Oak has always had a timeless quality about it and it’s one of the many reasons we’re passionate about it here at Oak Furniture Land. It has the ability to marry with nearly any style and its natural attributes mean it can work with almost every colour scheme.
However, if you are struggling to grasp how to marry your oak furniture with your existing rooms and what colours work well with oak, and will bring out its best qualities, our post today will help.
Whether your style is bold and dramatic or stylishly subtle, steeped in period details or on the cutting edge of contemporary design, you can find a colour that works beautifully with oak furniture.
Looking at Oak’s Undertones
Warm colour palettes bring out the natural warmth of oak.
Let’s first look at oak as a natural product. More often than not, oak furniture will have warm undertones, from subtle reddish hues to deeper yellow tones. Stain colours will affect the final look and so darker shades tend to deepen those undertones, bringing out the reddish quality of oak. While paler and more natural stains tend to bring out tinges of yellow or orange. Either way, you’re working with a warmer undertone.
Cooler colour palettes contrast with oak, creating a subtle balance.
Bed / Bedside Table / Wardrobe / Chest of Drawers
When pairing this warmth with other colours, you have two very different choices. By working with similar undertones, you’ll be bringing out the natural warmth of wood. By contrasting it with cooler undertones, you’ll be creating more contrast in your space.
Saturation plays a role as well. From deep, dramatic shades to bold brights, soft neutrals and subtle pastels, each brings with it a chance to bring out oak’s best qualities.
Dramatic Contrasts with Oak Furniture
For those that like their furniture to stand out, consider choosing a saturated dark colour to go with your oak furniture. Natural textures stand out beautifully against darker shades like aubergine, navy or forest green and can look equally as dramatic with darker greys.
Soft Neutrals with Oak Furniture
Console Table / Tallboy / Lamp
If you aren’t looking for a dramatic stand-out look for your home and prefer a subtler approach, look for colours that share similar earthy undertones with your oak furniture. Warmer beiges and taupe shades will allow your pieces to blend in, making your room appear larger and more open.
Look to your accessories to provide texture and subtle contrast here to ensure the room still has character. Woven baskets, knotted rugs and knitted fabrics will add depth to a neutral scheme without taking away from a softer look.
Bold Bright Colours with Oak Furniture
When working with bold colour, oak furniture can be a perfect pairing. While darker shades will give a room a cosy vibe, more saturated hues create energy and life in a space. Colours like cherry red, ochre yellow, lime green or rusty orange will bring out those warm hues in oak for a zesty palette that warms up a space.
Bookcase / Lamp Table / Lamp / Armchair
With cooler brights like vivid blue, deep teal or raspberry reds, oak will bring in the warmth to these spaces, balancing out the cooler palette and grounding the space.
Using Pastels with Oak Furniture
Coffee Table / Bookcase / Console Table / Sofa
Natural, paler oak finishes blend beautifully with pastel shades, creating a light and airy home. This will also provide a more contemporary style, perfect for those who love an on-trend look.
If you’re looking for more contrast with your pastel palette or want to give your space a more traditional feel, then rustic and deeper oak finishes will create a more diverse look, adding subtle energy to the space by way of contrast.
Looking for more tips on choosing colours for your home? Check out our guide here.
