Brown and White Mixed! What Color Does Brown and White Make

Neutral colors are very in style these days. As a matter of fact, it seems that browns, whites, and other similar hues are here to stay. After all, they can be paired well with just about anything.

While they look good on their own, you might be wondering what happens when brown and white are combined. In this article, we’re going to give you the lowdown on the mixture of these two colors.

When you hear the word brown, you tend to think about the earth and nature. You may also associate it with your favorite cup of joe, the thick forest you love walking through, and even the cup of cocoa you sip on a cold Christmas morning.

The color psychology anchored to brown is the earth, so this may also symbolize stability and support.

On the other hand, what comes to mind when you hear the color white is the fluffiness of the clouds and the angels in heaven. It may also connote innocence, peace, and purity.

What if these two colors are mixed?

Today, we’re going to learn about the incorporation of these two hues.

Let’s get started. Make sure to keep on reading…

Learning About Color Theory

When you were little, you may have learned about color theory and the color wheel in school. Thanks to your art teacher, you were introduced to the relationships of colors to one another.

Let’s take a look at where white and brown fall in the color wheel and which color group these tones fall under.

The primary colors are made up of blue, red, and yellow. Primary colors are named such because they are the basic colors that allow you to make other hues.

On the other hand, secondary colors are comprised of two primary tones joined together. When you combine blue and red you get violet.

Adding blue and yellow gives you green. And mixing yellow and red makes orange.

Lastly, tertiary hues result from mixing a primary color with a secondary color. Included in this group are yellow-green, yellow-orange, blue-green, blue-violet, red-orange, and red-violet.

You might be thinking, where do white and brown fall into place? The answer may surprise you.

Neutral Colors

Brown and white are considered neutral tones. White is actually the presence of all primary tones with the addition of green. (Although this won’t work with paint, as paints operate within the subtractive color theory.)

Brown, on the other hand, can be achieved by blending equal parts red, blue, and yellow. It’s that easy.

What Color Does Brown and White Make?

Now that you have a deeper grasp of color theory and the workings of neutral tones, you may already know the outcome of combining brown and white.

When you blend brown and white, the color you’ll be getting is beige. Brown becomes lighter when joined with white; this results in beige.

However, bear in mind that mixing different amounts of brown and white can also bring about different shades.

Should you add more brown, chances are you’ll get tan. Adding more white results in eggshell, ivory, and other similar tones.

If you are still learning the ropes of color mixing, it is best to remember that a little goes a long way. Starting with small amounts of both brown and white allows you to control the overall outcome. Slowly incorporate brown, white, or both to obtain the shade you need.

Other colors you might get in the spectrum are tan, khaki, nude, caramel, ivory, and ecru.

Brown and White in Design

Neutral tones make for the best foundation, whether it’s on your face as makeup, on the walls of your home, or even in your wardrobe. This is because they provide a palette that’s ideal for pairing with bold colors or other neutral hues.

Beige in design is relatively easy to play around with because of its versatility. In interior design and architecture, beige is typically used to substitute for white to avoid stark wall colors while still lending a subtle, subdued hue.

This color is also often incorporated into various elements inside a house – from the soft carpet in the living room and the throw pillows on the couch to the kitchen cabinets and the dining table runner.

As a neutral, beige goes well with almost every color. From jeweled tones to navy blue, using complementary tones magically transforms this simple color into something extraordinary.

For clothing, monochrome dressing is all the rage these days. A beige cable-knit dress is apt for this cold weather. Pair it with black or even beige-colored boots and you’re ready to go.

Blush, camel, white, tan, and other similar shades can also be thrown into the mix.

The Bottom Line

Whether you are doing your makeup, finding the perfect outfit, or simply mastering painting, knowing how to combine hues is an important life skill. Now that you know how to derive the color beige by blending brown and white, you can incorporate this in numerous facets of day-to-day living.

Thanks for tuning in and learning more about this topic. On to the next one!