How to tone down cherry wood?

Author: Mrs. Myra Jast  |  Last update: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Adding green will tone down the red/orange to a more brownish color. Tinting the lacquer is the way to go. Try it on a test piece first, and get their approval before doing the whole thing.

How to make cherry wood look modern?

Paint the Cabinets

Painting your cherry wood-stained cabinetry is a great way to update them. Kathryn Murphy, founder and principal at Kathryn Murphy Interiors, used Farrow and Ball's Green Smoke paint color to completely change the look of these cherry cabinets to offer a more muted tone in the kitchen.

How to make cherry wood look less red?

Cherry will darken and get more reddish brown with sun exposure. You might consider using a wood bleach like oxalic acid. Another option is gel stains.

Is there a way to lighten cherry wood?

The easiest way to lighten wood is to add bleach! I simply brush on regular household bleach to the raw sanded surface and let it dry in the sun. Sometimes multiple coats are needed to achieve a good shade. Once it's done, I add a mixture of 50:50 water and vinegar to stop the bleaching.

How to remove red undertones from wood?

If you get some green aniline dye, and dilute it well, you can brush on a coat, let it dry, and evaluate the result. If still too red repeat. When the color is to your liking finish with a topcoat. If it's to be used outside, use a top coat with UV inhibitors.

How To Tone Down Orange & Red Stain in Wood?

What color cancels out red in wood?

When working to remove red, green will be your color of choice. The depth of HyperTone Stains' primary colors makes it easy to mix and create a green hue that will conceal red tones. Mixing 1 part of Blue and 4 parts of Yellow creates a green stain, then you take 1 part green and mix it into 140 parts White.

What color cancels out red undertones?

The opposite of red on the color wheel is green, which means that green can cancel out red tones in the hair. However, it's essential to note that adding green to your hair will result in a brownish color.

How to style dark cherry wood furniture?

Coordinating options include warm colors such as beige, brown, or soft reds. Contrasting options may include cool colors like blue or green. In short, warm colors help Cherry pieces blend while cool colors will make your furniture pop.

How do you lighten red wood?

Two-part bleach: Also known as A/B bleach, this solution is made with sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide. When combined, they cause a chemical reaction specifically designed to alter the color of the wood. This is the only true “wood bleach”, and fortunately it's inexpensive and easy to get!

Does cherry wood lighten over time?

Cherry wood naturally darkens over time. At first, natural cherry wood will appear as a light wood with pink tones. Over time and with exposure to the sun, it will naturally darken to a medium, red-toned wood.

How do you tone down cherry wood?

Adding green will tone down the red/orange to a more brownish color. Tinting the lacquer is the way to go. Try it on a test piece first, and get their approval before doing the whole thing.

Does cherry wood always look red?

As cherry is exposed to sunlight and air, it changes color, shifting from a light salmon to a deep, rich reddish-brown.

How to tone down red in cabinets?

To neutralize these tones, apply a wash, stain, or paint in its complementary color. First and foremost, apply a stain, wash, or even very light color paint that's opposite on the color wheel. You can always sand down the wood until it's bare, then apply an ashy, neutral stain or repaint the wood.

How to make cherry cabinets look less red?

Grey and Blue Colors

If you want to add contrast to the reddish undertones of your dark cherry cabinets to make them pop, go for neutral colors. Look for greens, greys, and browns to make the red pop. Like in the picture above, the blue-grey color on the walls tones down the vibrancy of the cherry cabinets.

How to get red out of cherry wood?

To get a brown color without a red undertone, use 2 parts of Onyx mixed with 1 part Yellow. Because dark wood stains like Onyx have deep black pigments that derive from a dominant blue base, mixture with yellow will create a green tone. Use Tobacco, a very dominant, opaque stain that can be applied on its own.

What color accents cherry wood?

Which Hues to Choose. Thanks to the versatile tone, cherry wood furniture looks beautiful with a wide range of colors. For a coordinated look, stick to shades of beige, rusty red, or a rich brown. Cool colors like green and blue look lively when contrasted against the cherry wood furniture.

How to make red wood less red?

Here's my technique: If you want to neutralize red tones in wood, do a 1:10 green wash (1 part green paint, 10 parts water). Mix the two and wipe it on.

How do you slightly lighten wood?

Here are the top 7 techniques:
  1. Steel Wool.
  2. Paint and Varnish Stripper.
  3. Sanding.
  4. Wood Bleach.
  5. Whitewash.
  6. White Stain or Pickling.
  7. Liming or Cerusing Wax.

How to make red oak floors look less red?

Using a color neutralizer

Bona Red Out is a two-step waterborne color neutralizer that reduces red and pink tones in hardwood flooring to achieve the look of white oak. It's safe to use on all types of wood, from red oak to Brazilian cherry, it dries very quickly, and it's almost completely odorless.

How to update cherry wood?

Calm the tones in everything around the rich cabinets, and allow the beautiful wood to be the star of the show. The opposite of orange and red on the color wheel is blue and green. Using these colors as a tile backsplash makes the cherry cabinetry feel updated and intentional.

What is the best accent color for dark wood?

Wall Colors for Dark Wood Floors — 13 Pairings Designers Choose to Make Them Look Modern
  • Pink.
  • Purple.
  • Light green.
  • Coral.
  • Greige.
  • Burgundy.
  • Yellow.
  • Black.

What color comforter goes best with cherry wood?

White, Cream, and Ivory. Whether it's bright white or a subtle shade of ivory, all versions of white go beautifully with cherry wood furniture. The light tones of white will help to make the richness of your cherry wood bedroom furniture stand out.

How do you neutralize red undertones?

Recommended Colors for Neutralization

Orange or brassy tones are best neutralized with blue, while red tones find their match in green.

What color correction for red undertones?

For redness: Neutralize red and pink tones with a green color corrector.

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