The 13 Best Chocolate, Sable, & Rich Brown Paint Colors: 2026

Is Dark Brown the New Gray? You bet your cute little booty it is

If you’re a brown-noser and keep up with the latest paint color trends, you’ve probably noticed a bit more brown in your Pinterest and Instagram feeds. In 2026, you can expect a heck of a lot more throughout this year.

That’s right, gray isn’t trendy anymore. Sure, if you don’t care about trends, you can fill yer lil’ gray suede boots with any color you want. However, if you want to keep up with the Joneses, you might want to spend some time with colors on the warmer end of the spectrum. 

*This blog post is updated with fresh and relevant content & ideas for 2026!

WHAT TYPE OF BROWNS ARE TRENDY?

There’s actually a wide range of browns coming on the scene, giving you a ton of room to move. However, a few ‘brown-inspired’ terms have been popping up more than the cork in my wine bottle. 

1. MEDIUM TO DARK CHOCOLATE BROWN

It’s not hard to picture this one. The average chocolate brown boasts a grounded, slightly warm backdrop—nothing too rich, just natural and organic.

2. MOCHA BROWN

Mocha brown paint colors are definitely hitting the color scene. Whereas chocolate browns have a darker, more grounded brown look, mocha browns bring to mind a coffee with a buttload of Baileys – for color, of course.

3. SABLE BROWN

There are many variations of ‘sable brown’, and not all of them ring true. 

Why?

Whether a color is ‘sable’ or not is open to perception. 

Some see sable brown as a richer, warmer, organic brown—both medium-depth and dark. Whereas some standard browns can come off a bit flat or dull, sable brown is rich, warm, and inviting.

Others see sable brown as a bit more grayed-out and even a bit taupe (mocha) in nature. These browns have a slightly dusky, dusty look compared to the rich, warm sables mentioned previously. 

4. OXBLOOD BROWN/BURGUNDY’S

These are lovely, classic-looking shades with an old-school vibe (sans Will Ferrell). These colors tend to feature a blend of brown, purple, and red, falling within the medium-dark to dark range. 

The Best Oxblood, Burgundy Paint Colors

HOWEVER, Oxblood tends to lean more toward red/burgundy than toward brown, which is why you won’t see them below. However, I will show you a few browns that try to tip the scales. 

Now, regardless of the brown you love…

Never judge a paint color by its name. Judge it by how it looks. 

While I always judge a book by its cover, I never take a color’s name literally. Paint companies often throw color names around all willy-nilly, when the name doesn’t always relate. 

Yes, this image is a bit crooked, but I’m ONLY ONE WOMAN (and not a professional editor…obviously).  

Now, if you’re ready to get down with brown, let’s see what this color cowgirl has up her sleeves…

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SABLE 6083

Sherwin Williams Sable is hands-down, one of the most popular brown paint colors (this week anyway; there are always others vying for the title). 

If you’re looking for a classic, slightly rich, yet not overbearing shade of brown, Sable is amazeballs with its velvety look and chocolatey vibe—you’ll be licking your walls in no time. 

With an LRV of 8, she’s definitely skookum, but not so dark that she’ll read as black in a lower light space (this said, she needs light to come to life!).

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Sable…

If you love Sable, you should still compare it to a few similar shades. You just never know what you might fall in love with…

• Benjamin Moore Dark Chocolate is wickedly delicious and just a touch duskier.
• For a touch more orange-based warmth, compare Sable to Sherwin Williams Half Caff.

2. BENJAMIN MOORE LEATHER SADDLE BROWN 2100-20

If you’re looking for a brown paint color that winks at the Oxblood world with a come hither glance, Leather Sadddle Brown could be the color for you. 

While it’s not oxblood, red, or burgundy, it’s brown; it has a delicious, rich, classic warmth tucked inside that sets it far apart from the chocolate and mocha worlds. 

As for depth, Leather Saddle Brown has an LRV of 10.06. This places snugly in the hairy bosom between the medium-dark and dark range. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Leather Saddle Brown…

If Leather Saddle Brown has you getting your butt-less chaps ready for a fun afternoon of painting, compare it to a few similar shades before you start slappin’ any paint on your walls…

• Benjamin Moore Roasted Coffee Beans is similar, but offers a touch more brown-purple
• Benjamin Moore Mocha Madness has the same intentions, but more depth
• Check out Benjamin Moore English Manor for a bit more of an oxblood look without going all the way. 

