Mix A Light Wood Hutch With A Dark Wood Dining Table & Chairs

Mixing wood tones gives a dining room a modern look.

Antiquated thinking causes some homeowners to believe they should not place light and dark wood furnishings in the same room. However, adding a light wood hutch in the same dining room as a dark wood dining table and chairs gives designers the opportunity to play with more colors, textures and tones.

Personal Style

Personal style plays a pivotal role in your decision whether to mix various wood types in one room. Designers interested in a more conservative or traditional style dining room should stick to furnishings with similar wood tones, such as all-light or all-dark wood types. You can also match light or dark woods with medium wood tones. However, designers looking for dramatic contrast can place a light wood hutch and dark wood dining table and chairs in the same room.

Color Schemes

Tie the varying wood furnishings together through the use of a unifying color scheme. For instance, showcase colorful dishware on the hutch and add similarly colored toile, checkered or floral fabric seat cushions to the dining table's chairs. Add a coordinated runner to the table, as well as complementary candles, flowers and vases on both the dining table and hutch. For a bold bit of color, choose a dark, earth-tone paint for the walls. To prevent flooding the room with too many colors, avoid accent walls.

Furniture Placement

The placement of furniture is a major factor when filling a dining room with a light wooden hutch and dark wooden dining room tables. When the dining table and chairs are too close to the hutch, the contrast may prove too jarring. Instead, set the two items as far apart as possible. You can also add texture to the room, or break up the sharp juxtaposition, by showcasing a small piece of colorfully painted or white-washed wooden furniture, such as a serving table, next to the hutch.

Flooring

Before adding the contrasting hutch and dining table to the room, consider the dining area's flooring. In rooms with hardwood floors, avoid an overkill of wood by covering the floors with area rugs. Add dimension by choosing colorful and patterned rugs such as animal-print or tapestry-style rugs. Use similar rugs for dining rooms outfitted with muted tiled floors that may be cream, white or tan.

Tags: dining room, dining table, table chairs, dark wood, dining table chairs, wood tones