The Best Paint Color to Go With Stained Wood

Dark Stains

• Deep chocolates, espresso tones and rich brown-black stains can create a cool modern look in your cabinetry, floors or trim work. If you are looking for the perfect match to a dark wood stain, bright and bold colors may be your best bet. From a vivid accent wall to a dramatic all-over color, a bright palette can perk up the dark shades of your wood stain and add a designer look. For an elegant, romantic style, try bright crimson, or use oranges and yellows for a funky, eclectic flare.

Cherry Stains

• Cherry stains range from deep, dark shades to brighter hues of red. The best paint color to go with a cherry stain depends on the brightness or richness of your wood. Cool tones of paint such as light blues or sage green work well with darker cherries. Pick up on the true red hues of a vibrant, lighter cherry with a neutral shade such as tan or beige. These barely-there colors allow the decadent color of your cherry wood show through without any competition.

Light Stains

• Lighter creamy or yellow-tinted stains of wood can create a neutral environment that can play into either a subtle or dramatic style. Colors that coordinate with an earthy light wood include green and blue shades from nature -- moss green, grass tones or ocean blue. For a dramatic choice, opt for a punch of color to spice up a lighter stain. Bold reds, shocking pinks or bright purples can offset a neutral stain, creating a contrast.

Black and White

• Whether you have a contemporary dark-stained dining room set or a traditional mahogany shade of trim-work, black and white are color choices that work well with almost any tone. White walls provide a clean, fresh backdrop for stained floors or cabinetry to pop against. In contrast, black paint work can create a sleek, modern look with a pinch of drama. These colors are best for a basic, no-fuss color scheme with a timeless or classic look.