Matching paint color with stained wood trim or furniture can be tricky. The stain color on wood can vary greatly depending on the type of wood, stain color used, and application technique. When choosing a paint color to complement stained wood, there are a few things to consider:
Determine the Undertones of the Stained Wood
Look closely at the color of the stained wood. Stain can bring out warm, golden undertones or cooler, redder undertones in wood. If the stained wood has warm, golden undertones, you’ll want to choose a paint color with similar yellow, peach, or golden undertones. If the wood has cooler undertones, opt for paint colors with subtle hints of red, pink or brown. Neutral beige and tan paint colors tend to work well with most wood stains.
Consider the Stain Shade
The depth and tone of the stained wood will impact the paint color choice:
- Light stains allow more of the natural wood grain to show through, so light and medium-toned paint colors will complement best.
- Medium wood stains have more color saturation – pair with paint colors in the medium to deep tone range.
- Very dark heavy stains make the wood appear almost black. Go for deep, saturated paint hues for contrast.
Choose Contrasting or Coordinating Hues
You can select paint colors that either contrast or coordinate with the stained wood:
- Contrasting colors make the trim pop against the walls. For rich wood stains, go for light airy paint colors. With light wood stains, opt for deeper, dramatic wall colors.
- Coordinating colors seamlessly blend the stained wood and painted walls. Match the undertones and depth of color closely for a harmonious look.
Consider Sheen
The sheen level of the paint also affects how it appears next to stained wood:
- Flat paint has no sheen and allows the stained wood to stand out.
- Satin or eggshell finish offers subtle sheen and pairs well with both light and dark stains.
- Semi-gloss paint has a brighter, more reflective finish that contrasts heavily stained wood.
Test Paint Swatches On-Site
Due to differences in lighting conditions, wood color can look very different in a paint store versus your home. Always test out paint swatches side-by-side with your actual stained woodwork. Paint a 1-2 foot square area on the wall and allow to fully dry before assessing. This allows you to judge the colors together accurately.
Consider Wall Sheens
The sheen or texture of your walls will also impact how paint colors look next to stained wood:
- Smooth walls: Allow paint colors to go on evenly and true to swatch.
- Textured walls: Cause paint to look lighter, muting the depth of color.
- Wallpapered walls: Can impart a background color that reflects onto the paint.
Factor In Lighting
The direction, intensity and color temperature of lighting in a room affects paint and stain colors. Important factors to consider include:
- Natural light – North light is cool/blue, south is warm/yellow. Adjust paint undertones accordingly.
- Artificial light – Incandescent and LED lights also have warm or cool casts. Supplement bulbs as needed.
- Bright v. low light – Darker paints and stains look deeper in dim lighting.
Always view paint and stain colors at different times of day and with lighting you’ll use most in the space.
Choosing Paint Colors to Match Different Wood Stain Shades
As a general guide, here are paint colors that typically coordinate well with different stain color families:
| Stain Color | Coordinating Paint Colors |
|---|---|
| Golden Oak | Buttery yellow, peach, warm tan |
| Chestnut | Terracotta, deep orange, bronze |
| Cherry | Brick red, burgundy, deep pink |
| Walnut | Chocolate brown, coffee, deep tan |
| Ebony | Charcoal, deep gray, inky blue |
| Natural | Khaki, soft white, pale sage green |
These are just general guidelines – always hold paint swatches up to your specific wood stain to see how the undertones complement each other.
Tips for Matching Stain and Paint
Follow these tips when selecting paint colors to match wood stains:
- Look at stained wood in different lighting at different times of day/night.
- Bring large stained wood samples to paint store when choosing colors.
- Test paint swatches directly on wall surface near stained woodwork.
- View swatches at distance and up close to judge color accuracy.
- Apply paint in 1-2 foot squares and view when fully dry before finalizing.
- Use water-based paint if possible – better color accuracy.
- Buy all paint for a room at same time – avoid variances in batches.
- Use same paint brand/line throughout home for color consistency.
Conclusion
Matching existing wood stain with wall paint colors comes down to understanding stain undertones and choosing coordinating or contrasting hues. When paired correctly, your stained trim or furniture can look seamlessly integrated into a space. Test thoroughly before committing to be sure you’ve achieved the perfect stained wood and painted wall color combination.