A question I get asked quite often is how to brighten a home when you’re working with dark furniture. This is particularly dark walnut, espresso or brown-black, and mahogany furniture. I’ve certainly had my share of darker furniture over the years, some collected since college and others because they add richness and warmth to our space. I’ve always liked styling with lighter accessories in my own home, so having a subtle statement of something deeper in tone makes the room feel welcoming and cozy.
As much as you might enjoy these wood tones, you can never have too much of one thing. As you continue to add in more darker pieces, a room can suddenly feel underwhelming and somber.
Luckily with a few tips below, you can make your space look wonderful and bright by creating a balance of light and dark throughout.
REFINE YOUR FURNITURE PIECES
Take a look around your space and try to minimize the amount of dark furniture pieces to 2-3 items per area. For a home I designed last year, we went with a pair of dark walnut chairs and a TV console in the living space, with all the other pieces in a brass or marble finish. This is just an example of what to consider, but the idea is to create more light in the room, which gives you the opportunity to incorporate lighter furniture pieces.
And what about everything else that didn’t make the cut? Consider painting them in a color that’s complimentary to the rest of your decor. Benjamin Moore and Valspar are among my favorite paint brands for painting furniture.
ACCESSORIZE WITH LIGHT COLORS AND TEXTURE
For a darker sofa, I love to add in textural white pillows to instantly brighten and modernize the sofa. It softens the masculine appearance and the white allows for additional pillows with color to be seen. Colors that really compliment well with dark wood tones are: soft earthy tones, blue, grey, and black & white.
INFUSE COMPLIMENTING METALS
Pair dark furniture with honoring metals. Polished silver and antique brass as a shade of gold, work beautifully with dark walnut and espresso furniture. The liveliness of the polished silver is an instant refresher, while the antique brass adds subtle warmth.
ADD A BASKET FOR ADDED INTEREST
Add a basket or two in a natural or grey wash finish. These are two wood tones that compliment its dark counterpart.
COMPLETE THE LOOK WITH FRESH FLOWERS
Fresh flowers always seem to add the perfect touch to any space, especially in rooms that need a good dose of light. Peonies, stock, tulips, and hydrangea’s make a big impact all on their own in a beautiful vase.
With a little tweaking here and there, you can surely turn your space into a beautiful and bright oasis. I hope these tips were helpful and I’d love to know what your ideas are for refreshing up your home!
Leather Sofa | Black/White Leaf Pillow | Rose Striped Pillow
Monroe Garden Stool | Telescope Accent Table | White Textured Pillow
Jacquard Lace Pillow | Abstract Artwork | Upholstered Swivel Chair