Does Every Shade Of Wood Have To Match The Interior Decor?

To create a cohesive and unique interior design, it is essential to determine the dominant tone of wood – warm, cool, or neutral – and use that to make the space feel more collected. Mixing different wooden tones can be challenging, but it is encouraged as it can make the design feel more cohesive without being overly matchy-matchy. For example, embracing a general color story can create a slightly cohesive space by leaning into different shades of dark woods.

When mixing wood tones, it is important to consider the color bias of each wood and ensure their undertones match. Natural wood colors are neutral, making them easy to incorporate into any color scheme. Mixing and matching wood shades can be done through contrasting tones and patterned grains.

There is no rule that says that wood tones need to match; in fact, mixing different shades of wooden furniture can make the room more interesting. The key to mixing woods in your home is to ensure that the undertones of the different woods remain consistent.

Creating a space where different wood tones coexist, each contributing to the overall beauty and uniqueness of the room, is essential. Matching wood finishes as much as possible and all window treatments (blinds, drapes, shades) in your home should also be considered. Overall, the illusion of matching is that it elevates a room when featuring a mix of varied tones together.


📹 How to Mix Wood Tones in Your Home

In this video, I show you how to mix wood tones like a pro! Mixing different wood tones can be a challenge as they have all the …


Can you mix different colors of wood?

To create a warm wood tone, use woods and stains with yellow, orange, or reddish undertones, while for a cool wood tone, use grey, taupe, pink, or green undertones. When mixing different species of wood, avoid pairing two woods with notable wood grains as they will compete. Instead, choose woods with subtle wood grains or one dominant wood grain, ensuring the rest are subtle. Contrast in wood design creates visual interest and depth, while matching wood tones gives space continuity.

Can you have 2 different colors of hardwood in your home?

Mixing hardwood flooring can enhance the appearance of your home by creating a unique contrast between light and dark woods. This subtle customization allows you to reflect your style and personal style. Different areas of your home have different needs, so using different hardwoods can help you tailor the flooring to each. For instance, a durable wood can be used in high-traffic areas like the kitchen and hallway, while a more delicate, stylish wood is suitable for bedrooms and living spaces. Mixing hardwood materials also helps manage your budget by using high-end, expensive wood in prominent areas and more affordable options in less visible spaces.

Can you mix cool and warm wood tones?
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Can you mix cool and warm wood tones?

Mixing wood is a crucial aspect of home design, as it allows for a harmonious blend of different wood tones and styles. It is important to consider color bias and the tones in each wood element to work together. Warm woods like cherry, mahogany, and hickory blend well, while cool woods like ash, maple, poplar, and pine can live harmoniously in the same space. However, mixing warm and cool woods can create a messy vibe. For those who prefer warm tones but want more texture and depth, neutral woods like walnut or birch can be used.

Maintaining the grain is another important aspect when mixing woods. There are two types of wood grain: open and closed. Open-grain woods have large pores and feel coarse to the touch, while closed-grain species have small pores and are smooth to the touch. Open-grain woods are perfect for homes with a natural or rustic aesthetic, while closed-grain options work well in more refined environments.

Grain patterns can vary within a room, as long as they aren’t wildly mismatched. By incorporating these tips, you can create a cohesive and visually appealing home design.

Do woods have to match interior design?

Mixing wood tones in home decor is acceptable and encouraged as they fall into the neutral category. When done correctly, it can create beautiful, harmonious, and inviting spaces. To ensure a harmonious and inviting home decor, consider selecting common undertones, which can be warm, cool, or neutral. Warm undertones are characterized by warmer colors like red, orange, or yellow, while cool undertones are characterized by cooler colors like blue or grey. For example, a beige wood finish has a neutral undertone. When using different types of wood floors or furniture, consider the undertones to create a cohesive and inviting space.

Do your woods need to match?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Do your woods need to match?

When pairing wood, it’s essential to match the undertone of the wood. Dark and light woods can be matched easily, but they should be in a similar color family. For example, a dark dining table made of pine, alder, or maple stained ebony can complement a pale gray floor. For rooms with warm tones, consider walnut stain or red oak. For a pale color, opt for unstained alder, maple, or hickory.

When using different wood tones, make one more prominent than the other. Designer Sarah Langtry recommends keeping about 80 percent of the wood in the room one color and using an accent for the other 20. For example, if you have wood floors, use the same wood type and finish on a few major furniture pieces and use a lighter or darker accent in two or three places throughout the room.

