Brown “anything” in a home has been labelled drab and outdated by some arbiters of decor. But, this fall, the hue is back — in part because of the unsettled, anxious state of the world.

“Brown traditionally makes people feel comfortable and safe, and those are feelings that many of us are looking to our homes to provide,” said interior designer Dawn Hamilton of Oakland Park, Fla.

The return of brown hues are among the trends in decor this season, when the pandemic has made home an even more essential space for living, working, studying and more. Also on the watch list: flexible rooms, indoor and out.

Cosy palette: Hamilton says today’s brown palette is being used in new ways: as a neutral in all kinds of materials, and as an accent colour.

“Brown feels very earthy and rich. It’s warm and inviting, and has the same grounding properties as black, although it’s not quite as harsh,” she said.

New York designer Becky Shea also cites brown’s organic versatility: “It’s a tone that works cohesively with neutrals as well as dark, bold tones like navy, graphite and black.’’

Eilyn Jimenez, of Sire Design in Miami, is adding a mocha brown vanity to the guest bathroom of a “minimalist, French chateau-style” home she’s designing. “It adds a layer of depth with a vintage feel,” she said.

But don’t overdo brown, she warns; blend it with modern materials, like marble, for beautiful juxtapositions.

“Bringing it in with light woods, leathers and other natural materials can help make a space feel timeless,” Jimenez added.

Lighter, yellowish browns, like caramel, often works well in leather.

“In upholstery, we consider saddle leather to be a form of brown that’s like a trusty pair of blue jeans — it goes with everything,” says Chicago designer Brynn Olson.

As for furniture, Olson likes the effect of brown stains on walnut and white oak. “Natural walnut will always feel fresh, and we love to pair it with bright white decor such as plaster vases, for a sophisticated pairing of textures,” she said.

That brown-and-white combo has been a favourite of decorating icons including Billy Baldwin, said New York City designer Glenn Gissler. Inspired, Gissler recently painted a New York loft in a deep, rich brown, with columns and ceilings in crisp white. A long, tuxedo-style sofa in milk-chocolatey velvet anchors the space, along with tonal modern art.

Colours like purples and blues, of any intensity, also complement brown.

Comfort and flexibility: “Home has always been a refuge for recharging and relaxing; it’s going to become even more so,” said architect Jeffrey Dungan of Birmingham, Ala.

The ideal room now, he says, converts easily from family room to office, studio, guest room or self-quarantine space.

Some designers say that because of quarantining and the variety of uses expected from rooms, they’re getting requests for more self-contained rooms.

“We’ll be saying goodbye to one of the main trends of recent years: open-plan spaces, with the entrance, living room, dining space and kitchen united,” Ukrainian architect Sergey Makhno wrote recently in “Dezeen” magazine.

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