Wood has always been a staple in your home. If you have any doubts, just glance down at your planked floors, mosey over to your mid-century coffee table, or ogle at that vintage armoire that stands tall in your bedroom. And, as millwork, paneling, and even built-ins have become more popular, wood is getting the main character treatment. In fact, a new trend report from Houzz says warm wood is having a moment.
But herein lies the problem: Which finish do you choose? After all, airy white oak and moody walnut create two very different vibes, so it’s important to bring a discerning eye (and a little know-how) to your grains.
To help, we tapped a few pros to share how they select species for their client’s projects—and even their own homes. Knock on wood, their tips will make the decorating process easier.
Define Your Vibe
Like paint, wood tends to set the tone for the rest of the room, so consider the impact you want to make. “Wood can be the quiet backdrop or it can become a major architectural moment,” says Jessica Cinnamon, a Toronto-based designer. “Are we looking for something that is very consistent and refined, or do we want a look that has more character, variation, and movement in the wood?”
Recently, Cinnamon used white oak in a bedroom to create “a beautiful backdrop rather than dominate the space.” Craving little more drama? Take a cue from the designer, who use a “very dark, ebony-like stain” to create a contrast in a living room.
Go With the Grain
While color informs a room’s vibe, Jessica Soldner of Discrete Designs says to not overlook grain pattern. “The biggest mistake that people make when selecting wood grain is that they don’t consider all the other elements in the home, and the wood grain ends up fighting with another element,” the Cold Springs, Minnesota, designer explains.
Soldner typically associates heavier grain patterns with casual rooms and reserves tighter ones for sleeker, more modern spaces, though there are some exceptions. “There are instances in modern design where it is appropriate to highlight a unique wood grain up against sleek modern finishes,” she caveats.
Double Down on Details
We don’t know who needs to hear this, but all planks are not created equal. Just because you’re adding maple millwork to your home doesn’t mean all maple will match.
“There can still be a wide variation in characteristics,” Soldner says. “The wood grain are the growth rings of a tree and climate effects how trees grow, so naturally wood from one region can vary in color and grain pattern from oak in another region.”
To err on the side of caution, Soldner suggests double-checking that the samples you approve are sourced from the same region your wood will be purchased from.
Understand Undertones
You can mix and match different wood species in one room, but Cinnamon encourages you to create through-line with tone. “Two woods can look very different in color and still work together, but if their underlying tones fight each other, the combination feels off,” she says.
When in doubt, pair warm-toned or cool-toned woods together—but not both. For example, furniture in a pink or reddish undertone will inevitably clash with a cool gray floor. For a perfect match, think about the bigger picture. “Look at the samples together, in the actual space and lighting where they will be used, rather than choosing each finish independently,” Cinnamon recommends.
The result: Wooden fixtures that will wow.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance journalist who has over a decade of experience in print and digital media. She covers interior design and lifestyle content for a breadth of publications, including Good Housekeeping, Country Living, House Beautiful, Veranda, and more. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
