Last month’s Instagram Saves post became a very strong argument for us to keep the oak throughout our home. The more photos I found of spaces with beautiful wood trim, the more I fell in love with the warmth it so effortlessly brings into a space. I went in search of inspiration to work our own oak trim into the design plans for our entryway and study and, not surprisingly, Instagram delivered in spades. What I wasn’t expecting, was to find so much inspiration for bold wall colours to go with it though!
I came into these rooms fully expecting to stick with a lovely, warm white colour – honestly, thoughts of anything else hadn’t even really crossed my mind until I started searching out ways to work with all that wood. I hadn’t expected so many spaces to pair bold colours with all that wood and even more, to do it so beautifully. The more rooms I saw with those bold colours, the more inspired I felt to think outside the box a little more with our own spaces. I found myself saving photo after photo of wall colour inspiration that would pair beautifully with our oak and today, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourites with you. So grab yourself a cup of coffee my friends and let’s take a scroll through some wall colour inspiration…
Wall Colour Inspiration to Pair with Oak Woodwork
Wall Colour: Behr – Black Evergreen
Wall Colour: Sherwin Williams – Iron Ore
Wall Colour: Sherwin Williams – Homburg Grey
Wall Colour: Benjamin Moore – Peale Green
Wall Colour: Farrow & Ball – Studio Green
Wall Colour: Sherwin Williams – Ripe Olive
Wall Colour: Sherwin Williams – Light French Gray
Wall Colour: Farrow & Ball – Off Black
Wall Colour: Benjamin Moore – Cushing Green (the same colour we used in Carson’s old bedroom!)
Wall Colour: Benjamin Moore – Racoon Fur
While I still really love the lightness and warmth of a nice, warm white paint paired with wood trim, these bold spaces definitely gave me some other colours to consider. I’ve already painted our entryway white, but I’m still undecided on a wall colour for the study that opens off of it. What do you think? Would you go with a bold green/blue? Or maybe a lighter, but still bold grey? Or, should I stick with the tried and true Cloud White I’ve been painting everywhere else and maybe play around with some bold fabrics in there instead? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Let me know what you’d go with in the comments below!
Our house, too, has a lot of red oak – floors and kitchen cabinets, but the trim had already been painted a bright white. I decided on Benjamin Moore Classic Gray for the walls, which “reads” white, but is softer. I love the bold colours you showcased in this post, and I would choose one for an enclosed room over an open-concept room.
I couldn’t agree more Nadine! Classic Gray is a perfect choice, especially for those bigger, more open spaces! That’s exactly how I’m planning to approach things too – something quiet and neutral in our main living spaces, but something a bit more dramatic in the smaller rooms. Thanks so much for sharing!
I think you would love a deep dark color in that room…….cocoon cozy!!! Maybe play off the fireplace marble? Not sure if that is staying……or the floor shown in the doorway. We have oak in our home and I have loved a black accent wall with it. Now I do not mind the oak at all!!!
Thanks so much Patty! I agree! I love the idea of creating a cozy cocoon of a space! We are planning to change out the fireplace tile at some point, but I love the idea of black in here – I think it would work so beautifully with all of the oak! Thanks again!
Sorry it took me so long to reply- I’ve had a bad cold (not Covid or the flu) too, here in Central, upstate NY.
The Peale Green is my (first) favorite. I agree, I had never thought of using those moody, dark colors with oak. Your home is gorgeous!
Thanks so much Susan! I’m happy you’re feeling better! We just had the worst cold ever (likely Covid) make it’s way through our house too – it knocked us all out for weeks, but we’re finally on the mend now too. I LOVE that Peale Green too! It really plays off of the wood so beautifully and brings such a lovely, historic feel. I’m still not entirely sure just what we’ll go with yet, with so much beautiful inspiration to look through, it’s hard to choose just one! 😉 Thanks again Susan!