Dark wood furniture brings character and a refined touch to any space but it also creates a problem. Dark stained finishes and clunky shapes can be difficult to integrate into more colorful or contemporary interiors, and you will have to balance such furniture and avoid any outdated looks while decorating. How to incorporate those chic heirloom pieces or cool vintage finds with style? Here are some ideas.
Go For Deep Colors
In an all-white room, dark wood furniture can look out of place. Instead of trying to balance a deep stain with light, airy colors, embrace a moody palette of saturated paint colors. In a bedroom, try setting off dark cherry wood furniture with charcoal gray walls to create a cozy, cocoon-like space. Accessorize with small doses of white to avoid an overly gloomy look.
A beautiful vintage home office space with a large heavy stained desk, a grey chair, some potted plants and large books.
A black kitchen with a kitchen island, a dark-stained dining table and brown leather chairs, a vintage chandelier.
A boho space with dark-stained wooden beams, a wooden bench and a stool, vases and potted greenery.
A bold and catchy dining space with a dark-stained dining table, light-stained chairs, dark pendant lamps and a bold artwork.
A bold dining zone with a view, a dark stained dining table and chairs, a whitewashed bench and a light-stained floor.
A chic and refined bathroom with a dark-stained vanity, a mirror, some sconces and a vintage chair, a wall mirror.
A chic modern bathroom with a green wall, white marble, a green printed tile floor, a floating wooden vanity.
A chic modern farmhouse kitchen with a light-stained floor, dark wooden beams and a kitchen island that dominate over the space.
Style Dark Stained Furniture With Vintage Items
Surround a salvaged wood dining table with mid-century modern chairs, or display collected dishware inside an heirloom hutch. Feel free to mix wood furniture from various eras or in different styles; the aged appearance will tie an assortment of pieces together.
A chic open layout with a dark-stained cabinet, a dark-stained dining table, white seating furniture and industrial lamps.
A chic vintage home office with a rich-stained desk, a green chair and a taupe one, a chic chandelier and a printed rug.
A contemporary Scandi kitchen with a white tile backsplash, dark-stained countertops, a herringbone wooden floor, a light-stained table, dark-stained chairs and a black chair.
A dark-stained bathroom vanity with multiple drawers, an oval mirror and sconces is a cool idea to add a refined touch to the space.
A dark-stained kitchen with shaker cabinets, grey stone countertops, a white subway tile backsplash and a chic pendant lamp.
A dramatic bathroom with a large dark-stained vanity with a mirror in a gilded frame, a white stone countertop and gold touches.
A dramatic dark-stained sleek kitchen with no handles and built-in appliances plus some decor, a black sconce on the wall.
A fab vintage home office with vintage artwork, a dark-stained bureau desk and a black chair, printed curtains and a rug plus some blooms.
A farmhouse meets boho space with a rich-stained floor, dark-stained furniture and some boho textiles and artwork.
A light-filled dining space with a very dark-stained table that makes a statement, rich-stained chairs and a light-stained floor, a black pendant lamp and open shelves.
Dove grey cabinets and a matte black backsplash create a sleek look in this lovely Scandinavian kitchen. A ridged curved kitchen island and pendant lamps add a modern touch. Opt for a combination of soft and bold colors for a balanced design.
Mix Wood Furniture In A Variety Of Tones
If you’re not sure what color to pair with wood furniture, other wood tones are generally a safe bet. Wood finishes often feature undertones that appear yellow, orange, red, blue-gray, or dark brown. Decorate with mixed wood furniture by choosing additional accent pieces that have a similar undertone, even if the finish is much lighter or darker. Tie the scheme together with neutral paint colors and natural materials.
A sculptural oval desk of rich stained wood and a bold chandelier highlight this refined minimalist home office. The black built-in shelving unit adds sophistication. Use task lighting to enhance your work area and reduce eye strain.
A black desk and comfortable chairs make this minimalist home office both stylish and practical. Matte black walls and built-in shelves add sophistication. Incorporate a filing cabinet to keep documents organized and within reach.
Tall stools and cool lamps bring a modern touch to this minimalist white kitchen with sleek cabinets and a fluted curved kitchen island. The design is both functional and stylish. Opt for sleek furniture and unique lighting to enhance a minimalist space.
