How to Decorate With Saddle Brown

Purchase a paint with a light-reflecting finish if you're painting the wall in saddle brown. Saddle brown, like other deeper shades of paint, absorbs light, creating the optical illusion that the walls are closer than they actually are. This can be a good effect if you're hoping to create a warm, cozy space, but can also present a design challenge. One way to minimize the impact of this deep shade is to use an eggshell or semi-gloss finish. These finishes are more reflective and allow light in the room to bounce off the walls.

Implement the 60-30-10 rule. You can ensure that your room has a properly balanced color palette by using this designer rule. Decide in advance if saddle brown is going to account for the 60 percent of color used on the walls, 30 percent of color used in furnishings like the sofa, draperies and area rugs, or 10 percent of color used in accessories like throw pillows, lampshades and artwork. Where you use saddle brown is up to you, but it should only be used in one particular percentage of the color formula.

Balance the color. Because saddle brown does absorb light, choose a secondary color that reflects light to balance the space. For instance, if you decide that you want the saddle brown to be found in the 30 percent of the room that covers the furniture, draperies and area rugs, use a light-reflecting shade like creamy white or pale yellow on the walls.

Take a chance with your accents. The thing that sets a shade of brown apart from other colors is how it's created. You probably remember that red, yellow and blue are primary colors -- the colors from which all other colors are made. Orange, green and violet are secondary colors, created by mixing two primary colors together. Different shades of brown are tertiary colors, meaning that they're a combination of all the primary colors. In terms of decorating, this means that at the base of saddle brown is nearly every shade on the color wheel, with the possibility that a little black has been added. Dare to be bold with the 10 percent of accent color you add to the room, as there is a good possibility that it will coordinate with the saddle brown. Sienna red, burnt orange, dark amber, deep gold, copper and forest green are all dramatic shades that will blend perfectly.

Place accents that also work with the secondary color of the room. This will not be an issue if you've chosen a neutral shade like creamy white, ecru or coffee because neutral shades will work with most accent colors you choose. If, however, you've opted to paint the walls yellow, green or blue, you'll need to make sure that the accent color coordinates with this hue. The easiest way to do that is to look at a color wheel. Either choose the shade that is directly next to the color you're trying to match or the shade that is directly across from that color on the wheel.