How To Make Light Brown Paint: Color Mixing Guide

Brown paint has different shades; light brown is one of them. Light brown comes with a warm and soft undertone, and know that this is the medium hue of brown color. For some particular projects, you may need this shade. There is a chance that you can get that in the store. But not sure, you probably need to make it yourself. So, it is important to know how to make light brown paint.

Light brown can be achieved by mixing red, blue, and yellow colors properly. To have the exact shade, you will need to use white. You can use alternative colors of the main three colors if you have any scope.

This guide will let you know some other relevant things and will answer very possible questions related to making light brown paint. Keep reading till the end.

What Colors Make Light Brown?

The color brown might not be the most basic and vibrant color, but this color is necessary to complement other colors.

However, light brown may not always be available. So, you have to create light brown with other colors. Here are some colors that you can use to make light brown.

Red, Yellow, and Blue

If you want to make a light brown color with the simplest and most basic option, you can mix yellow, red, and blue. These three primary colors are used to make any other secondary colors.

You just have to balance the colors differently. To achieve the ideal light brown, use more yellow than red and blue. You can also add white to the brown to lighten it more.

Yellow and purple

Yellow and purple will also create the brown color. But don’t put yellow on purple; this will take a lot of time and effort. To get a lighter shade of brown, add a little purple to the yellow color.

Red, Green, and white

You might know that red and green make brown color. But this brown can be darker. So, you have to add white to the red and green combination. Thus, you will get a lighter shade of brown.

Blue and orange

Blue and orange are also excellent colors for creating brown. If the blue portion is larger, it might become a dark shade. So, you should add more orange to get a lighter brown. You can also add a little white or yellow to lighten the brown even more.

What Two Colors Make Light Brown?

To answer the question accurately, we can say that only two colors will be unable to give you the proper shade of light brown. If you have an orange color, you can add blue to it to achieve a light brown shade. Adjust each type in the mixture, and check if you see the actual light brown shade. This way, you can mix two colors – orange and blue to make light brown.

But note that you will need at least three colors to have relatively better light brown. The list includes red, blue, and yellow. Mixing these three colors will give you a light brown shade. The right shade can be achieved by adjusting each type in the palette. So, undoubtedly it is a time-consuming process.

To attain a much better result, you will need to mix white color in a controlled amount. This can adjust the color exactly and can create an actual shade of light brown.

In a nutshell, you can mix two colors to make a light brown shade but that may not be a successful method. For better results, you can mix three colors; red, blue, and yellow. For the expected result, you will need another color in the mixture which is white.

How to Make Light Brown Paint: Step-by-Step Guide

Join us on a journey as we guide you, step by step, through the process of making your desired shade of light brown paint in various paint mediums. Let’s begin!

How To Make Light Brown Using Watercolors

Similar to acrylic, watercolors come with a huge collection of colors, some are ready-made and can be immediately added to your palette, and others require custom mixing. Due to its ease of use, making your own light brown shade is a simple task. Follow these steps to create the perfect light brown hue for your artwork. Gather these materials to get started:

• Watercolor paints: blue, red, and yellow
• A palette
• Paint brushes

Step 1: Take the red and yellow

First, take some yellow and red paint on the palette. Mix them using your paintbrush. You will get a nice orange hue.

Step 2: Add blue to bring the brown color

To the orange mixture, slowly add a little amount of blue. Now mix them again and you will get a brown shade.

Step 3: Adjust the shade of brown

Test the color on a piece of paper or your palette to make sure it is the shade of light brown you want. The shade of brown you will get on the first attempt might not impress you; however, you always have the chance to adjust the color with watercolor to your desired one.

If it is too dark or too light, adjust the proportions of yellow, red, and blue until you are satisfied with the hue. If you need to add blue, add a small amount at a time. Keep in mind that a small amount of blue can go a long way in altering the color, so add it slowly and mix well.

Note: You may use some water to adjust the consistency of the color. But keep that to a certain limit as well because you don’t want to ruin the shade! Remember, the exact proportions of yellow, red, and blue needed to create light brown color may vary depending on the specific watercolor paints you are using.

It might also be a good idea to consider the surface on which the paint will be applied, as there may be slight differences in the paint’s appearance depending on the surface. Lastly, it’s important to keep experimenting and testing until you achieve the desired shade.

How To Make Light Brown Color Using Pastel Colors

Pastel colors are soft, chalk-like sticks made of pigments mixed with a binder. They are available in a wide range of colors and shades, from bright and bold to soft and delicate. This is probably the easiest method you will find to express your creativity.

You don’t require any special tools or solvents to work with them, and these colors can be blended easily to create new colors and shades. With just a few pastel sticks and some simple mixing techniques, you can create the perfect light brown color for your artwork.

