How to Mix Multiple Wood Finishes

wood finishes

You can use multiple wood finishes to create a more chic, stylish aesthetic.

When it comes to modern techniques in interior design, it’s important to keep things interesting by using various colors, patterns, textures and styles. Matching too much of your floors and furniture, including their wood finishes, looks staid and flat. It’s also super impractical unless you plan to buy all your furniture and decor at the same time. So how can you mix together wood finishes and styles without having them clash? Here’s a few design secrets.

Look for Undertones

Wood finishes don’t have to match in order to complement one another. Look at your wood furnishings and determine if the wood has a warm or cool color bias, then match them with the right undertones. For example, a wooden table can be dark than the floors beneath it so long as they fit the same warm color profile.

Consistent Grains

Keeping the grain patterns similar across many different woods will help you retain the same “mood” across the room. Typically, larger wood grains are more casual, whereas finer grains indicate formality.

Use a Transition Buffer

If you have furnishings that contrast harshly with your flooring or other wooden installations, a buffer can help make them fit in. You don’t want to place a wood table on top of a completely different type of wood flooring, as that will draw attention to their obvious dissimilarity. Instead, use something like a rug or carpet as a way to transition from one to the other. This allows you to use a wider variety of wood furnishings together while still having a chic, consistent design.

Don’t Overdo It

Keep your choices simple. Two or three types of finishes is more than enough to start with any space. If you use too many finishes you will create a space that’s chaotic and out of balance. If your space feels like it still needs more variance, try to alternate between the wood finishes you already have. The pattern choices you make will help determine the room’s rhythm.

Start with Neutral Tones

White and black neutral tones have a near universal quality about them. They just work. If you have a variety of wood finishes that don’t seem to fit together, throw in some white and black to break it up and bring some sensibility back to your space. Neutral tones are also a great way to make your more vibrant colors pop and stand out.

Finish Carpentry from Mahogany Inc.

Mahogany, Inc. is a general contractor specializing in quality construction for projects across a wide range of industries. Located in southwest Baltimore, we employ 100 persons, and are one of the largest minority-owned businesses in the state of Maryland. If you are looking for custom millwork or other amazing wooden installations, then check out our website! Make sure to check back with our blog every week and find us on social media for important updates! 1

This entry was posted on Monday, August 15th, 2016 at 6:37 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.