Do all wood tones need to match?

Mixing wood tones in home decor is acceptable and encouraged as they fall into the neutral category. When done correctly, it can create beautiful, harmonious, and inviting spaces. To ensure a harmonious and inviting home decor, consider selecting common undertones, which can be warm, cool, or neutral. Warm undertones are characterized by warmer colors like red, orange, or yellow, while cool undertones are characterized by cooler colors like blue or grey. For example, a beige wood finish has a neutral undertone. When using different types of wood floors or furniture, consider the undertones to create a cohesive and inviting space.

Does all woodwork need to match?

Interior doors and trim can be any style and color you desire, and the overall aesthetic of your home is entirely up to you. However, the question of whether to match the trim and doors is more complex and requires careful consideration of design rules and best practices. Experts often provide opinions on what looks best, but the overall goal is to create a cohesive and visually appealing home.

What woods look good together?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

What woods look good together?

To create a visually appealing room, consider the undertones of woods. Warm woods like Cherry, Mahogany, and Hickory will appear yellow or red, while cool woods like Ash, Maple, Poplar, and Pine will appear gray. Neutrally toned woods like Walnut are the most versatile, with soft purple undertones that work with both warm and cool-toned woods. Mix dark and light woods of varying finishes and grain sizes, as long as the undertones are consistent.

To add visual interest and balance, mix lighter and darker pieces throughout the room. For gallery walls, spread each type of wood, metal, and painted finish throughout the arrangement to avoid one side appearing weighed down. For help designing a gallery wall, consider using our Gallery Wall Design Service or check out our curated, ready-to-hang gallery walls with hardwood frames, such as The Hardwoods Cozy Organic, The Hardwoods Grand Organic, and The Hardwoods Triptych.

Can you match light and dark wood?

To create an intentional and trendy décor, mix wood tones with contrasting colors. For example, mix a light wood tone with a dark wood to create a trendy look. Match the undertones of your dominant wood, which can be warm or cool. If your dominant wood tone is warm, mix wood tones with warm woods to complement it, or choose furniture with cool undertones like blue/grey or grey/purple to match the overall color scheme.

Does hardwood need to match throughout the house?

The question of whether doorknobs and handles should match throughout a house is subjective. While it’s possible to mix and match handles, it’s essential to consider personal preference, budget, home style, and room styles. Choosing two different colors may not be suitable for every home, but experimenting with different colors can be beneficial. A 14-day returns policy ensures that you can return handles if you change your mind. For more information, refer to the returns policy.

Does all wood in a room have to match?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Does all wood in a room have to match?

Magaly suggests that not all woods should match, as it’s beautiful when they don’t. However, it’s important to consider the style and undertone. For instance, oak has a yellow undertone, which doesn’t work well with cherry. For those who enjoy cosmetics, coordinating undertones can be like choosing makeup products. Look for shades with undertones that complement your skin tone, as this can create a glowing and natural makeup look.


📹 MIXING WOOD FINISHES IN YOUR HOME

Wood finishes are a tricky subject that we all face when decorating our homes. Do we have to match the color for each piece to …


Does Every Shade Of Wood Have To Match The Interior Decor?
(Image Source: Pixabay.com)

Rafaela Priori Gutler

Hi, I’m Rafaela Priori Gutler, a passionate interior designer and DIY enthusiast. I love transforming spaces into beautiful, functional havens through creative decor and practical advice. Whether it’s a small DIY project or a full home makeover, I’m here to share my tips, tricks, and inspiration to help you design the space of your dreams. Let’s make your home as unique as you are!

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

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  • The advice of adding a rug under the dining table is golden . I just recently discovered this by chance . My dining table is a golden teak which is several shades darker than the rest of the woods / floor and it always bothered me . Then I bought a sisal rug for the living room and it seemed not large enough for the space . So last week I placed it under the dining table to see if it makes more sense and voila …. it was the perfect spot . The sisal rug is lighter and it lends itself to a great harmonic look with the other light woods now . If only I saw this article sooner Nick 🙂

  • Shout out to Nick for listening to his viewers!!! I personally never comment on articles, but you know what? I do want to learn how to mix wood tones now! 🤍🤍🤍 Like another viewer said, your articles are So Beyond user friendly & you break it down to the “mechanics” of design 🤍 Love Love Love your articles!!!

