Decorating Guides
How to Mix and Match Wood Tones in a Room
Not sure how to harmonise multiple wooden tones in your home? This guide has you covered
If you’ve always preferred your decor to be as perfectly curated as a shopfront display, perhaps it’s time to toss out the matchy-matchy rule book and embrace the mix-and-match approach. A mix of wood grains, patterns and tones can lend your decor a characterful spirit and a genuine sense of style. Yet, marrying various woods in a room can often prove to be a challenge. If you’ve been contemplating mixing and matching wood tones in your home, but have been apprehensive about how to get started, consider these tips your guiding light.
Warm undertones usually appear in red, orange or yellow shades, while cool undertones give off a greyish hue.
See how this Gurgaon living room, designed by DeMuro Das, embraces coolness by way of its wood-panelled wall.
See how this Gurgaon living room, designed by DeMuro Das, embraces coolness by way of its wood-panelled wall.
Beige, a medium-warm colour temperature injected into this space by Artistic Spaces, is associated with a neutral undertone. Neutral colour temperatures work equally well with woods on both sides of the spectrum – warm or cool – as well as with other neutral finishes.
Tip: Struggling to determine a wood undertone? Try finding the lightest hue in the grain. Alternatively, walk away across the room and study the piece as a whole: it’s likely you’ll perceive it as a single colour.
Here are modern, stylish ways to use dark wood at home
Tip: Struggling to determine a wood undertone? Try finding the lightest hue in the grain. Alternatively, walk away across the room and study the piece as a whole: it’s likely you’ll perceive it as a single colour.
Here are modern, stylish ways to use dark wood at home
Designate a ruling tone
A sea of similar tones can dissolve into nothingness and be lost on the eye. Tackle the tedium by making one wood tone your room’s crowning glory, as demonstrated by the floor in this Ahmedabad living room by S A K Designs, and add complementary darker or lighter tones around it. If you’re unsure of how to decide this, go by your largest surface – the floor, the sofa frame or the centre table, perhaps.
A sea of similar tones can dissolve into nothingness and be lost on the eye. Tackle the tedium by making one wood tone your room’s crowning glory, as demonstrated by the floor in this Ahmedabad living room by S A K Designs, and add complementary darker or lighter tones around it. If you’re unsure of how to decide this, go by your largest surface – the floor, the sofa frame or the centre table, perhaps.
If all your wood finishes are of equal surface area, like the floor and ceiling in this balcony by Sunita Yogesh Studio, it makes sense to spread your dominant tone across two, three or even four ruling accents.
These pieces don’t all have to sport an identical tone or grain (in fact, the more variety, the better). As long as they’re within the same colour family – all dark, all light, or a mix of neutral and dark, or neutral and light – you can comfortably establish your reigning tone.
These pieces don’t all have to sport an identical tone or grain (in fact, the more variety, the better). As long as they’re within the same colour family – all dark, all light, or a mix of neutral and dark, or neutral and light – you can comfortably establish your reigning tone.
Tip: If you’re a novice at wood-mixing, and worry about disparity, it’s wise to select a versatile anchor piece that sports an array of wood finishes. This can echo your existing wood tones and tie your elements together. Take a cue from the multi-toned wood-finish artwork in this living room by The Hidden Gallery.
Unify with a theme
Colour temperature, as discussed earlier, is an unfailing unifying tool for wood pieces. However, you should also be mindful of other important elements, such as design, shape and period. A mid-century modern decor scheme, for example, can gain character from wood pieces in a similar style. Similarly, a room dominated by sinewy furniture can profit from additional pieces with curvy cuts.
This lounge by Kumar Moorthy & Associates does a good job of channelling a rough-cut, rustic vibe where all the wooden elements are in sync.
Wary of solid wood? Here are 10 substitutes that can work just as well
Colour temperature, as discussed earlier, is an unfailing unifying tool for wood pieces. However, you should also be mindful of other important elements, such as design, shape and period. A mid-century modern decor scheme, for example, can gain character from wood pieces in a similar style. Similarly, a room dominated by sinewy furniture can profit from additional pieces with curvy cuts.
This lounge by Kumar Moorthy & Associates does a good job of channelling a rough-cut, rustic vibe where all the wooden elements are in sync.
Wary of solid wood? Here are 10 substitutes that can work just as well
Bring in colour with accents
Worried about disparate wood tones and grains drowning out your space? Buoy them with one or two central accent colours. Get throw pillows, lamps, rugs and tchotchkes in a single colour scheme to introduce a consistency that counterbalances the diversity of your wood.
Go on and take notes from this contemporary Bangalore bedroom. Cocooned in several wood finishes, it is stylishly cured by a palette of cool blue shades.
Worried about disparate wood tones and grains drowning out your space? Buoy them with one or two central accent colours. Get throw pillows, lamps, rugs and tchotchkes in a single colour scheme to introduce a consistency that counterbalances the diversity of your wood.
