5 Tips to Mix Different Wood Finishes in Your Kitchen Design

by Samanth Rose

 

Wood is such a beautiful element to incorporate into your kitchen. It adds warmth, coziness, and a touch of nature into your design. However, when you feature wood in multiple parts of your kitchen, it can be difficult to make sure the different wood finishes come together into one cohesive design.

If you struggle with mixing different wood finishes, here are 5 tips that can help you make sure you still create an integrated look: 

 

1. Vary your Wood Grains

If your kitchen cabinets and your flooring have the same wood grain pattern, it’s often too much of the same thing and will look dull and boring. Ideally, you want to choose one to be the focal point and vary the wood grain in order to draw the viewer’s eye.

If you’re going for a rustic design style, you might want to feature a large grain pattern in either your cabinets or your floor to really make that wood feature stand out. Modern designs often feature smaller wood patterns, but you can still utilize different minimal grain finishes to achieve a more dynamic yet balanced look.

 

2. Focus on the Undertones

If you want to be sure your different wood finishes will go together, be sure to check the color undertones.

In general, gray and light woods are regarded as cool tones while deep brown and red stains are considered warm. In general, it’s best to make sure all your wood variations still have the same undertone.

 

3. Bring In Different Materials & Textures

If too much wood is starting to feel overwhelming, be sure to add different materials and textures into your design. While still paying attention to undertones, add in complementary metallic finishes. Or, considering adding glass or mirror finishes into your overall design.

For example, if you already have wooden cabinets and flooring, try metal bar stools around your kitchen island to add a new flare to your design. Or, add a prominent light fixture with mirrored or acrylic components. Your different wood grains will appear more prominent and intentional when paired with a contrasting element.

 

4. Soften with Fabrics 

Fabrics can help soften the look and feel of your kitchen as a whole as well as provide a visual transition between different wood grains.

For example, a plush, cozy rug under your kitchen table or a vibrant table runner can smooth over what may otherwise be a jarring difference between the wood of your table and your floor. Fabrics can provide a contrasting material element that will still match the overall warmth you’re trying to achieve with all your wood. 

 

5. Let There Be Continuity

In order to achieve continuity in your design, every finish you choose should ideally be used more than once. This will help connect the different sections of your kitchen and make your design choices appear purposeful. If you only use a particular wood finish in one spot – especially if it’s not a feature or focal point – it can look like an accident. 

Sometimes the continuity is built into your design, for example, wood flooring the extends throughout your kitchen, or wood cabinetry against multiple walls. However, if you choose a special wood finish for, say, just your kitchen island, see if you can use the same pattern in a small breakfast table or some featured open shelves.  

Are you still confused about choosing the right wood patterns for your kitchen? If you’d appreciate some professional design assistance in choosing the best wood cabinets for your kitchen, our team here at RTA Wood Cabinets can help. We even offer a FREE personalized kitchen layout plan. If you want to learn more, give us a call today at: 1-800-788-7575.