Gone are the days when every piece of wood in your home needed to match. Those days are so far gone, in fact, that too much matching wood can be overwhelming and feel dated.


Don’t be afraid to mix woods and wood finishes in your home décor. Remember that your home is your oasis, and choosing pleasing pieces is always more important than what’s trendy.

But there are some general guidelines to help you choose woods and wood tones that will help your space feel balanced and appealing.

 

Identify Dominant Woods and Undertones

Look around your home at cabinets, flooring, trim, and doors. In many rooms, those elements will determine your dominant wood tone. In other rooms, like a carpeted living room, a single piece of large furniture may supply the dominant tone.

Once you’ve determined the dominant wood tone in a room or area, figure out whether it has warm or cool undertones. Warm undertones are yellows, oranges, and reds. Cool undertones are generally greys.

Now you have the information you need to start mixing in new woods and wood tones.

 

 

Mix it Up

When mixing woods, it’s always better to choose tones that contrast and complement rather than sticking close to your dominant tone. Choosing similar shades risks a look that’s too tonal or one that clashes because the woods are close but not matching.

Try medium tones with very dark or very light dominant woods, with interesting textures or grains. If you’re more adventurous, go ahead and mix dark with light. Make sure your undertones are compatible so your pieces work together.

 

Balance the Room

Arranging your mixed wood pieces is as important as choosing the right tones and shades. Clustering all of the pieces of one wood type together risks an unbalanced look for the room.

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