For example, if we have a light oak piece or finish we want to contrast, we'll likely pair it with a dark wood like walnut or stained maple. Designer note: If the wood tones in your space seem overwhelming, try balancing them out with a neutral-stained wood piece in black, white, or even light grey.
Combining mixed wood types – such as oak, walnut, ash – has become increasingly popular over the last few years thanks to the laid-back, 'lived-in' trend sweeping the interior world.
“Mixing wood tones makes a room more inviting and effortless, rather than calculated and expected," says Hannon Douglas designer Hannon Kirk Doody, "I would not shy away from putting together, for instance, a painted oak table and a Louis XVI walnut commode." Doody also recommends dodging blandness by incorporating ...
Good pairings
As we've said, there are no truly hard and fast rules, but we do have some solid recommendations. Here's a short list of wood species that tend to play well together in designs: walnut and maple. white oak and walnut.
Oak has a light to middle brown colour with some reddish hues, complimented by a straight and tight grain pattern. Walnut can range anywhere from a light brown to a deep, dark chocolate hue. Though its grain is very open and more coarse than maple, walnut still has a beautiful, uniform surface.
Other species of oak, such as American White Oak, have a light-to-tan brown colour with a straight grain. Walnut, on the other hand, can have a characteristically sleek cream-to-chocolate brown colour — often with an alluring tinge of purple.
Dark Walnut stains look great with other dark colors, like plums, blues, greens, and dark reds. Alternatively, lighter colors like off-white, light grays, and other neutral shades can pleasantly contrast the eyes. Don't be afraid to mix different shades of stained wood and different types of wood in a room.
This is a wood that while rising in popularity has always remained among the top choices of wood species. It's unique and durable characteristics make it a great option for those who wish their pieces to last a lifetime and charm to remain timeless.
Wax Finishes: Wax finishes provide a natural-looking finish without adding much gloss or shine to the wood. 4. Shellac Finish: Shellac is a versatile natural finish that enhances the beauty of walnut with its warm amber hue.
"I enjoy mixing maple with cherry or mahogany, and like blending walnut with cherry. For exotic woods, I often combine wenge with either lacewood or bubinga." Chuck Hedlund: "On traditional projects, subtle color differences work well. I'll go for sharper contrast on contemporary styles.
Colours like cherry red, ochre yellow, lime green or rusty orange will bring out those warm hues in oak for a zesty palette that warms up a space. With cooler brights like vivid blue, deep teal or raspberry reds, oak will add warmth to these spaces, balancing out the cooler palette and grounding the overall look.
Which colors best suit an oak wood trim? Compare lighter shades of oak with various darker paint colors (and vice versa) to determine the perfect match. You might choose complementing shades like smooth, velvety neutral shades, including beige, ivory, and gray as well as various hues of blue and green.
The best paint colours to coordinate, update and modernize oak (red, yellow, orange, pink, brown). Ideas for cabinets, flooring, trim, furniture and more...
When it comes to contrasting our woods, we tend to keep it bold to avoid competing visual points. For example, if we have a light oak piece or finish we want to contrast, we'll likely pair it with a dark wood like walnut or stained maple.
Walnut is a stunning natural wood noted for its significant brown colour and strong, typically straight, grain variation. Oak has a light to middle brown colour with some reddish hues, complimented by a straight and tight grain pattern. Walnut can range anywhere from a light brown to a deep, dark chocolate hue.
Oak Rule Graded Walnut.
The reason for this is that the standard for grading Oak is stricter than the standard for grading Walnut in terms of usable fiber. For this reason, Walnut graded on Oak rules provides better yields than standard industry grades.
Use Contrast to Call Attention
Dark finishes, such as mahogany, walnut, or cherry, stand out in sharp relief against light colors, such as a pale green or blue or a hue from the sunny side of the color wheel. In the same way, light wood shows up boldly against dark or strong color on the walls.
“Walnut has a warm undertone; it deepens and becomes richer and darker within the first year,” notes Laura. Walnut is becoming a top choice for several reasons. “So many people love the modern look but don't want it to appear cold.
Curved Sofas, Chairs, and Tables
When asked about the future of furniture in 2023, every interior design expert we spoke to agreed that curved pieces are dominating.
Pros: Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that can take intricate carving. The color can be beautiful. Cons: Some may not like the variation from dark to light that's sometimes found on a single wide board. Walnut is also one of the more costly woods.
Modern Walnut is a large-scale grey brown woodgrain with the casual features of knots and cracks.
Light colors go very well with dark flooring. Pale, cool blue walls work especially well in a dining room, if you're looking for a lively pop of color. Calming blue and blue gray shades can bring contrast to the dark wood to brighten your space.
Walnut is a darker wood with shades that range from pale browns to dark browns.
Grey color goes well with walnut cabinetry, provided the room is adequately illuminated. You can also choose neutral colors, gray, off white and beige for the rest elements of the space.