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS WARM STONE 7032

With gray gone and trends firmly in the warm range, sometimes we need a brown that winks at the gray world without stepping over the boundaries – and that color is Sherwin Williams Warm Stone. 

For those of you who see ‘Sable Brown’ as a muted, slightly mocha-inspired color, Warm Stone picks up that vibe.

With its stone-inspired, taupe-greige base, this grounded, subtle color is a great choice for a home that’s not quite ready for the totally warm world. 

Warm Stone is quite a bit lighter than most of the colors on this page, but it is still one of the more popular choices. With its LRV of 20, it’s a top choice for exteriors, accent walls, kitchen islands, and even entire rooms. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Warm Stone…

If Warm Stone seems like the winner winner chicken dinner, don’t dig in yet. Compare it to similar shades, as you never know what might be better! 

• Add a bit more depth while keeping that same grounded look with Sherwin Williams Brainstorm Bronze.
• Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray is one of my favorites and has a similar look, but a lighter touch. 
• Warm things up just a wink with Sherwin Williams Virtual Taupe – it definitely picks up a mocha-brown vibe.

The Best Stone-Inspired Paint Colors: Greige, Taupe, Beige, & More

4. BENJAMIN MOORE BARISTA AF-175

If you’re looking for a rich, dark, enveloping shade of brown, Barista might be your cup of tea, ermmmm, coffee. 

It was a tough call between Barista and Benjamin Moore’s Espresso Bean—interesting that they’re both coffee-inspired browns. 

While Espresso Bean has a gorgeously rich brown base, I chose Barista because I prefer its slightly less purple warmth—it’s just a bit more inviting. As for depth, its LRV of 8.1 is a good dose lighter than Espresso Bean’s 5.51. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Barista…

And here’s a sample of Espresso Bean for sharts n’ giggles – which is what it gives me when I have too much of either…

5. BENJAMIN MOORE BRANCHPORT BROWN HC-72

If your idea of the best dark brown has some serious meat on its bones, Branchport Brown could be your color. 

This rich, dark shade of chocolate brown has an LRV of 10.02. While this is a bit lighter than some other browns, it can appear darker since it doesn’t have an overwhelming amount of color/undertone. As for those subtle undertones, Branchport Brown has a bit of warm purple (purple-red) tucked inside. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Branchport Brown…

If you feel like you’re going out on a limb with Branchport Brown, ease your mind by sampling and comparing a few similar shades, including…

• Benjamin Moore Middlebury Brown for just a touch less purple
• Benjamin Moore Van Buren Brown is another great comparison—it could be that wee tweak you’re looking for! 

6. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEALSKIN 7675

While Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze has been one of the most popular dark neutrals for several years (regarding this ‘type’ of color), I’m seeing more and more about Sealskin. 

Sherwin Williams Sealskin is stunningly dark. With its LRV of 6, it’s pretty darn close to black, but its chonky brown hue lifts it. Don’t expect too much purple or green undertone out of this bad boy (whereas Urbane Bronze actually caters to green). 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Sealskin…

Compare Sealskin to these similar shades to find your perfect brown…

• Like the darkest, blackest cup of coffee, Benjamin Moore Brownstone is a truly dark black-brown paint color that takes the look of Sealskin one step further.
• For a slightly softer, duskier look, compare Sealskin to Sherwin Williams Black Fox, which we’ll be looking at shortly. 

7. BENJAMIN MOORE FAIRVIEW TAUPE HC-85

If you’re idea of mocha carries a bit more weight than the previously shown Sherwin Williams Warm Stone, check out Fairview Taupe. 

Benjamin Moore Fairview Taupe can easily pass as a mocha-inspired brown or a taupe, thanks to its gray backdrop.

But don’t be fooled, this baddy (which is a good thing according to my teenage daughters) has a beautiful, velvety warmth. 

Fairview Taupe is the color in the den. You’ll get a better idea of it in the swatch below.

