Coordinating Paint Colors to Wood Finishing
The warmth and coziness of wood becomes so prevalent in the New England winter months. Visions of rustic wood accents, wood planked floors and cabins with big stone fireplaces set upon the rambling hillside, but I digress!
Wood and stains come in so many hues and styles, the number of applications can be overwhelming. But it's easy to achieve the airy, beach-side cottage feel, as is the winter cabin aesthetic. Whatever look you are going after, you can achieve results with the correct selection of wood, stains, and paint colors.
If you're looking to add a warm and natural look to your home the best place to start is with your flooring, wall trim, cabinets, and furniture. You will also want to consider what paint color would actually enhance the wood’s finish.
Read more for ideas on the importance of coordinating your paint colors with your wood finish from the design experts at In Home Design Builds.
Consider The Dominant Hues In The Finish
Before you decide on what paint color you want to use, first identify the undertones in the wood’s finish. For example, certain woods such as mahogany or walnut have darker finishes, and warmer undertones such as yellow, orange, or red. Considering the dominant hues in the finish will allow for a better color choice.
Go Neutral
The safest way to go when choosing a paint color is to choose a neutral paint shade for your walls. Neutrals such as beige, ivory, taupe, gray, and shades of white go beautifully with light and dark shades of wood. Choosing a neutral paint color has many advantages. These color palettes are livable, flexible, classic, and can create spaces that are equally so. Have a small space? These colors can help make a small space feel larger.
Even though neutral means without color (in the context of interior design), it’s important to be aware that these neutral hues have underlying tones that should be considered. Beige is always a good color to choose, but natural hues which come from brighter colors can also opt in as beautiful wall colors. Think of brighter/lighter colors of blues.
Use Contrast to Make a Statement
Dark finishes such as mahogany, walnut, or cherry stand out beautifully against any light color. Complementing your dark wood accents with a very light wall color makes a bold statement. It allows for the wood to stand out much more than it would if you were to use a darker color. Don’t be afraid to make a statement!
Check out these In Home designed spaces that have mastered this concept of beautifully coordinating paint colors to wood stains:
The solid-wood mahogany cabinets paired with the white cabinets and light beige walls in this kitchen makes for a bold (but beautiful) statement.
Wall Color: Horizon from Benjamin Moore
This live-edge vanity looks wonderful against the white window trim and light beige wall.
Wall Color: Gossamer Veil by Sherwin Williams
Wall Color: Sherwin-Williams Gossamer Veil
The light wall color in this space allows for the oxcart beams on the ceiling to stand out beautifully.
Wall Color: Cotton Ball by Benjamin Moore
That's it folks, hope this gave you some inspiration for your next painting project! Make sure to keep the questions and comments coming. We will be doing a follow up post in the near future to answer all of your questions!
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