The best paint colours to pair with different types of wood
Pairing your wood colour with your walls may seem like a daunting task, but once you've decided what sort of look you're going for, it's pretty easy to figure out how your wood's natural tones coordinate with your overall interior design scheme.
So, whether you're styling your room around a statement coffee table or wanting to maintain a neutral colour palette, your wall colour and wood choices should be paired carefully. That's why we thought we'd give you a helping hand and sit down with our Colour Specialist, Vanessa, to talk us through all things wood and paint pairings.
Just like paint colours, woods have undertones. For example, lighter woods like oak, pine, and birch all have gentle yellow undertones that create a subtle warming effect, whilst ash has grey undertones and a cooling effect. You can balance a wood with warm undertones by using a cool paint colour or match your colour choices to the undertones for a cohesive look.
The best paint colours to pair with light woods
Japandi-style
If you want to bring a sense of serenity into your home, then Japandi style is a great place to start. Inspired by nature, the Japandi interior style is all about embracing those natural embellishments. Unsure how to style the Japandi paint colours in your home?
Stained oak and wicker furnishings pair well with a soothing Green 01 or Green 09 and neutral Beige 02 or Beige 03. If you're working with walnut, let the wood's natural grain shine through and pair with barely-there White 01 or Beige 01. Or what about creating contrast in the kitchen by pairing light oak floors with Black 02 cabinets?
Scandi-style
If you're wondering how to bring some of that laidback Scandi-living into your home, start by pairing light woods like beech, ash, and even maple with neutral paint colours, like White 01 or Grey 03. The key to succeeding at Scandi decor is to keep your woods untreated. Take a look at some of our recommendations on how to create a Scandi-inspired living room or scandi kitchen design scheme.
Neutral colour palette
If you're going floor to ceiling neutral, woods like oak, pine, rattan and birch are all great choices. One of our favourite pairings, oak looks gorgeous with Green 02 and wonderful with White 03 or Beige 02. The warmness of pine is balanced by cooler hues like Blue 02 and Grey 03. Warm-up cooler woods like ash by pairing them with white paints with a hint of yellow, like White 05.
Pink colour palette
We like to think of pink as a hug in a paint tin. Nurturing and warming, today it is shedding its girlish connotations. For softer pink paints, like light grey Pink 01, dusty Pink 02 or Pink 03, Vanessa recommends pairing with woods like birch or rattan and wicker.
Green colour palette
You won't find a more natural pairing than greens with wood. You can create a warming feel by using oak or rattan with Green 02 or dare to go dark and create some contrast by pairing deep, foliage-inspired hues like Green 05 and Green 06 with birch or wicker.
Blue colour palette
Blues work really well with mango wood for a tropically inspired choice. A stimulating colour, it's a great combination to think about in a living room, home office, or even kitchen. Pair it with Blue 04 for a warm, vintage feel or deep slate Blue 06 or Blue 07 to create some contrast. If you want to make a statement, Blue 111 is a rich cobalt that stands out from the crowd. Plus, all proceeds go to NHS charities.
The best paint colours to pair with medium woods
Teak and cherry wood are great examples of medium coloured woods as they both have warm, reddish undertones. Whilst teak is often used in boho or retro colour decor schemes, cherry wood was commonly used for mid-century modern interior furniture. Embrace those warm undertones; Vanessa recommends using combinations like Red 03, Pink 02, and White 06 or for an earthier palette, Green 05 and Beige 03.
The best paint colours to pair with dark woods
When it comes to dark woods, you can either decide to stay dark or create a contrast by pairing them with lighter colours. Mahogany, walnut, and chestnut all have black, rich undertones and are commonly found in home furnishings, antiques in particular.
For a dark and cocooning feel, Vanessa recommends rich hues like Teal 03 and Blue 07, or if you want to go for a warmer, cosier vibe, Red 03. If, however, you're all about contrasting, try light and airy White 02, Greige 02 or Beige 01.
We hope this helped you see the wood from the trees when it comes to the best paint colours to pair with types of wood.