  • My husband and I just closed on a large log cabin. The first thing I noticed was that that cool tone of the flooring (chosen by the previous owner) clashes with the red-brown of the walls. Now to try to tie it all in with area rugs, paint, and curtains – and we’ll repaint. Ugh I’m confused. But I’m perusal ALL your articles, which have been very helpful. This one in particular.

  • So true. “If you can’t match it perfectly, than rather go for sth. completely different.” Applies to colours in general. Nearly nothing hurts the eye more than 2 similar/ nearly same colours (e.g. 2 reds) but that are not exactly the same! Than rather go for red with ..whatever.. maybe black or green or blue.. Depending on the shade & undertone.

  • This is so useful. Thanks. We just changed our floors in the whole house and really just lucked out that the undertones match the rest of our wood tones. Phew! We had wanted grey floors but when we brought in samples, they all looked like they were sucking the light out of the house. PS I voted that your audience doesn’t need a name; I just noticed you say “guys” (like most of us–or is it just is Canadians?). I know a lot of people will disagree, but even though people use it to mean a crowd of men and women, guys isn’t gender neutral (I remember when people argued that “mankind” was neutral). Terms like people, folks, you, and y’all are alternative inclusive options. (I work in communications, and I’m on a mission to retrain myself to use inclusive terms–it’s hard! It’s all SO ingrained.)

  • Another great article! And mixing woods is why I stick to one wood palette as much as possible LOL! It feels like a high level technique that I just can’t seem to master. Btw, I’d love to see a article on decorating sustainably (i.e. materials, manufacturing, vintage/reuse items, etc) and maybe even feature some of your fav sustainable designers/shops.

  • I made an art wall mixing gold frames with with wood frames and im using lights cream tones all over the room trying to do a boho chic vibe. Would that work? I’m also having a hard time trying to pick coffee tables 😭 my sister thinks the diamond shaped coffee table makes my room look like a bear house not boho and the other one that I love looks modern and doesn’t match with the rest of my decor. can you do a article about coffee tables please?. Very few places have decent coffee tables and they are extremely expensive. Love your website 👌🏻 love from Las Vegas

  • Your website is so great! Love the way you present concepts in a digestible way. I’d consider myself semi-knowledgable in interior design (I’m not totally new to it, have been perusal all the interior design websites, and majored in graphic design; but have zero formal education and little experience), and your articles are never too complicated nor too simple for all levels of viewers. I always feel like perusal your articles gives me new, valuable, and practical knowledge even if they are concepts I’ve heard of before. Basically, what I’m saying is — keep up the great work, and thank you!

  • Perfectly timed article! We just bought furniture for our guest bedroom that happens to match the room, trim, and flooring very well. It was unintentional! But we are a nightstand short so we were planning on trying to find something that closely matched but thanks to this article, I know that may be a flop! Now I’m thinking of going a different wood color but staying within the same tones. Very helpful! 😄

  • Thank you! My husband and I are prepping for our move to Japan. When looking at lots of apartments, there’s so many wood frames, floors and built in shelves. To add to this, a mid century modern vibe is super in style in Japan, and I was so concerned about matching the furniture with all the wood in the apartment! Thanks for the tips! Now I know how to start going about picking furniture.

  • Hi Nick. Fabulous content and clear presentation in a shorter format which I really appreciate. Canadian content is very welcome. Could I ask you to delete background music as it competes with the clear sound of your voice. I’m not sure why youtubers do this as it makes comprehension for the viewer much more difficult. Use music or sounds only as contrast. Your quick sub count is well deserved! 🥳

  • I love how quickly and concisely you convey the point Nick! I don’t have to tap tap tap, skipping through stories about your grandmother’s hand me down furniture lol. After perusal this article and the color palate one, I’m still confused on how to pick paint colors for two different woods? We live in a geodesic dome with a yellow pine ceiling but cherry trim work, doors and cabinets. Thanks! ❤️

  • This is exactly what I needed for my kitchen-dining room refresh (one big room). I have very modern German cabinetry with dark brown lower and opaque and gray glass uppers with lighting in and beneath them. The countertops are quarts. I’ve kind of tired of the über modern look and want to introduce some lighter wood, natural material, soft colours & textures, and patterns that will flow with the subdued, relatively uncluttered version of boho that I have going on in my living (dark greyed navy walls with walnut floors, creamy whites and soft grey colours for the fabric furniture, warm woods on upcycled furniture, with pops of teal, forest green, terracotta, and ochre in the decor, area rug, and plants). I love to upcycle furniture so I don’t have to find everything in store. The dining room is visible from the living room so that space has to work with both. Not the easiest task. The two spaces have little cohesion right now. If anyone else has any advice, it’d be much appreciated. Cheers.

