My first tip for working with dark wood furniture is to use tones (paint, bedding, pillows, artwork, curtains, etc.) that compliment the wood tone – usually warm, neutral colors. In this design, I painted the walls BM Revere Pewter – a warm gray.
One way to style your dark wood furniture is to contrast it with light colours. This doesn't have to be a stark black-and-white contrast, but making use of lighter-coloured neutrals is a good way to go. Warm neutrals such as soft greys, stone and beige variants will pair very nicely with dark wood.
Lay a brightly patterned runner across a wood dresser or table. Opt for bold bedding or wall art in a bedroom outfitted with wood furniture. Table lamps, vases, and planters in a rainbow of colors can also help cheer up dark wood furniture.
If the wood is too dark, soak a clean cloth in turpentine or mineral spirits and rub the wood firmly and evenly along the grain. This will lighten the stain but not remove it.
The only effective way to lighten the color of wood after it has been stripped of all surface coatings is to use a wood bleach. Sanding does help to lighten wood in many cases, but this only applies to surface soil or grime, and even then only if the discoloration has not penetrated very deeply.
'What's old is new again,' agrees Etsy's 2023 collections curator, Martha Stewart, adding that 'brown furniture is alive and well'. But while dark wood appears to be on the up, Etsy has observed a 24 per cent decrease in searches for Scandinavian decor, raw or light wood (14 per cent) and beige decor (29 per cent).
As a first step to removing layers of grime from old wood furniture, use an oil soap (Murphy Oil Soap Wood Cleaner, $4, Target) and water. Rinse and dry well. If the finish still seems dirty, clean lightly with #0000 steel wool dipped in a cleaning product.
My first tip for working with dark wood furniture is to use tones (paint, bedding, pillows, artwork, curtains, etc.) that compliment the wood tone – usually warm, neutral colors. In this design, I painted the walls BM Revere Pewter – a warm gray.
Along with mid-century-inspired curved furniture, the brown tones of this period are also poised to make a major comeback in 2023. This natural color—particularly its darker varieties—creates a sense of earthy stability, says Claire Druga, an interior designer based in New York City.
A New Coat of Paint…
A lick of paint can really liven up an older piece of furniture that might have seen better days. Of course, oak has a glorious natural grain that looks fantastic with a bit of polish but sometimes a change of colour can really revitalise a piece.
Deglossing and cleaning your dark wood furniture before painting is really important. This step prepares the dark wood for painting. Done properly, the paint will have a good surface to adhere to and last a long time. Use Simple Green and clean cotton painter's rags to degloss all of the surfaces thoroughly.
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.
Create aged wood texture
A wire brush attachment will remove soft areas of wood and let the grain shine. Fit the attachment into the drill and run the bristles back and forth over the wood, going with the grain. Repeat until the wood is textured. Finish by lightly sanding the surface with a fine-grit sandpaper.
I sanded my wood countertops well, then vacuumed and wiped them down with a damp cloth. I'm using water based wood dye so there's no issue with using a water dampened cloth to clean off all the sanding dust. You can purchase dyes in liquid or powder form.
This may be a surprise to many, but we are expecting more dark wood tones to pop up in homes in 2023! Last year we saw a lot of DIY bleached furniture and light wood floors.
Dark Wood. “Light wood has been trending for a long time—it will be refreshing to see a new twist on dark in 2023, especially because it can feel nostalgic and classy. When done well, it can have a commanding yet refined impact on a space.
One of the main details that a furniture maker needs to consider is the type of wood they use. The type of wood can affect the style, value, and even the quality of the furniture! One of the most beautiful colors of wood is dark wood. Unfortunately, dark wood is considered to be a luxury.
Dark furniture, whether traditional or contemporary, adds drama to a room and gives it a more formal look. It's compelling, draws the eye and can serve as a wonderful focal point. Dark furniture can be a good choice when you have a large, spacious room that feels too big to be comfortable.
Bleaching wood furniture lightens the overall color of the wood, giving it a clean, bright look. While bleaching isn't intended for removing stains, it will proportionally lighten the stains and reduce their visual impact.
While mixing wood tones is perfectly acceptable—and in fact, we encourage it—it always helps to pick a dominant wood tone as a starting point to help you choose other pieces to bring in the room. If you have wood floors, your work here is done — those are your dominant wood tone.