Why dark wood furniture has divided the Ideal Home team

Darkish wooden furnishings has emerged as a giant inside pattern this 12 months. Blonde wooden is taking a again seat this 12 months in favour of walnut, mango wooden and mahogany furnishings, however not everyone seems to be a fan of this house decor pattern.

I stumbled firsthand into the darkish furnishings debate once I confirmed the remainder of the Ultimate Dwelling staff a walnut mid-century fashion eating desk I’d simply purchased from Nightfall. It shortly revealed the divided opinion over darkish wooden furnishings designs and the way we really feel about them.

Objectively the pattern in the direction of utilizing darkish wooden in interiors has many execs going for it. It is simple to purchase secondhand, has a beautiful classic really feel and may look lovely in a comfy front room or a shiny kitchen. Nonetheless, it does appear to come back with lots of baggage. The principle situation was our staff members’ reminiscences of their grandparents’ houses full of overpowering darkish wooden items. It carries connotations of wanting dated, overpowering and, let’s face it, a bit on the ugly aspect.

Whereas I agree that darkish wooden, notably mahogany, can look dated and tends to dominate the scheme in some settings, when paired with a wealthy darkish inexperienced or navy blue and some fashionable touches I am a agency believer that it has the potential to look genuinely gorgeous.

It is the problem styling it up that is stopped Ultimate Dwelling’s Kitchen Editor, Holly Cockburn, from being a fan of the darkish wooden furnishings pattern. ‘As somebody who grew up in a household house full of darkish wooden furnishings, it does have a particular place in my coronary heart. Nonetheless, it is not one thing I’d select for my very own flat. I really like how darkish wooden furnishings can look in giant areas, however for my north-facing front room and eating room it might make it look even drearier.’

Ultimate Houses Room Decor Editor, Sara Hesikova, says she’s truly been a shock convert to the darkish wooden pattern. ‘I’ve at all times most popular the Scandi-style gentle wooden. However ever since final 12 months, I am beginning to see the fantastic thing about darkish wooden and its 70s/mid-century fashionable edge,’ she explains.

‘Perhaps it is as a result of darkish wooden is definitely one of many largest house decor tendencies for furnishings in 2025 and I am simply simply influenced. I’ve received a couple of darkish wooden furnishings items dotted round my house and I believe it appears fairly good, even mismatched with lighter wooden items.’

What do you consider the darkish wooden pattern? Tell us within the feedback part beneath if you happen to’ll be embracing this look in your house or if you cannot stand it.