Dark woods
Deep, warm woods for the rooms you settle into
Walnut, vintage teak and dark elm bring a richness paler woods can't. They're at their best in evening rooms: the snug, the study, the bedroom wall you see last thing at night.
Dark wood makes a room feel held, not heavy.
The trick is balance. A walnut wall wants light around it and something pale nearby: a cream wall, a white worktop, a light floor. Get that right and the grain does the rest.
Three deep woodgrains
All three have a textured grain and edges banded to match. They differ in warmth more than in depth.
- Walnut Deep chocolate brown with a lively grain. Good for: Kitchen, Bedroom or dressing room, Living room or media wall, Home office Try it in the planner
- Vintage teak Golden-brown with a mid-century feel. Good for: Living room or media wall, Home office Try it in the planner
- Dark elm Dark timber with a smoky, almost charcoal tone. Good for: Kitchen, Bedroom or dressing room, Living room or media wall Try it in the planner
Screen colours are a guide. Order free samples to see them in your own light.
Where these woods look at home
Living room
Media walls
Walnut either side of the TV, with lit shelves, turns the screen into one part of a furnished wall.
Media wallsDressing nook
Vintage teak and a round mirror.
Studies
A calm, warm backdrop for video calls.
Home officesBedroom walls
Dark elm wardrobes from floor to ceiling read more like panelling than cupboards.
Fitted wardrobes
A kitchen island
Walnut on the island, a lighter colour on the walls.
Library walls and dry bars
Books and glassware glow against deep wood.
Library wallsGetting dark wood right
Light it from within
Deep woods soak up light. LED strips set into shelves and cabinets lift the grain in the evening and stop a wall turning into a dark block. We mark the positions on your drawings, and a qualified electrician fits and connects them. More in glass and lighting.
Choose its partners
Walnut loves cream, brushed brass and olive. Vintage teak is happy with terracotta and soft white. Dark elm is cooler, so it sits well with stone grey, ink black or a micro-cement effect panel.
The mid-century look
Teak or walnut, a curved end panel, slim pulls and space around each piece. Mid-century is as much about proportion as colour. See the mid-century style guide.
Walnut, teak or dark elm?
| Walnut | Vintage teak | Dark elm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colour | Deep chocolate brown | Golden brown | Smoky, close to charcoal |
| Mood | Rich and lively | Warm and retro | Moody and modern |
| Pairs with | Cream, olive, brass | Terracotta clay, chalk white | Stone grey, ink black |
| Handles | Brushed brass bars | Brushed brass, or push-to-open | Matt black, or handleless |
| Often used for | Media walls, studies, wardrobes, kitchens | Media walls, studies | Media walls, wardrobes, kitchens |
These are where each wood is used most. Nothing stops you breaking the pattern.
Samples
Order free dark-wood samples
Dark woods change most between daylight and lamplight. Look at your samples at both times before you decide.
Build your walnut wall to scale
Try your wall sizes in the planner and see the run in 2D and 3D, then send it to a designer. The design and price range cost nothing.
Free guide
Get the free planning guide
Measuring, styles, finishes and how to plan your budget, in one short guide. Then the odd email with ideas worth stealing.
Questions people ask
Anything else, send us a message and we'll talk it through.
Will walnut make a small room feel darker?
It can if it covers every wall. On one wall, or on the lower half with open shelves above, it adds warmth without closing the room in.
Is this real walnut veneer?
No. These are woodgrain-effect boards with a textured surface and matching edges, which keep a consistent colour along a long run.
What handles suit walnut?
Brushed brass bars warm it up, matt black sharpens it, and push-to-open lets the grain run uninterrupted. See handles and doors.