Can I Mix Woods in My Kitchen Cabinets & Flooring?

Mixed woods in a kitchen can be beautiful if done right.

Mix woods in your kitchen cabinets and flooring in a way that brings out the beauty and finish of the specific types. Another option is to find ways to make everything match seamlessly as if it all where made out of the same exact material. Either way, take the time to understand the different types of woods available before deciding on which finishing route to take.

Staining

Even if you choose to try and stain all of the different types of wood the same hue, they will never truly match using the same stain. Every type, from softwoods to hardwoods, take on stain and dyes in different ways. Before attempting to try DIY projects using stain, research the techniques for the specific types you are working with to ensure to bring out the best in them.

Painting

Having everything painted is a way to mix woods in your kitchen cabinets and flooring for a flawless matched look. If choosing to have painted floors, make sure to invest in a good quality floor paint meant for high traffic areas. When painting wood, always go with the grain, just as you would in staining, to ensure a smooth finish. Even if you choose to have stained hardwood floors, painting your cupboards in a complementary hue can work to hide that they are a different quality of wood.

Alternating Tones

Another way to mix woods in your kitchen cabinets and flooring is to alternate the different types of woods in completely different stain colors for contrast. For example, lay the flooring in strips of wood in both a cherry stain and a honey hue. Stain the cupboards in the honey hue and add details, such as decorative trim on the doors, in the cherry stain. If you use two colors of stain, the variances of how they look on different types of wood will blend into the overall two-tone affect of the room.

Complementing

Bringing in other elements that contain different types of woods helps you mix woods in your kitchen cabinets and flooring. Examples include tables where the top is the same as the flooring and the legs are the same as the cabinets. Two-tone chairs made to match help tie the look together. Other furniture pieces, such as china hutches or baker's racks can be made to match. Frame artwork on the walls in the same style and shape as each other but alternate the stains to match the different types of woods in the room to keep the look flowing around the entire room when mixing woods in your kitchen cabinets and flooring.

References

• Research at BAC: Wood

Resources

• Wood Workers Journal: Staining and Dyeing