How to Mix and Match Wood Furniture in 8 Simple Steps

Est. Reading Time: 7 Mins

Gone are the days of perfectly matching furniture sets! Home decor trends now embrace the art of mixing patterns, textures, and colours, bringing layers of dimension and visual interest to living spaces. Mixing wood tones is no exception, and it can be just as beautiful as combining other materials in a room. Yet, many homeowners still hesitate, unsure of how to mix wood tones effectively.

La-Z-Boy Interior Designer Magaly del Castillo, from our Cyrville location, assures that blending wood tones is a simple way to add texture and depth. With years of experience, Magaly offers expert advice on making this design approach achievable.

Key Takeaways

• See Wood as Texture, Not Just Colour: When mixing wood, approach it as a natural element with depth, grain, and variation, not just a colour. 
• Decide Between Casual and Classy Woods for a Consistent Look: Start with a choice between casual and elegant wood types, as each style offers a distinct ambiance.
• Anchor Your Design with a Dominant Wood Tone: Choose a primary wood tone, such as your flooring or a large furniture piece, to act as the room’s foundation. 
• Match Wood Undertones for a Harmonious Blend: Focus on coordinating warm, cool, or neutral undertones across wood pieces to ensure a balanced aesthetic.
• Incorporate Area Rugs and Accent colours to Tie Elements Together: Use rugs and accent colours strategically to soften contrasting wood tones or add a unifying colour.

In This Article...

• Casual Wood Furniture or Classy Wood Furniture?
• Pick a Dominant Wood Tone for Your Wood Furniture
• Coordinate the Undertones of Your Wood Furniture
• Create Consistency with Wood Furniture
• Consider Incorporating a "Bridge Wood" Within Your Wood Furniture
• Break Up Your Wood Furniture With an Area Rug
• Tie in Wood Furniture With an Accent Colour
• Repeat the Same Wood Tones Within Your Living Room

1. Casual Wood Furniture or Classy Wood Furniture?

To simplify your approach, decide between casual or classy wood tones. As Magaly points out, each type gives a room a distinct feel and personality:

• Casual Woods: Lighter woods like birch, pine, oak, and reclaimed wood bring a relaxed, rustic feel, ideal for farmhouse or coastal styles. Their natural grains and soft tones create an airy, inviting look.

• Classy Woods: Darker woods like cherry, mahogany, and walnut add richness and sophistication, suited to traditional or luxe styles. These tones bring warmth and elegance, enhancing a refined aesthetic.

Mixing casual and classy woods can be risky because each carries such a strong stylistic presence. If you mix these contrasting types, the room’s style might feel conflicted. However, if you’re drawn to a daring look, you might try pairing a very dark walnut with a light birch to create a high-contrast but harmonious mix. 

This contrast can work well in modern eclectic designs but might require careful balancing to ensure the result feels intentional rather than mismatched.

2. Pick a Dominant Wood Tone for Your Wood Furniture

Once you’ve chosen between casual and classy, select a dominant wood tone to anchor the room. This dominant tone could come from a key piece, like a dining table or large cabinet, or your wood flooring if it’s visible.

Magaly suggests treating this main tone as a focal point. Just as you might choose one patterned fabric to ground a room, the dominant wood tone sets the stage for other pieces to complement or contrast, giving the space depth and harmony.

3. Coordinate the Undertones of Your Wood Furniture

Undertones in wood are key for creating harmony, so pay attention to the warm, cool, or neutral hues that come through in each piece. Warm woods, such as those with red or yellow undertones, look best when paired with other warm woods, as their tones naturally complement one another. 

Similarly, cool-toned woods like gray or blue hues blend smoothly with other cool woods, while neutral-toned woods—like some varieties of maple—are versatile, adding flexibility by working well with either warm or cool woods.

If your primary wood piece has a warm undertone, pair it with other warm-toned woods for consistency. However, for a high-contrast look, balance light and dark tones thoughtfully, ensuring that the contrasts don’t clash but rather create an intentional visual rhythm in the space.

4. Create Consistency with Wood Furniture Finishings

The finish of your wood furniture—whether glossy, matte, or rustic—can unify the look of your space. A room with mixed wood finishes might feel disjointed, so choose a consistent finish across pieces for visual cohesion.

For example, glossy finishes add a modern, polished touch, while matte and distressed finishes create a casual, natural look. Consistency in finish helps balance different wood tones, keeping the design intentional.

5. Consider Incorporating a “Bridge Wood” Into Your Wood Furniture

If you’re combining high-contrast woods, use a “bridge wood” with varied tones in its grain to tie light and dark pieces together. Bridge woods often feature a mix of light and dark within the grain, helping to connect contrasting tones in the room seamlessly.

For instance, a medium-toned reclaimed wood table can act as a bridge between light wood flooring and dark wood chairs, balancing the space naturally.

6. Break Up Your Wood Furniture With an Area Rug

A well-chosen area rug can be instrumental in softening wood contrasts and grounding the room. Magaly likens a rug to the frame of a painting, serving as a transition point for the eye from one design element to the next. 

For example, a patterned rug can buffer starkly contrasting wood tones, making the room feel cohesive, while also introducing texture that enhances the room’s warmth.

Incorporating a rug also allows you to bring in colours that tie together the different wood tones in the room, achieving a balanced, inviting look. The rug adds warmth and complements the wood’s natural textures, creating a cozy, cohesive space.

7. Tie in Wood Furniture with an Accent Colour

A bold accent colour—used in throw pillows, lamp shades, or art—can bring unity to mixed wood tones. Choose one to two accent colours that complement your wood’s undertones.

For example, warm woods pair well with reds and oranges, while cool woods look striking with blues or greens. Adding colour in small touches helps tie different wood tones together, creating a harmonious flow.

8. Repeat the Same Wood Tones Within Your Living Room

Mixing wood tones works best with moderation. Stick to three to four main tones to create depth without overcrowding. Each wood tone should be repeated twice in the room to balance the design.

For instance, if you choose walnut as an accent on a coffee table, repeat it in picture frames or shelving to give the space a cohesive rhythm, keeping the design intentional.

What’s Next?

With these tips, you’re ready to mix and match wood tones in your home confidently. At La-Z-Boy, we offer a variety of case goods, from American Drew and Hammary to Kincaid and Canadel, each bringing a range of wood furniture options perfect for achieving this layered look.

Explore our Ottawa or Kingston showrooms, or schedule a virtual design appointment to start creating a beautifully balanced space with wood tones. Our talented interior designers are ready to help you pick the ideal pieces to complement your style and ensure a seamless look throughout your home.

Related Links:

4 Designer Tips: How to Mix & Match Furniture

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