Sometimes we need a professional to help with our home design projects. And sometimes, we can learn from them instead – so much better for our budgets! And when it comes to mixing wood tones in our home, I know how challenging that can be. In today’s post, I’m sharing how to mix wood tones (and stains) to create a layered, lived-in, and balanced look.
HOW I MIX WOOD TONES & STAINS (JUST LIKE THE PROS)
Once upon a time, we purchased furniture sets to make sure everything in our homes ‘matched.’ But trying to find an exact match when you needed to add or replace a piece was also such a hassle!
That’s why I’m glad that in today’s more relaxed, eclectic design world, mixing different types of wood furniture has become far more common.
It makes creating a layered, curated look that much easier and far more livable, too.
So, keep that treasured pine chest and that oak buffet table and let’s explore some of the “gentle rules” that I like to follow when it comes to mixing wood tones, just like the pros:
1. What’s Your Dominant Tone (Warm or Cool)?
Typically, the dominant wood tones can be found in your dominant finishes: flooring, cabinetry, and sometimes your window frames, too (especially true in older, Victorian-era homes).
This guide from Room & Board is a great tool:
When referencing the guide above, you can see that the dominant tone in our home is warm (warm flooring dominates our home as do our kitchen cabinets).
2. Mixing Light, Medium, and Dark Wood Stains of the Same Tone (Warm or Cool)
Once you’ve identified the dominant tone in your home (either warm or cool), you can confidently add in the same wood tone in varying wood stains – light, medium or dark – without ‘clashing’ with the rest of your space.
Some Tips:
1. Start With One:
Start with one complementary piece at a time, and build from there. For example, if all of your current pieces are a ‘dark warm’ tone, then bring in one ‘medium warm’ piece to start. Then sprinkle in at least one or two ‘medium warm’ accessories such as a wood bowl or sculpture to pull the look together.
2. Polished or Relaxed?
If you’re going for a more polished vibe, steer clear of wood with visible grains (a more relaxed and rustic look). If you prefer relaxed and rustic, then use wood with visible grains.
Or, if you’re like me, you like to mix things up with a bit of polish and a bit of rusticity – I’m all for it! As long as it’s in keeping with the dominant tone in my home (WARM), it generally works well.
3. But Can I Mix Warm and Cool Wood Tones Together?
In a word? Yes.
Some Tips:
1. Represent Twice in One Room:
Once you’ve identified the dominant wood tone and how to add light, medium, and dark wood stains in the same tone family, then you can sprinkle in a few contrasting tones to add more drama.
Make sure that the contrasting wood tone is represented at least twice in one room, spread out so that the entire space is balanced.
2. Textiles for Contrast (Our Space):
Alternatively, you can add contrasting tones through textiles instead.
This is exactly what I’ve done: Since I prefer warm wood over cool wood tones, I add cool colours through fabric and accessories.
Looking at the Great Room below, our 1 couch and 1 set of armchairs are both grey, which adds a ‘cool’ contrast (represented twice) to an otherwise ‘warm’ colour palette in the space. (In case you’re wondering, the second couch is ‘ivory’ white – a ‘warm’ white).
In fact, our two chairs, while wrapped in a cool grey fabric, are framed by a warm, oak finish in the arms and legs. The perfect, contrasting combination of warm and cool tones.
4. Create Balance With An Accent Colour
If you’re STILL not sure what your dominant wood tone is OR if your home is truly eclectic, then my suggestion is to use colour to create balance.
Tie your furniture together by using accent colour(s), sprinkled throughout. Make sure to repeat each accent colour at least twice in a room for balance. This automatically harmonizes your space.
I use our accessories – throw pillows, rugs, coffee table books, florals, vases – to create that balance.
I keep our accent ‘colours’ at a minimum: whites/creams and blacks/greys – and make sure to repeat, at least twice.
‘Blending’ the room together with complementary colours in the form of accessories and textiles will help create balance in your home.
While our home is not perfectly designed (whose is?), I do my best to apply some “gentle rules” in our interiors. I hope that some of the ideas in this post gave you some fresh inspiration in seeing how to mix wood tones & stains at home. We can learn a lot from the pros and try to utilize their suggestions to create our own feeling of ‘home.’
Happy designing ❤️
SHOP MY FURNITURE
(the following are still available):
Burrard Sofa
Malsa (Slipcover) Sofa
Otio Lounge Chairs
Oversized Coffee Table (*affiliate link)
Dining Room Chairs
Dining Room Area Rug (washable)
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