Decorating
Colour: How to Team Natural Wood with Rich, Dark Grey
It’s a combination that looks sophisticated, sensual and more than a little Scandi – dark grey and wood make a stylish team
In recent years, dark grey has become a super popular shade, prized for its versatility, richness of tone and grown-up gorgeousness. But, as with so many deep colours, it needs sensitive handling to really shine. Teaming dark grey with white and black brings a strongly Scandi feel to any room, but partnering it with wood can take it in a whole new direction. Wood warms up grey and strips it of any austerity, and, depending on where and how you weave in the wood, it can either melt into the grey or contrast crisply against it. These beautiful rooms use a combination of the two in all sorts of exciting ways. From logs and slate to a pale wooden console against a dark painted wall, dark grey and wood are a match made in decorating heaven.
Add a wooden accent
Even the smallest amount of wood can take a dark grey scheme from severe and serious to elegant. This beautiful kitchen might look rather monotone without the inclusion of two chunky timber shelves. They are the only wooden pieces in the entire space, but by tweaking the strict grey, white and green scheme, they add real energy.
Even the smallest amount of wood can take a dark grey scheme from severe and serious to elegant. This beautiful kitchen might look rather monotone without the inclusion of two chunky timber shelves. They are the only wooden pieces in the entire space, but by tweaking the strict grey, white and green scheme, they add real energy.
Create a zone
A wraparound section of wooden worktop performs a handful of roles in this kitchen. It brings welcome warmth to the grey units, preventing them from looking too ‘flat’, but it also creates an eating zone. Using wood, rather than the white composite found elsewhere, marks out and defines the breakfast bar section of this kitchen island. The contrasting materials make clear that the wooden worktop side is for eating and socialising, and the opposite side is for food prep and cooking.
How to choose the perfect worktop
A wraparound section of wooden worktop performs a handful of roles in this kitchen. It brings welcome warmth to the grey units, preventing them from looking too ‘flat’, but it also creates an eating zone. Using wood, rather than the white composite found elsewhere, marks out and defines the breakfast bar section of this kitchen island. The contrasting materials make clear that the wooden worktop side is for eating and socialising, and the opposite side is for food prep and cooking.
How to choose the perfect worktop
Indulge in dramatic contrast
A piece of pale wooden furniture set against a dark grey wall is a hugely effective combination. Here, the painted wall is home to a huge black and white photograph, which breaks up the expanse of dark grey without deviating from the simple recipe of grey and wood.
A piece of pale wooden furniture set against a dark grey wall is a hugely effective combination. Here, the painted wall is home to a huge black and white photograph, which breaks up the expanse of dark grey without deviating from the simple recipe of grey and wood.
Stick to the dark side
Wood does not have to contrast with grey. This dining space shows how choosing timber in a similarly deep tone brings a beautifully sophisticated feel to a grey scheme. The dark wooden wine rack almost blends in against the charcoal brick wall, but helps bring variety of tone and texture to it. Dining chairs in dark stained wood continue the idea on the opposite side of the room.
Wood does not have to contrast with grey. This dining space shows how choosing timber in a similarly deep tone brings a beautifully sophisticated feel to a grey scheme. The dark wooden wine rack almost blends in against the charcoal brick wall, but helps bring variety of tone and texture to it. Dining chairs in dark stained wood continue the idea on the opposite side of the room.
Send it Scandi
Those stylish Nordic folk have been combining dark grey and warm wood for decades. In this living room, a dark grey sofa sits next to an Eames moulded plywood chair, but the combinations are limitless. Simply stick to an all-white scheme and add the wood and grey in the form of furniture to pull off this effortless Scandi look.
Those stylish Nordic folk have been combining dark grey and warm wood for decades. In this living room, a dark grey sofa sits next to an Eames moulded plywood chair, but the combinations are limitless. Simply stick to an all-white scheme and add the wood and grey in the form of furniture to pull off this effortless Scandi look.
Take a rustic approach
This living space demonstrates the dark grey and wood combination in its rawest form. Stacked logs and a chunky ash coffee table bring the wood component, while the stone hearth delivers a swathe of moody grey.
See more ideas for a modern rustic look
This living space demonstrates the dark grey and wood combination in its rawest form. Stacked logs and a chunky ash coffee table bring the wood component, while the stone hearth delivers a swathe of moody grey.
See more ideas for a modern rustic look
Pare back
This converted stables is a vision of white, but all that snowy paleness could look formless and sterile were it not for some grey and wood woven in. Original timber doors supply heaps of woody character and colour, while the grey appears on a classic Eames DAW chair and floor lamp, which punctuate the white wall.
This converted stables is a vision of white, but all that snowy paleness could look formless and sterile were it not for some grey and wood woven in. Original timber doors supply heaps of woody character and colour, while the grey appears on a classic Eames DAW chair and floor lamp, which punctuate the white wall.
Call for calm
Dark grey creates a cocooning feel, which perfectly suits a bedroom. Here, it’s complemented by black accents (the lampshades and chest) and very dark wood – the headboard, floorboards and console table. Natural light flooding in through the large window prevents the space from feeling dull. Instead, it looks inviting, grown-up and calm.
Dark grey creates a cocooning feel, which perfectly suits a bedroom. Here, it’s complemented by black accents (the lampshades and chest) and very dark wood – the headboard, floorboards and console table. Natural light flooding in through the large window prevents the space from feeling dull. Instead, it looks inviting, grown-up and calm.
Freshen it up
Although great at looking moody, the combination of dark grey and wood can also be steered in a more upbeat, fresh direction. This basement living space takes a slightly 1980s approach to the colour scheme, plumping for a grey rug, dark grey bench and a flash of red, then teaming all this with a wood-panelled column, which softens the industrial bones of this space and introduces welcome warmth.
TELL US…
Have you combined dark grey and wood in your home? Please share any tips and photos in the Comments below.
Although great at looking moody, the combination of dark grey and wood can also be steered in a more upbeat, fresh direction. This basement living space takes a slightly 1980s approach to the colour scheme, plumping for a grey rug, dark grey bench and a flash of red, then teaming all this with a wood-panelled column, which softens the industrial bones of this space and introduces welcome warmth.
TELL US…
Have you combined dark grey and wood in your home? Please share any tips and photos in the Comments below.
Creating an entirely grey room is not for the faint-hearted, but this striking study demonstrates just how gorgeous it can look. The key is to break up the grey-out with some stylish wood. Here, a midcentury desk and upholstered chair bring warm honey tones to the charcoal backdrop for a strong, stylish combination.