What Colours Go With Oak Furniture?

Oak furniture is highly versatile and works with a variety of different colour palettes. Whatever style you are going for, the colour that you paint your room will give a different feel to your oak furniture. After 40 years of helping customers create beautiful homes, we've seen every colour combination imaginable – and we know what works.

Whether you're going for contemporary chic, rustic, or classic elegance, there's a colour palette that will work with your oak furniture. And whether you're trying to create a minimal and calm atmosphere or maximal, striking statement, the colours that you use can go a long way towards helping you achieve it.

Understanding Oak's Natural Tones

Before choosing colours, it's essential to understand oak's natural characteristics. Oak typically features warm, golden undertones with visible grain patterns that add texture and depth to any space. The Dulux colour experts note that wood's undertones are crucial when selecting complementary paint colours.

Light oak tends towards honey and golden tones, while aged or treated oak can develop richer, deeper hues. Understanding these undertones helps you create harmonious colour schemes that enhance rather than clash with your furniture's natural beauty.

1. Light, Neutral Colours

For a contemporary feel, you can't go wrong with white or light grey. While magnolia and beige have been much maligned by designers over the past decade or so, off-white colours such as greige and stone are very much on trend. As the name suggests, greige is a mixture of grey and the dreaded beige, and stone is an off-white colour with a slightly warmer feel than white.

Why Neutrals Work

Light neutrals create an airy, spacious feel that lets oak furniture take centre stage. The Farrow & Ball colour consultants recommend warm neutrals for rooms with natural wood, as they enhance the wood's inherent warmth without competing.

Top Neutral Choices:

Pure Brilliant White - Creates maximum contrast and modernity
Warm Grey - Softens the overall look while maintaining sophistication
Greige - Perfect balance between warm and cool tones
Stone or Putty - Adds subtle warmth without yellowing

These colours pair especially well with the yellow tinges of light oak, perfect for creating a relaxing setting for your oak bedroom furniture.

2. Earthy, Natural Tones

Earthy tones on both the red and green part of the spectrum can work really well with both light and dark oak furniture. This approach creates a cohesive, nature-inspired interior that feels both grounded and sophisticated.

Green Spectrum

Greens like sage or olive help to create a calm feel, perfect for a living room or study. The Little Greene Paint Company identifies sage green as particularly complementary to oak's warm tones.

Warm Earth Tones

Richer earthy tones like tan, rust, terracotta, or burnt orange create a warm feel, which can be great as an accent colour to match your oak dining table. These colours echo the natural warmth in oak grain, creating a harmonious, inviting atmosphere.

Best Earthy Combinations:

Sage Green + Light Oak - Fresh and calming
Olive + Dark Oak - Sophisticated and grounding
Terracotta + Medium Oak - Warm and welcoming
Burnt Sienna + Any Oak - Rich and cosy

3. Bold, Rich Tones

If you're looking to make a statement, there's nothing stopping you from pairing certain carefully selected bold, rich colours with your oak furniture. The key is choosing colours with the right undertones to complement oak's natural warmth.

Deep Jewel Tones

Rich reds and purples like burgundy, crimson, or claret make for a warm and cosy dining room or a sumptuous and decadent bedroom. This can work especially well when paired with darker oak furniture. Benjamin Moore's colour trends show deep colours creating intimate, luxurious spaces.

Bold Blues and Greens

Deep navy, forest green, or teal can create dramatic backdrops that make oak furniture pop. These colours work particularly well in rooms with good natural light.

Using Bold Colours Successfully:

Use on a feature wall rather than all four walls
Balance with plenty of white or neutral elsewhere
Consider the room's natural light levels
Test samples at different times of day

4. Soft, Pastel Shades

Pastel shades across the colour spectrum can work with oak furniture too, creating softer, more delicate interiors that still celebrate oak's natural beauty.