  • I do mix woods, I’m happy with the look of my new home and how its coming together. It does give an eclectic look which I like a lot. On a different note, can you see the signs of the times? We are living in the last days, prepare your household for the most magnificent event ever is about to happen, the Return of Jesus!! Yeah!

  • Nick!!! You’ve grown your website so much since this! The lighting, the tone, the Nick-ness! What a difference in a just a few years! I went back to rewatch this… can you do a article on paints vs wood tones (mixing them as well) and lighting? (north-facing, etc) You know, just redo 3 of your articles into one big article!! LOL

  • Again, I LOVE this (ALL your) article(s). And you’re the bomb. One tiny thing … (this is, I’m thinking, an Asperger’s complaint) the background music, while low (THANK YOU!!!!), still feels like an interference. I’m sure most people don’t even notice it, but it’s the slightly frenetic energy of it that keeps hooking me and I want to slap it away, like a mosquito. I am going to be in the minority…. but I thought I’d mention it. (Something softer wouldn’t be as irritating. But this is YOUR website and you should do what you like, of course!).

  • I’m just trying to figure out what color of flooring (wood look LVP) to install. I keep going back and forth. I think the home will look best with a mid century look, but I love minimalist/Scandinavian, and I’m trying to make it work, unfortunately having to use mostly furniture that’s already in the house, which is all traditional at best, and antique white french provincial at “worst”. I’m going crazy trying to make things work. 😂

  • Love your website! Getting ready to remodel and your content has been super helpful and educational. Regarding wood tones – I have a traditional wood (light to blond oak) queen bedroom set. We have a king-size mattress now and put the queen frame in storage. What type of king bedframe can I get that won’t look ridiculous with the set. Iron? Should I do wood with a custom stain to match? Or just start over with new furniture? I have cats, so an upholstered headboard option won’t work. (They will thank me for a beautiful new scratching post.) Thank you so much, Nick.

  • Previous owners put skinny plank cherry oak in the kitchen/dining and the entryway, laying N-S. When we ripped the carpet from the living room (between the two rooms), we wanted walnut floors but didn’t want to replace the other rooms. We got a wider plank and installed it E-W. Architectural, blends nicely.

  • I recently moved into an apartment with dark brown wood floors and dark brown wood kitchen cabinets, and I’m having a hard time picking bookcases (along with other wood furniture, like for my entry). I like the dark wood, but I fear if I match it, it will make the space look too dark (space doesn’t get good light as it is, and I do plan to change the lighting down the road). But a lot of lighter wood tones look too yellow or orange for my liking. I’ve selected brass and glass coffee/side tables, but I’m stuck on the other furniture pieces. I’m also afraid if I choose a white wood, it would look either too rustic/farmhouse or too modern (my style is a mix of glam and mid-century modern). Help! Also, my budget is Wayfair/Overstock prices.

  • Q: I have some beautiful framed pieces that the frames are STUNNING but don’t really go with my new vibe I’m trying to create. I’m wanting to go more coastal, light and these frames are darker wood tones more on the warmer side. How would you recommend I incorporate these so that they are still on display but not conflicting with everything else?

  • Hey Nick! What advice would you give for someone who’s in a rental with a design style/wood tones that are not the renter’s aesthetic? For instance, how do you work around cool toned kitchen and bathroom cabinets and super modern appliances when your style is more boho/MCM/scandy? I’ve watched some of your other articles about choosing a color palette, picking your design style, and this one and I’m still a little stumped. Thanks!

  • Hi Nick! I really love your website and your tips are super helpful!! I have a question for you… I am moving to a new rented apartment soon and after perusal your article, I struggle choosing between warm and cold colour wood for my furnitures because the kitchen cabinets are made with cold wood but the floor is made with warm wood. What should I do? Thanks so much!

  • Are there neutral wood colors? I’m looking at the Greystone Round Dining Table from Macy’s. It is made of rubberwood and acacia, both warm woods and it is stained as Ash brown which is cool. In some pics it looks cool and in others the warm undertones show. My house has warm woods and I’m a little nervous buying this table. I’m hoping to get some feedback here. Thanks!

