When the time finally arrives to decorate our own space, our lack of experience in the area can leave us with a wicked bout of option paralysis.
Or perhaps, for you, it’s the other way around, and you simply can’t think of a single match for your flooring.
Being that a dark hardwood floor is so rich and attention-grabbing, it can confuse matters to an even further degree.
Do you play into the decadence of the flooring, or should you offset it with something minimal?
Will certain colors make the room look too dark when combined with dark wood, or will natural light keep the space feeling open and airy?
Not to worry, though. In this article, I’m going to take you through a bunch of fantastic furniture color ideas that will go down a treat with dark hardwood floors. Let’s get to it!
A Note On Choosing Furniture Colors
One thing to keep in mind before we get started is that there really are no rules when it comes to matching furniture colors with flooring.
It all comes down to personal preference. If you like the way something looks, then, by all means, go for it, despite what all the magazines and blogs say.
However, there are a few things to keep in mind as you choose:
Darker furniture is going to blend into the floor. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it will create a very cozy and inviting vibe, but it can make the space look smaller and less defined.
While contrasting furniture can stick out like a sore thumb, this might be exactly what you need to lighten the room up and add some nuance to a space.
Lighter furniture will help brighten up a space and make it seem larger, counteracting the shrinking effect of dark hardwood floors.
Don’t just take into account upholstery color. Remember to factor in the color of the legs on your prospective furnishings.
White
If you’re worried about your furniture sinking into the rich dark flooring, don’t waste any time with subtleties; head straight for the pure white furniture.
It will make your room appear brighter and juxtapose the classic and modern in a very tasteful fashion.
A great way to round off the visual impact of white furniture if you’re worried about it being a little too stark is to choose pieces with dark wood legs.
This will provide an intriguing transition into the pale shades and will avoid the clash of pale wood on dark.
White is also a very versatile color, meaning it will go well with pretty much any wall color you’re considering.
This will help, not just now, but when you want to change things up a bit in the future with a new lick of paint.
Pale Wood
Okay, so I know I was just saying that pale wood legs will clash with a dark hardwood floor, but not if you really lean into it — I’m talking pale wood everything.
This option is perfect for a dining room where you don’t have to worry about upholstery.
Bare light wood tables, along with chairs, picture frames, rugs, and finishing touch accents to match, can really have a dynamic effect and make the room a joy to be in.
This time, to smooth the transition from one end of the color spectrum to the other, you could add cushions to side chairs that incorporate a lot of dark hues and patterns.
I’d opt for light walls and perhaps even pure white diaphanous curtains to finish this gorgeous look off.
More Dark Wood
Bringing a lot of dark wood furnishings into a room with dark hardwood floors can be dangerous, so tread carefully here.
If you don’t have some form of separating factor, everything will blend together and look a little dull and dark. This is especially true in small rooms.
The trick to pulling this bold move off is to use lighter colors for upholstered pieces such as couches and chairs.
Throw in some pale curtains and walls, and you’ve got yourself one slick pad!
Just make sure that the pale color you choose works well with the undertones of the surrounding dark wood. Don’t shy away from metal legs for side tables either.
These can add another sleek dimension to an already amazing living room.
Middle-Shade Wood
We’ve covered contrast, we’ve covered matching, but what about the middle ground?
Well, the way I’d employ such a look is to use medium wood to separate dark floors and dark walls.
So, if you’re loving the gray-wall trend sweeping the globe right now, and you have some luscious dark flooring to match, medium wood will be the perfect accent to prevent the gloom from overpowering the room.
Black
Have you thought about going even darker with your furniture?
Choosing black decor can help to lighten up the floor, thus making the room look bigger and brighter without actually bringing any light shades into the mix.
However, I would recommend using a light wall color, otherwise, your lovely room may start to look sort of dungeon-esque.
This is another look I’d recommend for a dining room, and if you really want to make it pop, why not add a lighter rug beneath the table?
Gray
We’ve talked about transitions a lot already, but there’s no better middleman between dark floors and light walls than medium gray furniture.
This will bridge the polar opposite shades spectacularly, preventing the contrast from being overly jarring.
Purple
Choosing purple upholstery is an amazing way to lean into the decadence of a dark hardwood floor whilst keeping shades distinct.
Dark floors work way better with bold colors than light floors do, so you can really go nuts here, especially if you choose something with dark legs to ease the eye from low to high.
Turquoise
Like purple, turquoise is a bold color choice that looks stunning against a dark hardwood floor.
It also brings harmony between dark wood and light wood with more orangey tones, giving you a chance to really diversify the decor in the room.
Forest Green
Yet another example of how going bold can lead to something truly spectacular.
Mixed with pale white walls, a forest green couch will make a space both fun and relaxing, and against the dark floor, alludes to beautiful natural environments.
Final Thoughts
The key to finding the perfect color furniture for your dark hardwood floors is to consider wall color along with everything else.
Keep this in mind when shopping around, and you’re sure to make one masterpiece of a room that you’ll love to live in, and your guests will hate to leave.
Hi, I’m Erica Bopst and I have always been passionate about designing comforting and safe home environments, since I was young when my mom gave me a childhood full of warmth, coziness, and homey scents and feelings.
I’ve lived the majority of my life in small towns around the East Coast, but that doesn’t stop me from creating modern homes with a comforting vibe. I’ve helped stage and create countless homes in this style, and I’m confident that I can help you too.
