Oak has always had a timeless quality about it and it’s one of the many reasons we’re passionate about it at Oak Furnitureland. It has the ability to marry with nearly any style and its natural attributes mean it can work with almost every colour scheme.
Whether your style is bold and dramatic or elegant and subtle, steeped in period details or on the cutting edge of contemporary design, you can find a colour that works beautifully with our oak furniture and painted ranges with oak tops.
If you’re struggling to grasp which colours to team with your oak furniture, read on for plenty of ideas and real homes to inspire you.
Consider oak’s undertones
Romsey chest of drawers | @athomewithellesmith
Let’s first look at oak as a natural product. More often than not, oak furniture will have warm undertones, from subtle reddish hues to deeper yellow tones.
Stain colours will affect the final look and so darker shades tend to deepen those undertones, bringing out the reddish quality of oak. While paler and more natural waxes tend to bring out tinges of yellow or orange. Either way, you’re working with a warmer undertone.
When pairing this warmth with other colours, you have two very different choices. By working with similar undertones, you’ll be bringing out the natural warmth of wood. By contrasting it with cooler undertones, you’ll be creating more contrast in your space.
Saturation plays a role as well. From deep, dramatic shades to bold brights, soft neutrals and subtle pastels, each brings with it a chance to bring out oak’s best qualities. Here are some ideas to recreate in your own home:
Dramatic contrasts
Parquet sideboard | @atnumberfourteen_
For those who like their furniture to stand out, consider choosing an opaque colour to go with your oak furniture. Natural textures look beautiful against a backdrop of darker shades such as aubergine, navy or forest green.
If you don’t want to commit to painting your walls, choose bold accessories to add a bit of contrast, or opt for our darker painted ranges with natural or rustic oak tops to introduce statement colour in your furniture.
Soft neutrals
Dorset dining table | @thehouseofmatilda
If you prefer a subtler approach, look for colours that share similar earthy undertones with your oak furniture. Warmer beiges and taupe shades will allow your pieces to blend in, making your room appear larger and more open.
Use accessories to provide texture and subtle contrast to ensure the room still has character. Woven baskets, knotted rugs and knitted fabrics will add depth to a neutral scheme without taking away from a softer look.
Bold and bright
Parquet bedside table | @aliceincolour
When working with bold colour, oak furniture can be a perfect pairing. While darker shades will give a room a cosy vibe, more saturated hues create energy and life in a space.
Colours like cherry red, ochre yellow, lime green or rusty orange will bring out those warm hues in oak for a zesty palette that warms up a space. With cooler brights like vivid blue, deep teal or raspberry reds, oak will add warmth to these spaces, balancing out the cooler palette and grounding the overall look.
Pastel perfection
Natural, light oak finishes blend beautifully with pastel shades to create a relaxed and airy feel in your home. Introduce decorative details in delicate pinks, yellows and duck egg blues to add subtle colour that brings grown-up style to any room.
If you’re looking for more contrast with your pastel tones or want to give your space a more traditional feel, then rustic and deeper oak finishes are perfect for you.
Monochrome magic
Bevel bedside table | @ourhomeine4
Crisp white walls teamed with oak furniture creates the perfect balance of contemporary style. Adding warmth to an otherwise stark scheme, the pairing works particularly well when accented with black accessories, such as throws, candles, and artwork, to give a subtle nod to monochrome palettes.
Hopefully this has given you plenty of scope to start your decor journey. Discover our full ranges of natural oak and rustic oak furniture to find the perfect piece for your home.
We’d love to see which colours you have teamed with your oak furniture. Share your style by tagging us at #OakFurnitureland on Instagram.