  • So helpful and fun! Thank you think I need another class;) I am still lost what colors and style will work with Brazilian cherry wood floor??? I real love japandi, rough hewn wood nomadic or a Boho gone minimalist 🤣 style but this flooring though beautiful feels so traditional which is the opposite of what I am trying to achieve any hints??

  • Ohhh god, this! I have a conundrum with 4 different wood tones… 3 were not of my own choosing 😀 In our previous home, we had darker wooden floors and dark book shelves/cabinets (very classic, modular – not gonna get rid of them). We happened to buy a house… so the floor in the living room is light (warm), there is mid-tone warm timber on the fireplace (the edge that goes around it) and there is a coffee table and a lower cabinet which are a 4th different wood tone… So I’ve been sitting here thinking how to create a “happy marriage” between all of them. The only thing that is easier to change is the coffee table and cabinet situation. At least I learned from Nick that it’s a good thing some wood texture is showing for all of them yet it’s different… My dark book cases are against a light wall and light floor. Not sure a carpet would really work here. So my best guess is that I should probably mirror the book case color in a darker coffee table, maybe place a rug under the coffee table to play off from the light floor… but then there are the curtains and the rest aaaand I’m going crazy 😀

  • I’m remodeling our walk-in closet in our master bedroom. We’ve been trying to match it to the engineered hardwood that runs throughout the upstairs portion of our home. In a guest room, there’s a darker wood tone, and downstairs, a slightly lighter wood tone. Combined with ceramic tile and carpet in other areas, I’m weary about adding yet another different tone to the closet, but we’re really struggling to find a match that’s both close enough in style AND in stock in our area. Advice? Edit to add: I already have the sublimate laid! I didn’t expect this roadblock!

  • A very timely article as I’m reconfiguring the property I’ve moved into and adding extension to create a larger living space combining kitchen, dining, sitting. I’ll have laminate floor, exposed wood roof beams and I was about to chose a wood countertop so including the dining table I’d have had at least 4 different coloured woods aarrrggg! It could have been a complete disaster if I hadn’t seen your article so thank you from here in uk 🇬🇧😘

  • Jeanneret’s cane chairs seem to conquer interior design magazines and vlogs nowadays, I’m not complaining, after all there was at least a decade of the Eames’s DRW chairs domineering the landscape. But it makes me think how easily influenced we are (we, the audience, the buyers). Trendwatchers are actually trendsetters.

  • My mom bought a mid century modern house with original hardwood floors, but the floors are yellowish orange, and the kitchen cabinets are also solid wood, but also a reddish orange. She inherited some gorgeous antique furniture, family heirlooms, in that deep walnut kind of color. My favorite is her piano from the 1870s. The combo works ok, at least they’re both warm tones, but it’s not ideal.

  • Thanks so much, great tips. I have teak, birch, oak and Ikea wood tone to work with. Think I am going to paint the birch, Question: Many decor gurus are saying drapes need to go to the floor. With radiators under the windows the convection currents don’t work well with drapes. My husband thinks he is a vampire, so I have to have drapes on the windows, blinds don’t cut it. What do you suggest?

  • Great article as always! I recently moved from a partly furnished to a “real” apartment and due to the pandemic (an my budget) I had to rely on IKEA. Planning to go for an industrial look but it seems I have to learn making my own furniture for that. Started my bedroom with the dark Hemnes bed, nightstands (the smaller ones) and a dresser and now I’m struggling with finding a fitting wardrobe, I just don’t like the doors of the Hemnes version, also it’s only available in white at my place at the moment. Any ideas how to chose something fitting? Pax just seems way too big I think. Thank you in advance 🙂

  • We have Engineered Brazilian Cherry in our Living Room, I know, soooo 10 years ago! Changing it is not an option right now. my question is, how do we add on to it? We want to get rid of the awful carpet in the hallway and 3 rooms right off of that. We of course could never match the color. What would be a good choice for this?

