

Katrina is Head of Living at Homes & Gardens, covering hosting and entertaining, seasonal styling ideas, sleep and wellbeing, along with a highly experienced team of writers and reviewers. With more than 15 years' experience in lifestyle content, Katrina was previously an editor at luxury lifestyle platform, Muddy Stilettos, has been a features writer at Sainsbury's magazine and has also written for a wealth of other food and lifestyle titles including Ideal Home, Waitrose Food, John Lewis' Edition and The Home Page. Katrina is passionate about heritage style and lives in a 100-year old cottage in rural Hertfordshire, where she enjoys finding creative ways to live and host stylishly.