'A Rich, Earthy Brown That Shifts Gently with the Light' – Why Designers Always Turn to This 'Chameleon' Farrow & Ball Color for Instant Coziness

A long-loved chocolate brown, Farrow & Ball's Salon Drab is far from dull; it's rich, warm, and the perfect choice for spaces in need of some saturation

Eleanor Richardson's avatar
By
published
in Ideas
Living room with wooden floorboards, central wall painted dark brown around the large fireplace, a leather couch at the centre of the room, with a lime green painted door and hallway
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Jump to category:

An esteemed paint color that bridges the gap between old and new, Farrow & Ball's Salon Drab might not sound like the most appealing shade, but its warm richness and ability to instantly cocoon a room make it a firm favorite in the design world.

Named as one of our best brown paints, Salon Drab is more than a neutral; it's a deeply rich chocolate brown. While 'drab' isn't the most complementary title for a paint color (but then again, Farrow & Ball's popular pink paint, Dead Salmon, isn't exactly flattering either), those familiar with the hue will know it's far from dull. Yes, it's not exactly bright, but its depth is part of its charm; it can enrich any space with gentle warmth.

Kitchen with chandelier at the centre, a marble island, green chairs tucked underneath, marble countertops and hob with mokka pot, shelf with vintage glass bottles and ceramic pots, and a dark brown painted wall with bird prints along it

The perfect contrast with the marble countertops and island, this eclectic kitchen feels instantly more homely with the dark brown wall at its center.

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

A transitional paint that can blend seamlessly into all spaces, 'Salon' refers to the traditional drawing room once used for greeting guests, reminding us of the paint's ability to enhance historic settings and cocoon newer ones.

While decorating with brown could feel one-note, rich, dark neutrals like Salon Drab make sticking to a neutral palette far more interesting.

Patrick O’Donnell, Brand Ambassador at Farrow & Ball, explains, 'Chocolate browns, such as Salon Drab, are making a comeback for 2026 color trends. They make a beautiful, elegant statement in any room, but are especially a good choice for a bedroom. Pair Salon Drab with White Tie on woodwork, where it will add warmth and work effortlessly alongside pinks, greens and blues.'

'Salon Drab is also a great choice in a dark living room and will bring a much-needed touch of warmth. If you have a brighter room, why not create a sophisticated contrast by painting the floor in Salon Drab in Flat Eggshell?'

For further inspiration, I’ve gathered my favorite ways to decorate with Salon Drab below, alongside expert guidance, to help you create a cozy, enduring brown scheme.

1. Use Salon Drab In a Historic Setting

Country living room with beamed ceiling, dark brown painted walls, large fireplace with candlesticks and antique painting, Persian rug, velvet grey sofa and coffee table with books and a vase of flowers

Salon Drab makes the snug in this country cottage feel so inviting and warm, perfect for curling up and enjoying a good book.

(Image credit: Violet & George)

Designed to invigorate history-rich spaces, Salon Drab is a clever choice for homes with character. Able to ground and enrich, it allows architecture to shine, without detracting from it.

Evident in the living room of this country cottage, Nicky Mudie, Founder & Director of Violet & George, explains, 'We chose Salon Drab for this snug because it’s dark without feeling heavy, and warm without tipping into cozy-cottage. It has real depth – a rich, earthy brown that shifts gently with the light and gives the room a grounded, earthy feel.'

Nicky continues, 'It’s also a brilliant backdrop, letting artwork stand out, and fabrics really come into their own. Pattern, texture and color all feel sharper and more intentional against it, without ever competing.'

She adds, 'And then there’s its versatility. It sits happily with natural materials, works just as well on a gray afternoon as it does in the evening, and somehow always feels calm and cozy. Confident, unfussy, and perfect for this reading room.'

2. Pair Salon Drab Alongside a Softer Palette

Bedroom with wall painted half pale pink and half dark brown, a low bed with pale blue linen bedding, two vintage trunks act as a nightstand with a vintage print placed above and a vase of chinese lanterns

Salon Drab acts as the headboard in this serene bedroom, beautifully contrasting with the pale pink paint.

(Image credit: Drawn Interior Design)

A bold choice that creates contrast, Salon Drab is the dose of richness that a pastel room sometimes needs.

In this serene bedroom, the deep brown beautifully offsets the subtlety of the plaster pink, creating a fusion of softness and warmth. Victoria Newall, founder of Drawn Interior Design, explains, 'We wrapped the whole room in Setting Plaster – it’s a color the client loves – so the painted headboard needed something earthy and grounding to cut through the pink and add structure.'

Victoria continues, 'Salon Drab is one of those beautifully complex Farrow & Ball shades that shifts in changing light. It’s officially a brown, but there’s a definite khaki edge to it. I use it to bring understated punctuation to a softer palette – on painted joinery, headboards or lower walls, for example.'

3. Bring Salon Drab Into Spaces Lacking Light

Sitting room with brown painted walls and a bookcase, a brown velvet sofa, a rattan coffee table, a vintage chair, a polka dot rug and a vintage painting

A space that lacked light, Salon Drab transformed this sitting room into a cozy and inviting space designed for entertaining.

(Image credit: Wolf Interiors)

While it might be unexpected to use a dark paint color in an already dark setting, a choice like Salon Drab creates a quiet confidence, making a space lacking in light feel intentionally snug and cocooning.

Katie Wolf, founder of Wolf Interiors, did exactly this when designing a drawing room with little daylight. She explains, 'This room, affectionately called the “cozy room,” is the darkest room in the house. We decided to embrace the lack of light by enveloping the walls and millwork in a warm chocolate brown. After testing quite a few colors, Farrow & Ball’s “Salon Drab” was the clear winner. It lacks any gray or purple undertones (unlike a lot of the other browns we tested) and is anything but drab! This delicious brown pairs beautifully with all of the primary colors.'

Katie adds, 'I recommend using this brown in rooms with little to no natural light. This would make for an incredibly handsome primary closet, media room, lounge, or office. I further recommend pairing it with textiles and art containing other warm neutrals in addition to blues, reds and yellows.'

Salon Drab-Inspired Picks

Rich, deep, and everything in between, these six chocolate brown picks will uplift an empty nook or lackluster surface and inject it with warmth, inspired by Farrow & Ball's Salon Drab.

More than just a brown paint, Farrow & Ball's Salon Drab is a clever room color idea for any space in need of some richness. Able to enhance rooms lacking in light and make architecture sing, it's a chocolate brown that will never date.

Eleanor Richardson
Eleanor Richardson
Interior Design Content Editor