Choosing Accessories to Compliment Oak
There are many reasons why we chose to specialise in oak furniture. Not only does oak look beautiful, it is highly durable, versatile and naturally stain and scratch resistant. All of these combine to make oak furniture investment pieces; it can be used in both traditional and contemporary styled homes, among simple or complex accessories and furnishings, and it holds its quality and value over the years.
All of this guarantees that your oak furniture will be with you for a long time, and without a doubt through numerous interior redesigns. Knowing what colours and pieces compliments oak furniture can help you to ensure your house possesses a harmonious feel, no matter how many times you decide to update it.
Colours
Most colours work well with oak, which is one of the reasons why it is so versatile. It is normally best to two main colours for major decor and furnishings, and a third colour for key accessories and flourishes.
Purples and blues lay opposite oak on the colour wheel so therefore make a good choice if you want your oak furniture to stand out as the main attraction. For a cooler colour scheme, choose blues or bluer hues of purple, whereas burgundy purples work well with warmer colour schemes.
Yellows and reds lie close to orange on the colour wheel, and make a great choice if you want to subtly compliment your oak furniture without it being the overriding stand point of the room.
Greens and browns work well with oak, thanks to their earthy tones. Light oaks tend to work best with darker greens and browns, and vice versa with dark oaks working better with lighter browns and greens.
When working with oak, avoid bright white and instead opt for warmer whites with cream undertones. Black compliments dark oak well, but can cause too much contrast against light oak, fading the colour.
Accessories
The key to accessorising with oak is to keep things simple. One or two key pieces works much better than several poorly chosen ornaments. Pick accessories that compliment your chosen colour scheme, as this will ensure the overall look is tied together.
Flowers go beautifully with oak, and are a great way of bringing a little touch of nature into your home. A glass vase provides an elegant feel, or you can pick a vase with blocks of colour for a contemporary feel.
Candles and lamps are a great choice for accessorising your oak furniture, as they provide a homely feel without overpowering the oak, and the warmth from the light really shows off the honey undertones in oak.
Bowls also work well with oak, and help to keep any bits and bobs contained neatly. Choose a vibrant colour or pattern when picking a smaller bowl to help it stand out against the oak, or opt for a more muted or neutral tone if choosing a large bowl.
Thanks to its versatile nature, picking colours and accessories to compliment oak is easily done. It works well on its own against cooler colours, and compliments warm shades beautifully. If you are going through a major renovation, oak takes gel stains very well which allows you to switch from a light to dark finish. It can also be sanded down to revert the furniture back to its original shade.
If youre looking for style inspiration, why not head over to our Inspiring Interiors feature and check out our interior of the week?