Good pairings white oak and walnut. cherry and maple. red oak and white ash.
Showcasing how powerfully the contrasting undertones of ash and oak can work together, this ash Cape Pendant lifts this space with its lighter wood – balancing out the darker oak found in the Arbor Armchair and May Coffee Table. A symphony of wooden tones.
White oak and walnut: I love this combo for living rooms and dining areas. The airy freshness of white oak paired with the neutral blending power of walnut brings about a coziness that enhances the livability of these spaces.
Earthy, natural tones
Greens like sage or olive help to create a calm feel, perfect for a living room or study. Richer earthy tones like tan, rust, terracotta, or burnt orange create a warm feel, which can be great as an accent colour to match your oak dining table.
In truth, there aren't many colours that don't match well with oak. While oak pairs the best with natural tones; deeper blues, greens, reds and also neutrals, brighter colours aren't off the map. Cherries, lime greens and autumnal oranges do well to highlight the natural lustre of oak.
Good pairings
white oak and walnut. cherry and maple. red oak and white ash. mahogony and cherry.
If you want your oak woodwork be part of your colour palette, then stick to earthy tones. Oak sits perfectly next to stone greys, terracotta, and creams. This can then be accented with golds or coppers. Then add some colour to the room with big green leafy plants like a Rubber tree or a Ficus.
If both oak and maple have a similar stain or finish, they can complement each other more effectively. Consider the existing colors in your decor, such as wall colors, flooring, and other furnishings. Find a Unifying Element: Look for a unifying element in your design.
Golden Oak – A Popular Color Choice for Cedar, Garapa, Oak, and Teak Wood. Golden Oak is not just a color; it's a statement. This warm, inviting hue can transform any piece of wood into a striking design element, imbuing spaces with a sense of warmth and natural elegance.
Sometimes, oak and hickory are used together to achieve a more balanced flavor.
Imagine walls and homewares in coffee, cocoa, and caramel tones perfectly complementing our darker wooden cabinetry collections such as Oliver, Madison, Detroit, and Islington. This cosy, indulgent aesthetic seamlessly combines with lighter oak furniture, creating an intriguing contrast.
It's fine – and here's why: they all have warm undertones that play nicely off of one another.
While you may not think you'd couple red oak with a reddish-brown wood (cherry), most find the union heavenly.
As already mentioned, yes, you absolutely can mix oak and walnut. In fact, I encourage it. Doing so keeps things cozy and welcoming, which is on trend with my favourite topic, creating spaces that hug.
If the primary wood tone is golden oak, you can choose deep mahogany to create contrast and light birch to brighten the room.
Native or shallow-rooted shrubs, such as ceanothus, manzanita, mahonia, flannel bush, and snowberry, are a safe bet to plant with Oak trees.
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.
BLACK AND NATURAL OAK WITH COOL UNDERTONES
Oak chairs with a woven seat combined with a black table create an incredibly nice contrast where the different wood colors enhance each other.
One outdated trend that many of us are all too familiar with is golden oak. In the '80s and '90s, this honey-toned wood finish was all the rage, and people put it evvverywhere. Flooring, railings, doors, trim, baseboards, cabinets… you name it.
Woods with warm undertones will look yellow or red — think Cherry, Mahogany, and Hickory. These work well together, even if they vary in tone and grain. Cool-toned woods like Ash, Maple, Poplar, and Pine will look a little bit gray. Neutrally toned woods like Walnut are the most versatile.
In the same way that you would mix warm and cool colors to create a balanced color palette, you can do the same with wood tones. Warm wood tones like oak, cherry, and walnut pair well with cool wood tones like ash, maple, and birch.
Mango wood, renowned for its multicolored grains, is currently a favored species for furniture and accessories, beautifully complementing Spotted Gum and Tasmanian Oak floors, especially the darker variants.
If you're not looking for a dramatic contrast, you can try pairing light wood cabinets, like those made out of maple or oak, with bamboo for a similar and cohesive look. In general, if you have a small space, lighter colors and a monochromatic palette help to open up the area.
Best Oak Stain: Natural Oak Finish
Natural finish preserves and celebrates the natural look of the wood. So, if anyone ever asks, you'll know the answer. What is the best stain for oak? Natural finish is the best and most popular stain for oak wood.
With dark wood cabinets, white and light paint colours look fantastic. Choose countertops in white, brown, black, or grey. Dark oak cabinets look great with off-white walls, maple or oak floors, and stainless steel hardware. Choose a dark oak kitchen table and stainless steel appliances as a finishing touch.