12 Ways To Give Your Home Decor A Moody Makeover With Dark Wood Tone Trends

After years of lighter and white-painted woods reigning in popularity, darker-toned woods are making a striking comeback in modern interiors. You'll find them popping up in styles at either end of the design spectrum, from rustic farmhouse homes to clean and minimalistic, contemporary spaces. Naturally dark woods like mahogany, walnut, ebony, and rosewood are being accompanied by other wood varieties in deeper stains like black, espresso, and dark cherry. The resulting rooms are filled with character, interest, and layers that bring a bit of drama and moodiness. Even lighter and brighter spaces can gain a cozier feel through dark wood flooring, decorative accents, cabinetry, and more.

While many may fear these darker woods, worrying that they will read too dated and heavy, there are many ways to use them in conjunction with lighter materials, colors, and other shades of wood to create a balanced and cohesive feel. By exploring these ideas and incorporating darker wood tones into your space, you can add greater depth and variation to your décor.

Dark wood cabinets are a once trendy cabinet style that's making a comeback, with many homeowners designing and remodeling kitchens using chic cabinet stains in shades like dark walnut, espresso, red oak, and ebony. Many love the look of high contrast dark or black cabinets combined with white or light colored backsplashes, countertops, and other accents. Lighter accents can also make the darker wood seem less heavy. These dark cabinets, depending on their design details, can read as sleek and modern, like the dark wood shaker cabinets above, or vintage with more distressed dark finishes and ornate hardware.

Staining existing beams or adding real or faux dark wood beams to your ceiling can instantly make your home feel more rustic and European-inspired. They look especially becoming over white ceilings or when combined with white shiplap or paneling. Stain your existing beams a dark wood shade like dark walnut or mahogany for a high contrast effect. If your ceiling lacks architectural interest, you could also build some DIY faux beams for an upgraded ceiling makeover.

Not exactly your grandmother's 20th century wood paneling, today's wood paneling comes fit for a number of design aesthetics in a variety of different widths, textures, and styles of wood. Consider using a dark and dramatic wood paneled wall to cozy up a room and make it feel more intimate and grounded. Dark paneling is especially lovely when layered with other wood decor and deep, rich colors in furniture, upholstery, and textiles.

Darker wood shelves can look beautiful when lined with books or other decor. Because they are higher in contrast, the shelves have more visual weight when placed against white walls or surrounded by light decor, making them a great strategy to use if you want to direct the eye toward the shelves rather than have them blend in. Options for dark wood shelves can vary, including floating shelves in darker finishes, stylish stained built-ins, or industrial-inspired pieces like the Shintenchi 5-tier bookshelf.

A wooden accent wall can be a great way to draw the eye and create a fun focal point on one side of a room. Dark and deeper colors give an extra sense of luxury and richness, particularly black wood in a matte or semi-gloss finish. For a more rustic vibe, look to more primitive or distressed dark woods arranged in horizontal or vertical formation to span the entire wall. Alternatively, cover the lower portion of a wall with dark wood wainscotting to offset a bold paint color or wallpaper.

Dark wood tables in cherry, walnut, and mahogany can be excellent accents when used alone or when layered with lighter and medium woods for an eclectic and one-of-a-kind look. You can even sand and stain your existing furniture to embrace the dark wood trend. Other details like hardware, leg style, and the overall lines will also affect the look of the furniture, so it's easy to make a darker wood piece work for any interior design style.

A great way to introduce dark wood into your interior in a small dose is to add a dark wooden room divider to your space. A beautifully carved teak Balinese-style screen can sit as an accent piece to add interest to a boring corner, or it can be used to block off zones in a multi-use space. You can also put it flat against a wall like a wood panel to add some additional texture and dimension to an uninspiring wall.

While the idea of a darker wood headboard may feel a little dated, evoking the large and ungainly full bedroom sets from decades past, there are actually numerous ways to create a more contemporary look with a darker headboard. Look for more simplistically designed, minimalist, and rustic plank headboards in dark wood stains. These headboards can be especially beautiful when placed with high contrast bedding like white sheets and duvets or in a minimalist all-neutral decor scheme.

Wood countertops are an emerging trend after years of granite and marble reigning in popularity. While they can require some special care, these rich wooden counters warm up a normally cold space and give a classic farmhouse or European look to your kitchen. They can even when paired with lighter or medium-toned wood cabinets. For a less intensive overhaul, redo a lighter butcher block countertop with a darker stain or update laminate countertops on a budget with a faux-wood contact paper in a darker wood tone.

While they can sometimes be harder to care for, dark wood floors are a great way to get a timeless and elevated look in any home, setting the stage for lovely high-contrast spaces with white or cream paint and furniture, or conversely, dark, dramatic colors and upholstery. Deep brown teak or dark walnut floors will look especially beautiful with walls in shades like dark olive, deep blue, or charcoal gray.

Wood is an element that's often underutilized in bathrooms. To elevate your bathroom, opt for a dark wooden vanity that looks like an heirloom piece of furniture. You can get a more modern farmhouse or rustic style with simpler cabinets and hardware, or go for a fully Victorian vibe with ornate carvings, vintage hardware, and beautiful graceful curves on the sides or legs. These vanities can combine stunningly with white marble countertops and tilework.

If you're not sure about diving into the dark wood trend, another great way to add dark wood accents to your home is to start small with elements like lamps, picture frames, planters, vases, and decor in richer and darker woods. These can fit seamlessly in a room with darker colors and textures or can stand out in a more white and minimalist space. Fun options include these WIHTU table lamps or these Creative Co-op reclaimed wood vases are perfect for adding interest and unexpected depth to your decor.