Trends: How to Use Natural Wood to Stunning Effect
So much more than a material for chairs and tables, gloriously grained natural wood can add beauty and style in countless inspiring ways
Katie Treggiden
27 July 2014
Katie Treggiden is obsessed with design and loves nothing more than writing about her favourite subject. She writes for publications such as LivingEtc, Ideal Home, Period Living, Design Milk, We Heart and D&AD. Her own blog, confessions of a design geek, has recently been listed as one of the best design blogs worldwide by Dwell US, Elle Decor Italia and The Sunday Times.
Katie Treggiden is obsessed with design and loves nothing more than writing about... More
Judging by the design shows this year, including London’s Clerkenwell Design Week back in May, natural materials such as wood are still very much in vogue, with a move towards leaving timber in as natural a state as possible. Products incorporating bark and twigs are one example of this, as is the resurgence of ‘pippy oak’ – oak with lots of knots in it, once considered a less desirable form of the wood.
There are numerous ways to enjoy the colours and textures of raw wood in your home, as these images demonstrate. Whether you prefer a subtle touch or a full-on feature wall, be inspired by these schemes and get ready to go with the grain.
There are numerous ways to enjoy the colours and textures of raw wood in your home, as these images demonstrate. Whether you prefer a subtle touch or a full-on feature wall, be inspired by these schemes and get ready to go with the grain.
Wake up to cladding
Using wood to clad one wall is a lovely way to add warmth and interest without spoiling the crisp look of a white space. This wall forms a stunning headboard, bringing pleasing colour and texture to the pared-back scheme.
See more ways to create feature walls
Using wood to clad one wall is a lovely way to add warmth and interest without spoiling the crisp look of a white space. This wall forms a stunning headboard, bringing pleasing colour and texture to the pared-back scheme.
See more ways to create feature walls
Make a feature of your log pile
If you have a working open fire, use the firewood to your advantage. A storage nook like this doubles as a striking display when stacked with cut logs.
If you have a working open fire, use the firewood to your advantage. A storage nook like this doubles as a striking display when stacked with cut logs.
Employ it as an artwork
Using reclaimed wood as art is a striking way to include it in a scheme. This is almost a feature wall, but by cutting the planks slightly shorter than the wall, they form a sculptural piece.
Using reclaimed wood as art is a striking way to include it in a scheme. This is almost a feature wall, but by cutting the planks slightly shorter than the wall, they form a sculptural piece.
Add warmth with weathered wood
Weathered wood has a warm, homely feel that works beautifully in a pale scheme. This cladding emphasises the height of the space and creates a chimney breast effect for the modern fire.
Weathered wood has a warm, homely feel that works beautifully in a pale scheme. This cladding emphasises the height of the space and creates a chimney breast effect for the modern fire.
Expose wooden beams
A simple way to incorporate this trend is to expose structural wooden beams already present within your home. Instead of painting them or boxing them in, leave them raw or give them a coat of wax to enrich the tones.
A simple way to incorporate this trend is to expose structural wooden beams already present within your home. Instead of painting them or boxing them in, leave them raw or give them a coat of wax to enrich the tones.
Mix different finishes
Floorboards can be mismatched to create interest and draw attention to the wood. Here, some of the planks are white oiled while others are left natural. For a similar effect, simply treat each of your floorboards with one of two or three washes, waxes or stains.
Check out the painted floor trend
Floorboards can be mismatched to create interest and draw attention to the wood. Here, some of the planks are white oiled while others are left natural. For a similar effect, simply treat each of your floorboards with one of two or three washes, waxes or stains.
Check out the painted floor trend
Take it upstairs
A staircase is a clever place for a feature wall – it connects upstairs with downstairs and provides some visual interest as people travel between the two. This panel of reclaimed wood has been framed with a white border to give it the feel of an artwork, while a pendant light really enhances the different colours in the timber.
A staircase is a clever place for a feature wall – it connects upstairs with downstairs and provides some visual interest as people travel between the two. This panel of reclaimed wood has been framed with a white border to give it the feel of an artwork, while a pendant light really enhances the different colours in the timber.
Run it along the hallway
Hallways are another good place to use wood cladding – this sweeping corridor is emphasised by the thin strips of wood running in the direction of travel, drawing the eye along the space.
Hallways are another good place to use wood cladding – this sweeping corridor is emphasised by the thin strips of wood running in the direction of travel, drawing the eye along the space.
Juxtapose different timbers
Don’t be afraid to mix different types of wood and different finishes in the same space. This bathroom uses a combination of smooth, polished wood, cut planks and gorgeously knotty uncut pieces for a celebration of tones and textures.
Don’t be afraid to mix different types of wood and different finishes in the same space. This bathroom uses a combination of smooth, polished wood, cut planks and gorgeously knotty uncut pieces for a celebration of tones and textures.
brentcomber.com
Don’t forget the garden
While decking, fencing and the shed are more obvious uses of wood, consider something sculptural to make a real statement. This fabulous sphere is just asking to be touched and gazed upon.
Do you have a beautiful wooden feature in your home? Share your photos and ideas in the comments below.
While decking, fencing and the shed are more obvious uses of wood, consider something sculptural to make a real statement. This fabulous sphere is just asking to be touched and gazed upon.
Do you have a beautiful wooden feature in your home? Share your photos and ideas in the comments below.
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all over the floor. Not to mention a real wood pile never looks that neat - the logs are all different shapes and sizes!
Lovely to see timber being used inside homes. It provides such a warm authentic addition. I have to disagree that timber always comes with termites and has to have smelly chemical treatments. We specialise in reclaiming tropical hardwood timbers from around the UK. They come in amazing colours (see a small sample of our stock below), and because they take many hundreds of years to grow the grain is extremely dense and termite resistant.