Fairview Taupe has an LRV of 17.98, so it’s darker than Warm Stone, but one of the lighter options on this page. A color with this depth is popular for kitchen cabinets, exterior siding/stucco, and entire rooms. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Fairview Taupe…

If you love Fairview Taupe as much as I do, check out…

• Benjamin Moore Whitall Brown, which offers a bit more of an orange-based warmth
• Sherwin Williams Brainstorm Bronze is just a bit richer

8. BENJAMIN MOORE FRENCH PRESS AF-170

Benjamin Moore French Press is about as classic as brown gets (on this blog post, anyway). This beautiful, slightly rich brown is similar to Branchport Brown, but has a bit less purple and a touch more orange. These subtleties can make one brown a better choice over another, depending on your finishes and tastes. 

While I keep more of my standard, simpler browns in this blog post, the French Press deserves a place here, as its chocolatey vibe makes it easy to use and please. 

Here’s your Samplize Peel & Stick sample of French Press…

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BLACK FOX 7020

I’m surprised that Black Fox has sat under the radar for this long – it’s been on mine for years! 

Sherwin Williams Black Fox is a dark brown with a good, grounded gray base that calms it down. For homes that are trying to transition out of their gray days, a color like Black Fox offers a bridge between worlds. 

Compare Black Fox to the black details to see what it has to offer

As for depth, Black Fox has an LRV of 7, so it’s one crafty, dark color, and sometimes, a better, softer alternative to black. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Black Fox…

Before you start slappin’ paint on your walls, cabinets, or exterior, take a look at these similar shades and compare them with Black Fox…

• Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze is a great alternative with a slightly softer, more greige-green backdrop.
• Benjamin Moore Willow is a great comparison and has been at it a lot longer, especially on exteriors.

Here’s Urbane Bronze looking badass and beautiful on a kitchen island…

The Best Warm Quartz Countertops

10. FARROW & BALL MOUSE’S BACK No.40

If your brown-inspired tastes lean lighter and muted, we should take a look at Farrow & Ball’s Mouse’s Back. 

While many of the colors on this page are rich and dark, Mouse’s Back offers a more ‘medium-depth and muted’ approach to brown—more of a slight milk chocolate than dark. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Mouse’s Back…

With a velvety, almost creamy-soft backdrop, Mouse’s Back is a gentle approach to brown, featuring a moody vibe and a hint of green undertone (bare). As for depth, Farrow & Ball doesn’t like to share its LRVs. The info I can find says its LRV is approx. 26. 

If you love the mocha-inspired vibe of Mouse’s Back, you should definitely sample and compare…

• Benjamin Moore Kingsport Gray (fo sho)
• Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray
• Sherwin Williams Moth Wing is a great one, too

You might also want to explore: The Best Stone-Inspired Beige, Greige, & Taupe Paint Colors

11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS TURKISH COFFEE 6076

Gloriously rich and warm, Sherwin Williams Turkish Coffee is a stunning shade for those wanting a real commitment to color, richness, and warmth. 

As for LRV, Turkish Coffee comes in piping hot with an LRV of 5! Daaaaamn (or as the Turkish might say), kahretsin, that’s dark!

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Turkish Coffee…

12. BENJAMIN MOORE WENGE AF-180

Wenge is one badass shade of brown. If you’re looking for an atypical approach, this rich, sumptuous shade could have just what you want. What sets Wenge apart is its strong purple undertone, which is blended with rich brown and black.

It’s hard to read the glory of Wenge on these exterior shutters, but have faith; it’s a wicked, pretty shade worth sampling. 

How to Choose Your Best Exterior Paint Colors

Wenge has an LRV of 4.79, making it a wicked replacement for black. It’s not as stark or harsh, yet it still brings some drama to your interior or exterior.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Wenge…

13. BENJAMIN MOORE TUDOR BROWN HC-185

Tudor Brown – another brown with an appropriate name. With its rich, Tudor-inspired look, Tudor Brown is an awesome color choice for those seeking a more authentic, striking approach to a traditional, richer shade of brown.

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Tudor Brown… 

Tudor Brown’s LRV is 6.43, which is pretty dark, but its rich brown hue makes up for it.

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