[dropcap1]D[/dropcap1]arker tones of wood are in this year, especially when it comes to flooring, so here’s a guide to getting the look right and sustainably sourced when decorating or renovating your home.
Use Wood In High-Traffic Areas
Dark wood is highly durable, which makes it a sustainable and practical choice for any areas of the home where people usually congregate, such as the living room or kitchen.
Balance Wood With Light
Although dark brown wooden floors can be stylish, their dark color can be a tad overwhelming. They can also make small spaces even smaller, so you need to combine them with lighter décor accents to uplift them. Colors that work well with dark wood include pastels and grey, to create an especially chic atmosphere.
Throw In Color
If you have a piece of dark wood furniture, you might think that you should try to decorate the rest of the room in a minimal way when it comes to the colors you use, such as by choosing neutrals. But you don’t have to. In fact, placing the armoire or table under a vibrant painting or in front of a neon accent wall can be the perfect way to enliven it. The same goes for teaming up dark wood furniture with interesting fabric patterns, such as an animal-print rug.
Make It Sustainable
You want to be sure that the wood products you’re buying for your home have been responsibly forested. In Australia, three types of forestry certification schemes are a must to check for so that you know where the wood came from. It also helps to choose the most sustainable types of wood. Generally, these include mahogany, teak, and bamboo.
Blend Different Wood Tones
If you have more than one type of wood in a room, these can work beautifully together. This is also a good way in which to upcycle wooden pieces that you already have instead of throwing them out. A décor tip when using more than one type of wood is to choose one wood for the flooring and another for the furniture. Making other décor items, such as bright sofa cushions or pretty dining room chairs, the highlight of the room also works to create a streamlined effect, helping the tones of wood to blend in beautifully.
Image via