Can You Mix Oak With Cherry Wood for a Table and Chairs?

Wood Species Versus Wood Stains

• Cherry furniture typically has a reddish hue, while oak pieces often display a distinctive wood grain with golden undertones. However, you can’t always identify wood by its color. Furniture manufacturers may apply a reddish stain to oak furniture or douse cherry wood with a brownish stain. The stain color, not the species, determines how two or more wood tones will look together.

Caveats

• In general, oak and cherry will blend more harmoniously if they have the same undertone. If you don’t like the way your table and chairs look together, the underlying problem could be that they’re not in the same color family. An oak table with honey undertones could clash with a very red table, but a rusty oak table should complement cinnamon-red chairs. Conversely, if the woods match too closely, your table and chairs may simply look like a poorly matched set. When used in the same room, multiple wood tones should have sufficient contrast to make the difference seem intentional.

Bridging Color

• To make everything seem purposeful, use each wood color in at least two areas of the room. For example, use oak chairs and a cherry table with an oak china cabinet and cherry picture frames. Display an oak fruit bowl on the table to carry over the color of the chairs.

Wood Overload

• If you have wood floors and wood furniture in the dining room, the room could take on a rustic appearance. To combat the country vibe, slip fabric covers on some of the chairs. Lessen the wood-on-wood effect with floor rugs and table runners. Use a combination of fabrics and textures, including glass and metal, throughout the room to achieve a balanced look.

Rules of Contrast

• Contemporary rooms showcase a high level of contrast among pieces; traditional rooms display minimal contrast. Pairing dark red chairs with a white oak table will generate a cutting-edge mood. No matter what kind of mismatched effect you opt for, avoid an incongruity of scale. A bulky oak table will seem awkward next to delicate Victorian chairs.