It’s little wonder that homeowners continue to turn to wood for their interior spaces, this an opportunity to bring beautiful pieces of nature into the home whether introduced underfoot, in furniture, in fittings – or all of the above!

We are often asked which wood varieties work best when used together in the home, but being honest this is a tricky question to answer. Without proclaiming which species will and won’t work in conjunction with each other, we’ve come up with a few guidelines that can help us avoid a dreaded design disaster.

The first myth we should debunk is that all your wooden furniture and flooring should match; a design faux pas that we see all too often, this leaves interiors feeling washed out and lacking in contrast, with colour and tone running the same throughout. Back in the 80s this may have been seen as sophisticated design, but let’s be honest - we can do so much better!

Alternative hues and textures are a must if we are to achieve that all-important buzzword: balance. Of course, there should still be a sense of uniformity in the scheme (we are not advocating seven or eight different styles!), but variation is required in some shape or form to create that statement interior.



Such variation can be achieved through your choice of species and the good news is we’re now spoilt for choice as even the most exotic woods are within grasp and budget. How about offsetting the monotone nature of your mid-tone oak furniture with a beautifully contrasting UK Flooring Direct ash or maple option underfoot? Home Choice Ash Lemon Sorbet or Barlinek Yushan Molti would be an ideal partner, but spend time comparing samples to check the respective undertones will work together.

The colour of your walls also play an extremely important part to the scheme you are looking to create. As paint is extremely affordable, it allows you to cost effectively experiment with sample pots until you find your perfect combination, vital if you are planning on sticking to one wood tone for the rest of the room. Why not experiment with feature walls to add further interest and contrast?

White is the king for mixing with wood (in particular oak), a low risk option that brings a cleaner effect than most of its colour counterparts. The contrast of white against one of nature’s finest materials will really bring out its character, whether furniture, floor or accessory. This said, paint selection is a subjective process, and there may be existing fabrics or fittings that you are looking to blend with.



As ever, make sure to paint a small sample first to check the end effect is as you’d anticipated! Paint can be used to break up an interior scheme on both walls and furniture, guidance on the latter found with Pippa Jameson, here. And if you’re not feeling the DIY vibes this season, then contrast and balance can also be found in fabrics and throws: Harlequin and Laura Ashley are big favourites of ours and will offer a look for almost any home.

When it comes to wood, we’re not here to preach light over dark, or vice versa, in fact we’ve been great advocates of both during our time at the Inspiration Centre. Choice will come down to the nature of the room in question, existing pieces in the scheme, and to a large extent, personal preference. One thing to make sure is that glossier tones are not overused; we’ve mentioned that mixing and matching your woods can bring a great new dimension to your room, but be sparing with anything rich or lacquered to achieve this at its best.

At the Inspiration Centre, we’re lucky enough to experience the beauty of UK Flooring Direct’s wood hues and textures on a daily basis, but don’t take our word for it! Order you free samples now to get the ball rolling, then follow our handy hints and tips to create your ultimate wood-inspired interior; we’d love to see the fruits of your labour.

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