(Photography: Mindi Cooke / Styling: Tahn Scoon)
Typically, we expect coastal homes to feature white-washed timber, and light veneers are perfect for Scandi-style interiors, but the allure of dark timber is often overlooked.
Dark stained furniture can bring a sophisticated aesthetic to your home, especially if they’re vintage or antique inspired pieces. If your home is feeling a little flat or perhaps too white, they can also bring some character and contrast to a bland corner. A dark timber round dining table, dark timber chairs in a dining room with dark timber flooring might be a bold look for some, but some clever decorating can make it a beautifully-appointed and airy room that will suit any home.
Stylist Fiona Gould has given us four styling tips that will help make a dark colour scheme look fresh all year round.
1. Start with white walls
Using white paint on the walls will contrast the darkness of the furniture and bring a crispness to the space. White walls also accentuate and maximise your natural light, which is also the key to making it feel fresh and airy.
If you’re a brave decorator, pairing dark timber furniture with colour can also create a sophisticated look. Walk through the home of interior designer Tori, who paired a French antique bed with feature ‘Grandiflora’ wallpaper from Magnolia Interiors, for more inspiration.
2. Add pops of greenery
Another great way to bring life into a space with dark furniture is greenery. Tropical palms, leafy indoor pot plants will bring freshness to the look.
3. Lay low
Keep the darker tones to the lower half of the room, to ground the space, and choose lighter colours in the top half.
Grouping colours like this is a really clever way to create big bold impact in a space.
4. Layer textures
To keep the space looking inviting and comfortable it’s really important to introduce texture.
Woven details like cane and rattan, rustic pots or natural coastal textures like shell will soften the starkness of dark timber furniture.
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