Brown and Yellow Mixed! What Color Do Brown and Yellow Make?

Want to know the outcome when you mix brown and yellow together? In this article, we’re going to answer the question, “what color does brown and yellow make?”

When you think of the color yellow, what comes to mind are things like the sun, light, warmth, and even happiness.

On the other hand, images that come to mind when you think of the color brown include the earth, forests, and the great outdoors.

On their own, these colors tend to lean towards a more muted and neutral color palette.

But, when you mix yellow and brown together, it comes out totally different.

What happens when yellow and brown are mixed? Do they come out beautifully or does the combination come out murkier than ever before?

Let’s find out…

Today, we’re going to see what happens when brown and yellow are combined.

Moreover, we’re going to examine how well these colors mesh with each other and what purposes they serve in design.

The Basics of Color Theory

Before we go any further, it is essential to understand how color theory works.

This allows us to gain deeper insights into the relationships of colors with one another. The most common method of gauging these colors together is through the color wheel.

A color wheel is a visual tool for professional artists and beginners alike. This allows you to see how colors work together and contrast with each other.

Since yellow and brown are different colors, let’s take a closer look at where they sit on the color wheel and what their respective positions mean.

On a basic color wheel, the color brown is not usually present.

This is because brown is a combination of all three primary colors, namely yellow, red, and blue.

This makes it a tertiary color since its color is derived from combining three primary colors, two secondary colors, or one primary color and one secondary color.

Warm and Cool Tones

Yellow is normally considered a warm color. It sits close to other similar colors in the spectrum, such as red and orange.

These tones are reminiscent of fire, heat, and the sun, which is why they are often called warm colors.

Brown is also a warm color because its base colors are grounded in red and yellow.

However, it can also move towards a cooler shade depending on the amount of blue mixed into it.

Those on the opposite side of the spectrum, and the cool tones which complement yellow and brown, are purple, a deep violet, or a deep blue-green hue.

Knowing how these pair well with each other and contrast against others can help us ascertain what to expect when both hues are combined.

What Color Does Brown and Yellow Make?

To put your mind at ease, we will now be answering the question, “what do yellow and brown make?”

Simply put…

The answer is a lighter shade of brown.

Depending on the amount of yellow or brown placed into the mix, you will get different shades such as tan, beige, khaki, or olive.

Adding more yellow will produce a lighter and brighter shade of brown.

These may sometimes border on the color orange depending on your mixture.

Meanwhile, adding more brown will yield a darker shade. These colors are akin to the color of mud and dirt because of their murkier and muddled appearance.

Light and Darker Variations

To make yellows and browns more exciting, adding shades and tints makes for a wonderful idea.

To create a lighter tint for yellow, simply add white until you achieve your desired outcome. These will come out almost pastel-like.

On the other hand, you can add more depth to the color brown by simply adding black. The outcome is a richer shade of brown.

You may also add white to create a tint. This combination can give birth to tan, beige, and other similar nude-looking colors.

Yellow and Brown in Design

Using different shades of brown can result in timeless looks, especially when paired with the right accessories.

However, you may also work with the two colors separately.

For architectural and design pieces, you can use brown as the main color to add dimension to the space.

We imagine these would work well with industrial spaces.

Meanwhile, yellow can be used as an accent color to ‘accentuate’ and highlight specific areas of your space or establishment.

For those who are going for a monochrome look, using different shades and even textures of brown can provide a space that’s easy on the eyes.

Not to mention, this can also provide a calming area that easily works with other colors.

The Bottom Line

Combining yellow and brown certainly shows you the origin of colors and how these two are grounded together.

When taking on your next project, make sure to take note of these combinations so you can perfectly craft the color that suits your endeavor.

Thanks for reading and we hope you have learned the outcome when mixing brown and yellow together.