How to Use Decorative Wood in Your Home

Decorative wood is a gorgeous addition to any home. However, it can be difficult to know how to incorporate it. Adding timber doesn’t have to be hard. You just have to know how to do it. By the end of this article, you will have some tips and tricks under your belt to decorate with the best of them!

Tips for Using Decorative Wood

Tip #1: Have Damaged Trim?

If you already have trim and it’s damaged, don’t fear! Simply paint the walls, ceiling, and trim the same color. Only buy the trim paint in a higher gloss. This shows off your beautiful wood décor while hiding imperfections.

Tip #2: Have Trim in Good Condition?

Whether your log cabin already has trim or you are adding trim, you can benefit from this tip. Paint the trim a contrasting color in a neutral shade. This will really draw attention to the beautiful timber accents. For even more appeal, paint the ceiling the same color as the trim!

If you are adding your own trim, it can be bought online or at home improvement stores. Wooden mouldings can be installed easily on your own with the right tools and materials. A pneumatic nail gun, wood filler, paint, and possibly a ladder are all you need!

Tip #3: Window Trim?

Are you installing decorative window trim? Is your window trim already decorative? If either of these apply to you, it would be a shame to hide such beauty with curtains. That is why we recommend in-window shades. They might look a little strange at first, but they can add real personality to the room.

Tip #4: Use Reclaimed Wood

A popular type of wood that’s decorative is reclaimed wood. Some people use this timber to build their homes. However, it looks amazing used in DIY projects for indoors and outdoors. Not only does this wood look great, reusing is good for the environment! You can feel great about yourself and your project.

Tip #5: Add Weathering

It is getting easier to find wooden pieces that look as though they were weathered outside. They add a nice beachy feel to a white room. They add a rustic look to antique themed décor. If you don’t want to buy totally new furniture, we don’t blame you. It can get expensive, especially since this look is trending right now.

The best way to add weathering is to do it yourself. No, I don’t mean subjecting your wooden furniture to the weather. I mean creating it. Here’s how to do it with items you may already own:

Materials

Plastic gloves
Sandpaper
Polyurethane or paste wax
Paintbrush
Glass jars
Steel wool
White vinegar
Black tea
Hot water

Instructions

Fill the glass jar half full of vinegar. The size of the glass container doesn’t matter. You just want enough of the solution to cover your wooden item, so keep that in mind. You can also make another batch of this later.
Shred the steel wool as fine as you can. Then, add it to the jar of vinegar.
Allow the two items to sit in the jar for at least 24 hours. You can leave it longer for a darker stain. Just don’t leave it sit for too long or you will come out with a rust orange.
Mix a solution of half black tea and half hot water. Use more black tea if you want a deeper stain. Use less for a lighter color.
Paint the tea mixture on the wood. *Make sure the wood is sanded or this process won’t work*
Once the tea has dried, paint on your steel wool and vinegar solution.
The process is not finished until the wood has dried. Wait the whole time, because the weathering effect increases as the solution dries.

Tip #6: Mix Different Woods

In furniture stores, all wooden items in a room are the same color. However, a mix of different timber can look much better when done tastefully. How do you do it well? We’re glad you asked!

Choose a dominant wood – This could be your favorite piece, or the color of wood that is most prevalent in the room. Whatever tone you choose, stick with it and use different shades of that tone.
Go slow – Add contrast one piece at a time. Knowing what tones look good together takes experience. We recommend going with a classic light/medium or medium/dark mixture.
Add a single piece – If you are unsure, there is one sure fire way to decorate. Buy a single piece that incorporates different tones! This way, you know they are all coherent. This could be zebrawood, inlaid furniture, artwork… really your imagination is the limit. This is a popular pattern these days!

Keep it balanced – The different shades should be placed evenly around the room. If not, certain areas will look too heavy and others too light.
Keep a unifying theme – Even though the room might not match, there should be a unifying theme. Some examples are rustic, beach, colonial, formality, and shapes. You don’t want to pair rounded corners with jagged edges.
Use textiles to soften – A lot of wood can make a room look hard. That’s why you can use textiles to soften it up. Area rugs, curtains or blinds, pillows, table runners can all help.
Mix other surfaces in – Wood looks great when paired with metals and stone. Glass, mirror, and shell are other surfaces you can choose instead of wood. Adding other colors and textures is important to balancing out a room. Artwork is a great way to break up wood on a wall.