Forget Everything You Know About 1970s Brown – Little Greene’s Color of the Year 2027 Is a Gentle, Whisper-Soft Brown That’s 'Quietly Confident'
'Marle', a clay-inspired mid-tone brown, is Little Greene's Color of the Year for 2027
British paint brand Little Greene has announced Marle, a soft mid-brown paint, as its Color of the Year 2027. While it's technically a neutral, this gentle, clay-inspired hue couldn't be further from boring; it balances sophistication with just the right amount of moodiness.
Marle isn't the first brown in the Color of the Year 2027 line-up so far (Dunn-Edward's French Press Coffee made its debut last week); it's unique in its layered, complex nature, designed to bring an effortlessly lived-in feel to every interior.
'Heavy on yellow ochre but with plenty of black to desaturate and soften, and a touch of red oxide to offset the greening of these two pigments, Marle is a perfectly balanced mid-tone brown paint, making it easy to incorporate in any scheme,' Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director at Little Greene, tells Homes & Gardens. 'Containing a touch of red alongside rich golden yellow hues, Marle feels naturally present and connected to a variety of other colors within a room.'
Soft but dark and complex, Marle is a perfectly balanced brown paint.
While 'safe' neutral tones have shifted away from recent color trends, Marle balances being both deep and interesting with being livable and versatile. Yes, it's a brown paint, but its rich undertones make it just as characterful as the bolder hues we are seeing rise in popularity. Designed to cocoon light-filled, open spaces, and bring warmth and saturation to rooms tighter on square footage, it's just as versatile as a an off-white or beige paint.
'Gone are the associations of dated 1970s interiors and drab or dull spaces; it is wonderful to see browns such as our Color of the Year for 2027, Marle, re-taking their rightful place in contemporary interiors,' says Ruth. 'Browns are being embraced and recognized as warm, earthy and indulgent shades. Due to their gentle and subdued nature, Brown-based hues can be used in every room of the home; they are the perfect choice for bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms, or any space where you wish to create a restful atmosphere.'
Marle is the perfect backdrop for many color schemes, from light layered creams and whites to earthy greens and it also looks wonderful with a soft pink.
The beauty of Marle is that it can warm a space and create a cozy feel without dominating small spaces. When decorating with browns like Marle, pair them with fiery, orange-infused reds for contrast or gentle, plaster pinks for a soft, cocooning color scheme. It works with organic colors too, like grounding greens that bring out its earthiness.
'A combination we see so often in nature, mid-tone brown Marle will also partner beautifully with greens,' Ruth advises. 'Pair it with the vibrant Boxington to provide a subtle nod to nature, which will work wonderfully alongside natural materials such as stone, wood, wicker or rattan finishes.'
'For a playful approach,' she adds, 'consider pairing with gentle pinks such as Mochi. I love to see this pairing used in surprising settings such as kitchens, where the grounding nature of Marle will add gravitas and sophistication to the light-hearted and whimsical use of pink.'
Neutrals like Marle may be overshadowed as brighter, bolder color choices dominate interior design trends, but Ruth says these balanced neutrals are coming back.
'Over the past few years, we have seen color trends move through rich blues into teals, then softer, nature-based greens, before moving towards stone-based neutrals and richer caramel tones,' Ruth explains. 'Recently, we have seen a shift to mid-tones, balanced colors, gentler, yet still characterful shades with less intensity, where the saturation is turned down.'
'We have seen a shift; colors are becoming very balanced, neither too cool nor too warm! If they were to sit on the PH scale, they would sit at 5 or 6. Our new mid-tone brown, Marle, embodies this approach; it will add depth without overpowering a scheme. It is a quietly confident shade that adds character whilst allowing other design elements, be they patterns, colors or textures, to shine.'
Little Greene's Color of the Year for 2027 couldn't be more classic. It's a mid-tone that's saturated and rich, without straying into moody. 'Marle feels sumptuous and impactful, yet relaxed and grounded, Ruth adds. 'It is the perfect brown for creating spaces that feel intimate and cocooning, whilst exuding warmth and comfort.'
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