Decorating and Design - Color coordinating wood trim and furniture
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jon_m
10-04-05, 12:38 PM
We're currently building a new home and are having our maple trim stained to a Honey Maple-like color (see http://minwax.com/products/woodstain/gelstain-color.cfm), but a little lighter. At the same time, I'm a budding wood worker making some various pieces of furniture (coffee table, end tables, etc).
I'm looking for tips or rules of thumbs on picking colors to stain my newly built furniture. One recommendation I've gotten was to color match the trim and the furniture. In the case of the coffee/end tables, another tip I've heard is to match the furniture color to the sofa while at the same time selecting a color that is in the same "family" as the trim. I have no idea what "family" means in this sense....can someone fill me in?
If someone could point a clueless budding woodworker in the right direction as far as what color to stain his furniture, I'd be much appreciative.
I'm looking for tips or rules of thumbs on picking colors to stain my newly built furniture. One recommendation I've gotten was to color match the trim and the furniture. In the case of the coffee/end tables, another tip I've heard is to match the furniture color to the sofa while at the same time selecting a color that is in the same "family" as the trim. I have no idea what "family" means in this sense....can someone fill me in?
If someone could point a clueless budding woodworker in the right direction as far as what color to stain his furniture, I'd be much appreciative.
Annette
10-05-05, 11:34 AM
i'm not sure what "match the furniture color to the sofa while at the same time selecting a color that is in the same "family" as the trim" means. is there wood trim on your sofa??? if not, that doesn't make sense.
either match all the woods very closely or contrast them enough so that it looks like you meant to. that means stay with pretty much the same color & shade or go completely lighter or darker for contrast. but you need to stay in the same family, which means stay within the yellowy/orangey/brownish/or reddish color range. for example, you don't want an orangey-oak color on your woodwork with reddish-cherry colored furniture. that would clash. but you could have honey oak woodwork with darker oak furniture. that would be the same color family but just lighter and darker.
if you're just talking about the wood trimwork, i personally would try to match closely the trim to your wood furniture. if we're talking wood FLOORS, i like for the floors to be quite a bit lighter or darker than your wood furniture, or else it can get very monotonous & boring because there's too much of one wood color and not enough contrast for interest.
does that make sense?
either match all the woods very closely or contrast them enough so that it looks like you meant to. that means stay with pretty much the same color & shade or go completely lighter or darker for contrast. but you need to stay in the same family, which means stay within the yellowy/orangey/brownish/or reddish color range. for example, you don't want an orangey-oak color on your woodwork with reddish-cherry colored furniture. that would clash. but you could have honey oak woodwork with darker oak furniture. that would be the same color family but just lighter and darker.
if you're just talking about the wood trimwork, i personally would try to match closely the trim to your wood furniture. if we're talking wood FLOORS, i like for the floors to be quite a bit lighter or darker than your wood furniture, or else it can get very monotonous & boring because there's too much of one wood color and not enough contrast for interest.
does that make sense?