Step 1: Gather the essentials

To get started with this method, you will need the following supplies:

• Pastels: blue, red, and yellow
• Pastel paper
• A blending stick

Step 2: Begin with yellow pastel

Choose a fresh, small area on the surface you want to apply the paint. Apply the yellow color.

Step 3: Add a bit of red pastel

Now it’s time to add a little amount of red pastel close to the yellow color. Gently blend the pastel colors using the blending stick. If you don’t want to do it the fancy way, you can use your fingers! You will get an orange shade.

Step 4: Add blue to make it complete

Slowly add a little amount of blue pastel to the orange mixture and blend them well. You can keep adding a bit and blend until you see your desired shade of light brown.

Step 5: Adjust the color

First, you can test the color on pastel paper. If the shade doesn’t seem satisfactory, you can adjust the color. You can change the proportions of each color according to your needs and blend them again.

The quality of pastels you use may affect the shade a bit, so make sure to use high-quality colors and pastel paper.

Making Light Brown Paint Using Primary Colors and White

If you don’t have those fancy colors like burnt sienna, titanium white, or raw umber, just left with primary colors and regular white, you can still make light brown paint. You can even try this out with all the three paint mediums we talked about above; acrylics, watercolors, and even pastels. Here are the supplies you need to get started:

• Paints: blue, yellow, red, and white
• A palette
• A palette knife

Step 1: Start with the primary colors

Take equal amounts of blue, yellow, and red paint on the palette. Mix them well using the palette knife. You will get a brown shade from this mixture.

Step 2: Adding a bit of white

Once you get the brown shade, it’s time to brighten it up. Take a small amount of white paint and mix it with the brown mixture. Keep adding the white color until you get your desired shade. However, don’t add too much white as it can damage the natural beauty of the brown shade.

The best way to achieve a custom shade that suits your work is through experimenting with different colors. You can try the methods above and experiment with more colors to achieve the perfect shade of light brown for your task.

How to Make Light Brown Color Paint with Acrylic Paint Step-by-Step

Acrylic paints come in a vast array of colors, but it’s possible that your desired shade of light brown may not be included. No worries, though! If you can’t find the exact light brown hue you’re seeking, follow these steps to make it yourself.

Step 1: Gather your supplies

To start this method, you will need the following resources:

• Colors: burnt sienna, yellow, titanium white, and raw umber acrylic paint
• Paint palette
• Palette knife

Step 2: Start with burnt sienna and yellow

Take equal amounts of burnt sienna and yellow paint on your palette or mixing surface. Mix them well using your palette knife.

Step 3: Add a bit of raw umber

Add a little amount of raw umber paint to the mix of yellow and burnt sienna. The amount you add will depend on the desired depth of the light brown color.

Step 4: Brighten up the mix with a bit of titanium white

Add a little amount of titanium white paint to the mix. Mix it with other colors using your palette knife. Keep adding until you reach the desired lightness. Mix the colors together until you achieve an even, homogeneous light brown color.

Step 5: Adjust the color as needed

If the light brown color is not quite what you’re looking for, adjust the ratios of the colors until you reach your desired shade.

Step 6: Test the color

Try a small test of the light brown color on a piece of paper or canvas before using it in your main project. This will prevent any unexpected mess on the real surface.

By following these steps, you should be able to achieve a beautiful light brown color in acrylic medium.

How to Make Light Brown Paint without White?

Whenever it comes to making any paint lighter, people always recommend mixing the white color. But there are some other alternatives too. Moreover, if you don’t have white available, you have to work with other colors. Let’s see how you can make light brown paint without white.

Yellow with dark brown

If you already have the dark brown color, the task becomes easier. You have to add yellow to the dark brown. The color will lighten eventually, and you will get light brown paint without adding white.

Red, Blue, and Yellow

You might already know that red, blue, and yellow can make brown. But if you don’t get the lighter shade, people would recommend adding white. But without white, you can also add more yellow. Yellow will balance the shade and make it light brown.

Green, Red, and Yellow

Green and red are the two primary colors. These two colors can make brown, but the shade will be dark. That’s why adding yellow will make the color lighter. You can mix green, red, and yellow to get a light brown hue. Moreover, you should always test the shade of the paint on a surface by mixing other colors. This will ensure the actual shade of light brown you are expecting.

Read Next:

• What Colors Make Lime Green?
• What Colors Make Orange?

Final Words

Light brown is a soothing, warm, and earthy color that is often described as being a cross between brown and tan.

Typically associated with natural materials like wood, leather, and sand, it is a versatile color that can be incorporated into a variety of interior and fashion design styles.

Additionally, light brown can convey a sense of comfort, stability, and relaxation.

So, you may need a light brown color and you can make it yourself. The above guide will be very handy when you want to make light brown color at home. There are different methods and you should go for that which is convenient to you.

To achieve the right shade of any color, mixing ingredients properly is vital. This rule is not different for making light brown paint.