Warm Pastels

For an airy, feminine feel, peaches and pinks are back from the 80s, and work wonderfully with the yellowish golden tones of light oak. A splash of green from some plants will really make this combination sing. The Vogue Living design team notes that warm pastels are having a major moment in interior design.

Cool Pastels

Pastel blues and oak furniture come together to create a marine feel, perfect for a house by the coast. Soft lavenders and pale mint greens offer alternatives that feel fresh without being cold.

Room-by-Room Colour Guide

Different rooms call for different approaches when pairing colours with oak furniture:

Living Room

Best choices: Warm neutrals, sage green, soft grey
Accent options: Navy cushions, terracotta throws
Avoid: Colours that are too cold or stark

Dining Room

Best choices: Deep reds, warm greys, olive green
Accent options: Gold or brass accessories
Consider: How colours look under artificial light

Bedroom

Best choices: Soft pastels, warm whites, gentle greens
Calming options: Lavender, pale blue, blush pink
Create atmosphere: Layer textures in similar tones

Flooring and Oak Furniture

It's important to make sure that your floor ties in with your furniture and the rest of your colour scheme.

Wooden Floors

Exposed wooden floors, whether oak or even pine, will usually look great with your oak furniture. The Wood Floor Warehouse experts recommend varying wood tones slightly for visual interest rather than exact matching.

Carpet Choices

If you're going with carpet, then the same principles apply:

Light neutrals - Grey, stone, or greige for versatility
Natural textures - Sisal or jute for organic feel
Pattern considerations - Subtle patterns won't compete with wood grain

What Colours Go with Dark Oak Furniture?

Oak usually comes in a light, yellowy-gold colour, so dark oak furniture can call for a slightly different approach. Because of the rich colour of dark oak, it can look good to offset it with either airy or bold blues and greens.

Successful Dark Oak Combinations:

Muted Blue-Grey - Creates sophisticated contrast
Sage or Olive Green - Elegant and grounding
Warm White - Brightens without starkness
Deep Burgundy - For dramatic, traditional interiors

Pairing dark oak furniture with earthy greens like olive can create an elegant yet relaxing feel. Alternatively, muted grey-blues can create a contemporary chic feel.

Common Colour Mistakes to Avoid

Through years of helping customers, we've identified common pitfalls:

Too many wood tones - Limit to 2-3 different wood finishes per room
Ignoring undertones - Yellow-based greys can clash with oak's warmth
Over-matching - Everything beige creates a dated look
Forgetting about lighting - North-facing rooms need warmer colours
Scale issues - Dark colours in small rooms with large oak pieces

Frequently Asked Questions

What colour bedding goes with oak furniture?

Light, neutral coloured bedding almost always works well with oak bedroom furniture. For a tidy, yet inviting feel, you can't go wrong with white. Depending on the other colours in your room, light greys or neutral colours like stone can work well on your bed. You can use extra cushions or blankets to bring out highlight colours to tie in with the rest of your colour scheme.

Can I use cool colours with warm oak tones?

Yes, but choose carefully. Soft, muted cool colours like sage green or powder blue work better than stark, bright versions. Always test samples first.

Should oak furniture match throughout the house?

Not necessarily. Different oak finishes can work in different rooms, but try to maintain some consistency in tone (all warm or all cool) for flow.

What's the best white paint for oak furniture rooms?

Warm whites with yellow or pink undertones complement oak better than cool, blue-based whites. Popular choices include Farrow & Ball's Pointing or Dulux's Natural Calico.

How do I update a room with oak furniture without replacing it?

Change wall colours, add colourful soft furnishings, update lighting, and introduce contemporary accessories. Oak's versatility means it can adapt to many styles.

Your oak furniture is an investment in quality and beauty. By choosing the right colours, you can create stunning interiors that showcase your pieces while reflecting your personal style. Whether you prefer calming neutrals, earthy naturals, bold statements, or soft pastels, there's a perfect palette waiting to transform your space.

Browse House of Oak's range of carefully selected quality oak furniture online today, and imagine the beautiful colour combinations you could create in your home.