Go on and take notes from this contemporary Bangalore bedroom. Cocooned in several wood finishes, it is stylishly cured by a palette of cool blue shades.
Likewise, in this bijou dining area by ZERO9, a chocolate-toned dining table and wood-panelled wall are visually offset by an array of charming accents.
Tip: If you’re worried about juxtaposing wooden furniture against a wooden floor, especially when they’re of two different tones or grains, smooth out the dissimilarity by introducing a rug or carpet as a go-between.
Tip: If you’re worried about juxtaposing wooden furniture against a wooden floor, especially when they’re of two different tones or grains, smooth out the dissimilarity by introducing a rug or carpet as a go-between.
Let your grains rule
When it comes to uniting various wood grains into a cohesive whole, try choosing pieces with different grain patterns and sizes to create an eclectic visual appeal.
The grain pattern pertains to the stripes, circles or flecks on the wood, while the grain size speaks of the scale of that pattern. As long as you stay within the same colour family, consider it safe to experiment with your grains.
Look closely and you’ll notice this woodland-esque dining room by Studio Course is a coalescence of wood grains. The ceiling, dining table and display cabinet feature similar tones, yet are differentiated by grain pattern.
When it comes to uniting various wood grains into a cohesive whole, try choosing pieces with different grain patterns and sizes to create an eclectic visual appeal.
The grain pattern pertains to the stripes, circles or flecks on the wood, while the grain size speaks of the scale of that pattern. As long as you stay within the same colour family, consider it safe to experiment with your grains.
Look closely and you’ll notice this woodland-esque dining room by Studio Course is a coalescence of wood grains. The ceiling, dining table and display cabinet feature similar tones, yet are differentiated by grain pattern.
In this dining room by +V Architects, the wall and floor panels sport different grains but similar tones, conjuring a well-put-together, yet offbeat, appeal.
Tip: If you’re leaning towards a laid-back, casual vibe, consider layering larger wood grains. Conversely, finer grains are a great way of creating an air of formality.
Here’s how to choose wood for your carpentry work
Tip: If you’re leaning towards a laid-back, casual vibe, consider layering larger wood grains. Conversely, finer grains are a great way of creating an air of formality.
Here’s how to choose wood for your carpentry work
Balance the tonality of your room
When you’re using several finishes in a room, placement is key. Be careful to space out similar tones evenly across your room. For instance, dark tones huddled together at one end of your room can upset the visual balance.
This dining room by Studio Nishita Kamdar is a lesson in even placement. The dining chairs offer equal distribution of dark wood across the room while the doors and dining table infuse lightness across the space.
What to choose: light wood or dark wood?
When you’re using several finishes in a room, placement is key. Be careful to space out similar tones evenly across your room. For instance, dark tones huddled together at one end of your room can upset the visual balance.
This dining room by Studio Nishita Kamdar is a lesson in even placement. The dining chairs offer equal distribution of dark wood across the room while the doors and dining table infuse lightness across the space.
What to choose: light wood or dark wood?
Introduce non-wood finishes
If an abundance of wood is pulling your room down, break up the monotony with non-wood finishes. Textured veneers and laminates, metals, and paint are great for your surfaces and can serve as an antidote to an overly woody look.
See how Imago, The Design Studio has aced the wood mix in this Pune bedroom. A patterned cream wallpaper mutes the overdose of wood provided by the bed, wardrobe, floor and vintage desk.
Which should you go for – laminate or veneer?
Read more:
Why Restored Wood Is the New ‘It’ Material for Homes
Custom Furniture: Which Type of Wood to Use?
Tell us:
Have you mixed and matched wood tones in your decor? What were your secrets to success? Tell us in Comments below.
If an abundance of wood is pulling your room down, break up the monotony with non-wood finishes. Textured veneers and laminates, metals, and paint are great for your surfaces and can serve as an antidote to an overly woody look.
See how Imago, The Design Studio has aced the wood mix in this Pune bedroom. A patterned cream wallpaper mutes the overdose of wood provided by the bed, wardrobe, floor and vintage desk.
Which should you go for – laminate or veneer?
Read more:
Why Restored Wood Is the New ‘It’ Material for Homes
Custom Furniture: Which Type of Wood to Use?
Tell us:
Have you mixed and matched wood tones in your decor? What were your secrets to success? Tell us in Comments below.
Woods are like seasons: some are warm and golden (as shown in this home by Architecture Discipline), while others are crisp and cool. Opting for similar undertones across your pieces can help conjure a sense of cohesion within your room and keep it from looking lopsided. For example, if your room is dominated by warm wood tones like walnut, cherry and rosewood, consider choosing additional pieces in a similar warm palette. Likewise, if your wood scheme is biased towards cooler tones, match it with complementary cool wood grains.
Find an interior designer to help you compose your symphony in wood