Matching wood furniture with wood floors involves creating a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look by considering factors like undertones, color families, and contrast. The key is to create harmony, not a perfect match.
Understanding Undertones
The most important aspect is to identify the undertones in both your wood furniture and your wood floors.
- Warm Undertones: These have hints of red, orange, or yellow.
- Cool Undertones: These have hints of gray, green, or blue.
- Neutral Undertones: These have no dominant color.
Generally, it's best to pair wood pieces that share similar undertones to create a harmonious look.
Considering Color Families
Keeping woods within a similar color family can also help achieve a balanced aesthetic. For example:
- Light Woods: Birch, maple, light oak.
- Medium Woods: Cherry, medium oak, walnut.
- Dark Woods: Mahogany, ebony, dark walnut.
Combining light wood floors with light wood furniture or dark floors with dark furniture can be visually pleasing.
Using Contrast Effectively
While matching undertones and color families is important, don't be afraid to use contrast to add visual interest.
- Light Floors, Dark Furniture: This provides a strong contrast and makes the furniture stand out.
- Dark Floors, Light Furniture: This can create a more airy and open feel.
Key Tips for Success
- Avoid Overmatching: Strive for coordination, not an exact match, as this can make the space look flat and uninspired.
- Introduce Variety: Use rugs, textiles, and accessories to break up the wood tones and add depth to the room.
- Consider the Room's Lighting: Natural and artificial light can affect how wood tones appear, so consider this when making your selections.
- Test Before Committing: Before buying furniture, get samples of the wood and see how they look next to your floors in different lighting conditions.
Examples
| Floor Type | Furniture Options | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Light Oak | Maple, birch, light-toned walnut | Consider rugs and accessories to add contrast. Avoid identical shades of oak. |
| Dark Walnut | Ebony, dark cherry, dark-stained oak | Use lighter-colored textiles and accessories to balance the dark wood tones. |
| Gray-Toned Floors | Light gray, black, or white-washed furniture | These floors are versatile, but ensure the furniture undertones complement the floor's cool undertones. |
| Red-Toned Cherry | Furniture with similar warm undertones (e.g., mahogany) | Be careful not to overdo the red tones; use neutral colors elsewhere to balance the look. |
By considering undertones, color families, and contrast, you can successfully match wood furniture with wood floors to create a beautiful and cohesive space.
