Paint Color Ideas to Go With Oak Wood

Neutral Colors

• Neutral colors can bring out the wood grain detail in cabinets, flooring and trim. Shades of light brown, white and beige add to the softness of oak wood. Dark neutrals, such as stone and gray, can lend a rich feeling to a room trimmed or decorated with oak wood. Light neutral colors add to the light, airy feeling of a room, while dark neutrals can give it a more smoky appearance. Because neutrals tend to be colors without their own character, they do a nice job of playing up the features of your oak wood.

Pastel Colors

• Pastel colors, such as pale yellow and green, as well as pink and baby blue, bring out the mellow aspects of oak wood. These colors work well for achieving a calm, relaxing atmosphere in a room with oak wood. Similar to light neutral colors, pastels add to the airiness of a room and help it feel lighter and more open. Too much of a good thing isn't a good thing, though. Don't overdo the pastels unless you're decorating a nursery.

Dark Colors

• If you really want your oak wood trim, furniture or cabinets to stand out, go with a dark paint color. Dark brown, cranberry or forest green adds boldness to the room and draws out the lightness of your oak wood. But using dark paint colors can lead to the room feeling smaller and less bright. Instead of painting the entire room in one solid dark color, you can paint one accent wall in a color such as navy or eggplant. Add the paint color alongside your oak wood to make it pop out.

Bright Colors

• Draw attention away from oak wood in your room by painting with bright colors. Whether you paint the entire room, one accent wall or some wood furniture pieces, bright colors like cherry red or a neon shade draw the eye to the color. Using bright paint colors to distract the eye from oak wood is useful if you've got oak wood trim or floors you don't like but can't replace.