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.
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.
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.
Why is ash veneer a popular oak alternative? Ash is strong and flexible, it accepts stains well and if desired can be stained to closely resemble oak. The smooth dense grain naturally rivals maple in its beauty. Light in tone, ash's fine grain is perfect for satin and high-gloss finishes.
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.
Good pairings
white oak and walnut. cherry and maple. red oak and white ash.
Dramatic contrasts
For those who like their furniture to stand out, consider choosing an opaque colour to go with your oak furniture. Natural textures look beautiful against a backdrop of darker shades such as aubergine, navy or forest green.
American Ash
It is almost half the price of European Oak. Ash grows quicker than oak and reaches very tall and very wide sizes and so it is available in great thicknesses, widths and lengths kiln dried. You can get Ash boards up to 300mm wide where this can be difficult to find in Oak.
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.
Complement/Contrast Tones
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.
Cherries, lime greens and autumnal oranges do well to highlight the natural lustre of oak. A good rule of thumb is to view darker shades as creating either mood, drama or cosiness and lighter or more saturated colours as providing energy and zest.
Sometimes, oak and hickory are used together to achieve a more balanced flavor.
If the primary wood tone is golden oak, you can choose deep mahogany to create contrast and light birch to brighten the room.
Oak Flooring with Walnut Furniture
I love to see warm oak floors paired with a sleek walnut dining table. The lighter oak provides a beautiful backdrop, allowing the rich tones of the walnut to really shine. This combination works particularly well in spaces that get plenty of natural light.
While you may not think you'd couple red oak with a reddish-brown wood (cherry), most find the union heavenly.
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.
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.
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.
Known in the trade as 'poor mans' oak' the other differences you'll notice between Oak and Idigbo (other than cost) is the weight of the timber – hold a piece of Idigbo in one hand and a piece of Oak in the other and there is a noticeable difference in weight, the Idigbo being far lighter.
Sometimes called chinaberry or white cedar, mindi wood is similar in density to red oak. It has natural anti-fungal properties and is resistant to decay. Although similar in texture to oak, the grain is packed closer.
Thermally treated Ash Vulcano Medium resembles Oak in its color tone. It boasts a honey-colored appearance, similar hardness, and excellent dimensions. The other two options, Uni Ash and Cor Ash, also offer intriguing alternatives to Oak.
Oak wood is not as easy to polish as fine-grain wood. It is also very heavy so it is very difficult to make a contemporary piece of furniture. Oak wood is also very difficult to cut and prone to cracking if not handled properly. If the oak wood is not completely cleaned, the furniture may shrink and turn into cracks.
It's fine – and here's why: they all have warm undertones that play nicely off of one another.
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.