Light wood furniture

Light wood furniture

Wood furniture, especially light wood furniture made of oak, ash or elm, is a designer favourite. Beautifully finished and with a wonderfully natural feel, it’s highly versatile and lends itself to all kinds of interior design styles from contemporary minimalism to Scandinavian cool to mid-century modern. Best of all, it’s a look that works in practically every room.

Stylish and inviting: light wood furniture for dining rooms

Invest in oak dining room furniture – like a beautiful pale wood dining table – and you’ll make every meal a special occasion. Light wood is an especially great choice for a more compact dining room as its clean and simple look won’t overpower a smaller space. Go for the splayed legs and rounded ends of an iconic ercol dining table or the straight smooth lines and square legs of a more contemporary design.

If space really is at a premium, consider a light wood extending table and get the best of both worlds – a compact table for everyday use plus a larger table for big family get togethers. Light wood also works well with other natural materials and you’ll often find it juxtaposedwith metal bases in industrial-style dining furniture or with ceramic tops in ultra-modern pieces. If you gravitate toward modern light wood and white furniture, look out for pale wood paired with a high-gloss lacquered top surface.

Versatile and contemporary: light wood furniture for living rooms

Pale wood furniture is as much a colour theme as it is a design style. That means you can mix and match different styles of wooden furniture for your coffee table, end tables, TV unit and any storage pieces and as long as you keep the tones light and the finish smooth, you’ll find that everything goes together perfectly. The advantage is, of course, that you can add new pieces as you go along rather than buying furniture as a set.

Be sure to carefully consider the finish of your light wood living room furniture, especially if you have young children. These days, many wood furniture pieces have a clear lacquer coating which makes them easy to wipe clean and amazingly resistant to sticky fingers. If you like your wood more obviously natural, go for a gently waxed finish. Applied lightly, this type of finish gives furniture an attractive modern rustic look.

Calm and relaxing: light wood furniture for bedrooms

If you love the look of natural wood with its beautiful grain and knots, consider light-coloured wood furniture for the bedroom – especially as the need for larger pieces like wardrobes and chests of drawers means there’s simply more to enjoy. Many furniture crafters use oak for bedroom furniture as it’s easy to work with and stands the test of time, but if you prefer a smoother and more finished appearance look for wooden furniture made of ash.

Bedroom furniture, of course, should be both durable and functional. Drawers need to stand up to being opened and closed frequently. Wardrobe doors need to slide or open smoothly. These are the pieces where quality craftsmanship is especially important and along with the pale wood look that you love, keep an eye out for pieces with well-crafted joints and soft-close doors and drawer runners.

On trend and collectible: light wood accessories all around your home

Love the look but not ready to commit to an entire room of light-coloured wood furniture? Accessories are the way to go. A wooden wall clock, wooden mirror or wooden framed piece of wall art puts the light wood look front and centre – beautifully.

If you’re sold on using light wood furniture in your home, why not take a look at the Scandi style for inspiration? Scandi interiors use light wood to great effect, creating an open and relaxed look that’s loved by many the world over. And if you need any help designing your new space, our Home Design Studio stylists are on standby to make your dreams a reality.