  • Ok so here’s my issue; we are definitely eclectic and every piece of furniture we have is vintage or antique. Every. Single. Piece. Several different shades of wood but it works bc essentially the whole house is various harmonizing shades of brown lol, we also have original mid century hardwoods in parts of the house that we love BUT the main living room which was originally built on in the 70’s as a den has very short Berber carpet over concrete flooring, what I can’t figure out is what floor to put in here. I’ve already settled in contrast bc matching those mid century hardwoods is basically impossible these days without spending a ton of money. This room also tends to be the darkest in the house so what shade/color of wood flooring do I put in here to contrast the warm goldeny orangey hardwoods in the rest of the house but not darken this room further. I don’t mind this room being darker bc it’s super cozy at night but I’d really like to put a dark shade of warm green on the wall surrounding the fireplace and don’t want the floor to be the final straw that makes this room a black hole if that makes sense

  • Great article Nick! Hey, a really helpful article topic would be mixing different styles of wood flooring, e.g. say wood parquet abutting to wood plank. Could that be done, I mean, could it work? Should you try to match the wood tones/stains of each type with each other or should they be clearly different? Forget abutting wood parquet w/wood plank? Love your articles!

  • Hi Nick – all the windows in my house have a brunette wood trim and matching venetian blinds The floor is also trimmed with the same brunette wood. I’m considering removing the carpet and replacing it with wooden floors. Would you recommend matching the colour of the floorboards with the colour of wood trim and blinds? Given how dark the wood is, I’m worried that this will darken the room and space.

  • Hi Nick! Really enjoy your articles! I’m a first time home-buyer currently looking for houses in the Northeast and it seems all of your examples are for very large, wealthy homes. Can you provide articles on how to design within more modest homes? Things like 3 bedroom colonials or split-levels? Thank you so much!

  • Thank you, I have an additional issue to this. I am not sure, how to choose the right RGB color to match with my wood tone and if there are some rules and limitations to choosing certain RGB colors for warm wood tones and cool wood tones. Not sure your color combinations article helps me with that. I have a warm wood tone in my living room/kitchen, I wanted to decorate in either blue analog or emerald green monochrome and I am little bit worried to f*ck up by choosing cool colors…:-D

  • Do you offer help via email? I am learning a ton perusal your articles but I can pick a floor color despite testing over 40 floors… i have a cabin style interior with knotty pine stained a golden oak like many homes in the 80’s and 90’s. My wife does not want more yellow, orange or red in that order and she definitely does not want many knots. The only thing we have a great own so far is dark flooring for a contrast. The problem with the dark flooring is we have kids and poor lighting. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  • Great articles! Could you do one about tips for tying in the “eclectic look?” It’s expensive to live in California so I get most of my furniture for free. It doesn’t really match but the quality is ok. I am artistic enough to make a painting that’s worth hanging, but other than bringing in some of the colors of the room, I don’t know where to go with that. I also live with roomies and I don’t want to crowd out their style. Any ideas?

  • Hi Nick, love your website! I had a question about wood tones I’m still a bit confused on (first time I am being intentional about what comes into my space!) could you mix different woods with your floors such as buying either teak or maple headboards and media units with warmer, brighter floors? Should I be looking at what wood tones (light and dark) are in the floor and whatever furniture pieces I bring in those should match one of those tones/shades from my floor so that things look cohesive and there is a sense of flow and continuity? I feel I’m still lost!

  • Thanks for your article. 7 or 8 years ago, I put new flooring throughout my entire downstairs. The flooring has different red tones in it, and has a little bit of shine to it. Warmer tones of flooring were trending back then. Now I want to replace all the carpet in my upstairs (my son has allergies) but they don’t even make the flooring I purchased for the downstairs anymore. A lot of the newer flooring are cool tones, (etc) and it’s very hard to find something that will compliment it. I’ve literally been looking 6 months.

  • Follow up: How much wood is too much? Besides just adding fluffy textiles, how are echos reduced from all these clean lines and hard surfaces? What residential options exist for doors that block more sound than big box store solid core or solid wood doors? How does one mix wood with fake wood? What are the pros and cons of color stains vs paint and when does one use either? When does one choose solid wood vs plywood or MDF furniture? How thick does furniture need to be to be durable? How does cork fit into this?

  • I have so many questions…. we have hardwood oak (orangey tones) floors with a sort knotty pine wide trim (also in an orangey tone) throughout our whole rental home….. I am really having a hard time finding a cohesive style. I just found your website…. I feel like I need to binge watch all the episodes and take notes!

  • Dear Mr. Lewis, I am in trouble trying to decorate an area that is an open big kitchen with a desk area and pntry. Four wall that are the home of the living room, dining area and a space that leads to the back patio. All the area shares a golden hardwood floor, the same color of the kitchen cabinets. Do you suggest a article that help me to balance too much orange wood. Thank you.