A modern boho bathroom with a dark-stained vanity and a sink, a black clawfoot tub and a printed tile floor.
A modern dining room with a dark-stained oval table, brown leather chairs, an abstract artwork and a modern chandelier.
A modern farmhouse bathroom with a double dark-stained vanity with gold fixtures and gold handles, mirrors and gold sconces over them.
A modern kitchen with white cabinets, a white subway tile backsplash, a dark-stained kitchen island and pendant lamps.
A dark-stained slat kitchen island and black pendant lamps bring a modern touch to this white kitchen with a grey backsplash. The combination of colors and textures creates a stylish space. Opt for dark accents to add contrast and sophistication.
A neutral bathroom with dark-stained vanities, a bathtub clad with tiles, vintage fixtures and a dark-stained stool.
A neutral kitchen with white shaker cabinets, a stone backsplash and open shelves, a dark-stained kitchen island with a stone countertop.
A refined contemporary bedroom clad with dark-stained wood, with a low bed, a nightstand, a table lamp and a branch with an owl as decor.
Pair Dark Stained Furniture With Painted Pieces
Even if you inherited a whole set of dark stained furniture, you don’t have to place it all in one room, it may see too moody and unwelcoming. Choose a single piece or maybe two pieces for a room and balance them out with painted furniture or metal pieces to create an up-to-date space. Dark stained furniture requires careful mixing to look nice and add chic to the room, and you shouldn’t overdo your space with such items.
A refined dining room with an oval dark-stained table, black woven chairs, potted greenery and a vintage chandelier.
A refined neutral bathroom with a dark-stained vanity, a white stone countertop, mirrors in gilded frames and neutral sconces.
A refined vintage dark-stained console table with artwork, books and vases, a large mirror and a potted tree next to it.
A Scandinavian kitchen with dark-stained reclaimed wood cabinets, a stained table and mismatching chairs, an open shelf.
A Scandinavian dining room with dark-stained furniture, a brown leather sofa, a cowhide rug and a pendant lamp.
A serene kitchen with dark-stained cabinetry, a white stone countertop and a small shelf for holding tableware and dishes.
A sophisticated dark-stained vanity with gold knobs, a vintage mirror and sconces create a very elegant and somewhat dramatic look.
A sophisticated dining room with grey walls and black, grey and white terrazzo, a dark-stained table and grey chairs plus a unique chandelier.
A sophisticated living room with a fireplace clad with black stone, a dark-stained storage unit and a matching chair, a coffee table and a pendant lamp.
A stylish kitchen with dark-stained cabinets and a large kitchen island, woven pendant lamps and greenery is amazing.
Accent Dark Stained Furniture With Color
Incorporate colorful accessories to showcase your personality when decorating with wood furniture. Lay a brightly patterned runner across a wood dresser or table. Opt for bold bedding or wall art in a bedroom outfitted with wood furniture. Table lamps, vases, and planters in a rainbow of colors can also help cheer up dark wood furniture. Again, look to the wood’s undertone to guide your color decisions.
A vintage bathroom done with striped wallpaper, a dark-stained vanity, a gallerywall and a mirror in a stained frame, a couple of vintage sconces.
A grey skinny tile backsplash and a fluted stained kitchen island add elegance to this airy white kitchen with plain cabinets and no handles. Shelves offer additional storage. Use skinny tiles and fluted designs to create a sleek and stylish kitchen.
An elegant and chic masculine home office with a wooden desk and a stool, a built-in bookcase and much natural ligjt.
An elegant bathroom with a geo print wall, a double dark-stained vanity with a black stone countertop and elegant sconces.
An elegant home office with graphite grey built-in shelves, a dark-stained desk and some decor plus a chic chandelier.
An elegant kitchen with a black and white terrazzo floor, dark stained cabinets, a stained table and woven chairs is lovely.
An exquisite modern dining space with a dark-stained reclaimed table and black chairs, a pendant lamp and some blooms.
An exquisite vintage working nook with grey walls, a vintage dark-stained bureau and a mauve chair, mauve curtains and a gallery wall.
An ultra-minimal living room with a dark stained storage unit, a grey sofa, a black table and a statement artwork.