The Colour of Wood vs. Wall Colour? How Important is it really?

When people ask me for colour advice (at a dinner party or somewhere other than their home), they are always quick to describe the colour of their wood furniture or flooring. Usually this is because they don’t have anything else they can use for colour inspiration, and they are probably quite sure that the colour of their wood should be considered. The other day I even received an email asking about the undertones of hardwood flooring and if they are important in picking wall colours. So here’s the skinny on wood colours:

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The undertones of wood are generally, 1) orange [above], so the only time you need to be concerned is if you are also going to paint the walls orange [below]. In my opinion, this space works well but make sure you do consider which orange is the right one!

2) Red (below)

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3) yellow [below]

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or 4) Brown [below]

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So unless you are planning to install walnut flooring with your brown walls, or red if your floors are cherry, orange if you have fir or oak flooring; consider your wood stained furniture or flooring to be like denim. Generally, they go with everything!



Don’t do what I did in the beginning; I would be standing there (in an empty space) with the client, looking at me expectantly, (waiting for me to pull magic out of my fan deck) and what I did in those days? I matched the wall colours to the flooring. Before the brown trend was so big, everything was maple, fir, or oak; yellow or orange. So I specified a lot of Boardwalk in those days because it worked well with orangy undertoned floors.

A few months ago, one of my clients (from the very beginning of my colour consulting days) hired me to pick new colours and drapery, for her living room. I cringed when I walked in and saw this colour because I remembered picking it because the only inspiration in the living room at the time was black, leather furniture!

The exception to this is when you have wood stained trim or walls. That's when wall colours should coordinate. After all the colour is now vertical and you will constantly be comparing it visually. So don't choose a pinky beige (for example) to go with your honey maple kitchen cabinets!


Have I mentioned, the one really good thing that has come out of the brown trend? Men have switched from buying black, Michelin man leather furniture to brown, read the whole post here.

Related posts:

Which Hardwood Floor is the Most Timeless?

Happiness is. . . A Happy Wife (every man should read this one)

10 Ways to Save money Now by Creating a Focal Point