  • I’m so pleased you talked about this topic as I’ve just purchased a sideboard from a friend of mine. I know it will fit with my table for style, but the colour is lighter. Listening to you I’ve decided to add a couple of collected darker pieces made from wood to sit on the sideboard as I think it might tie it together. I had thought of using a stain but as you said it might not necessarily turn out to look the same. Any how as always thank you 🙏 for taking the time to help with a subject that I’m sure many people have problems solving. X

  • This article was super helpful, and a topic I hadn’t seen covered by other designers I subscribe to 🙌🏼. I was happy to have a few theories I had about mixing wood tones confirmed and also learn a few things too. Love your articles, all the photo examples you use are very helpful, and you are clear and concise. Thanks! Could you please do a article just for Canadians though (just one 🙏🏼) with some online furniture/decor retailers. Trying to decorate a new home during lockdowns and would love some ideas for resources.

  • I love your website! Thank you for translating interior design to us who don’t get it! Do you have any tips for military families? We move a lot, movers are super hard on our stuff, and we never really know what size of home we are going to get next… While we may get one room perfect in this location, it doesn’t fit or doesn’t work for the space in the next place.

  • We remodeled our kitchen in the middle of the grey flooring fad and I’m getting ready to refinish our dining/living room wood floors. The rooms connect so I was wondering what stain you recommend for making that flooring in the kitchen blend well with the rest of the house? I’m looking at a white oak now.

  • trying to put together a color pallet for a new house to be built. should my wood floor trim be the same color as my wood floor ? I also do not want wall trim, window trim and door white, and what color of wood floor be best with red, green, yellow, black and brown tones ?? advices appreciated, thank you

  • I live in a log house that was my grandparents house and the woods are one darker stain and one medium orangey color on the logs and I hate that color but don’t really have the ability to get them all refinished. Its so hard decorating for the house since I don’t like the colors and don’t want it to look like cabin/lodge vibes too much. :/

  • Terrific tips, Nick. Love the grey-brown barn board wall + grey-brown wicker chairs at 1:17 ❤, and the light bamboo chair contrasting to dark mahogany table plus lots of white at 3:17 ❤. Great examples as usual, including the dark blue far wall 4:06 and the colour swatch + room. Great work as usual! ❤

  • As someone who has received formal architecture/urban design education, I have absolutely LOVED perusal your content. I never had the opportunity to dive deep into interior design, and your articles provide a concise “crash course” into the most important elements one needs to consider when planning an interior space. THANK YOU!!

  • Love your website and am so glad you did this article! I’ve been stressing about integrating a couple black/espresso IKEA pieces from our condo which are too useful to give up, but might not go with other things we’ll need to furnish our house, especially as I’ve been offered some vintage pieces from family. Your articles are so helpful, thank you!

  • I love home decor and love your website 🙂 Some other home design websites are so focused on highlighting a specific interior design approach that they use with most of their clients and I love that you provide content that is more relevant to a wider audience of folks who may love different design styles.

  • Love your website. Learned so much. Definitely going to use info from this one. We visited the Greene and Greene Gamble house in California a few years ago and I always wanted to incorporate more wood into my home. Now that I own a house I am starting to put more of those ideas to work. Slow process, but it’s getting there.

  • What if my flooring is a light grey wood but I love the coastal light natural look? I love the light natural wood furniture and elements such as jute, but I just don’t know if that would look good with all grey wood flooring? I’m moving into a new build house soon and I am just so worried. I’m binging your articles right now trying to figure things out but I’m just so lost.

  • This is so helpful! I love the warm woods that are popular now (and my current, actual mid-century apartment is full of them lol), but my new apartment is full of cool undertones and I’ve been a bit stumped over how to style it… it’ll be my first “grown up” space and I really want it to feel nice and intentional

  • I’m editing my living room and got rid of quite a few pieces. I’m left with a dark walnut fairly traditional side board and much lighter version coffee table set which is more contemporary. I’m waiting for delivery of grey modular sofa and 2 leather antique tan chairs. My walls are all white and flooring is this awful colour that doesn’t sit with either.( will be replaced when I can afford it). I like a more eclectic style of living and have taken onboard your advice. I’m also hoping that large simple area rugs will help divide my room, creating 2 separate seating areas. I’m going to go with finishes rather than colour as I think that would work in my space. Just felt I needed to share this and feed back your post

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