How to Coordinate Wood Stains Like a Pro: Oak, Maple, Cherry, Alder (& More)

ByKylieMawdsley

Match & Coordinate Different Wood Tones

Have you always wanted to coordinate wood stains like a pro? Or maybe it’s just a one-time thing, and you want to get it right. Regardless, when updating a home (or building one), we often encounter two different wood surfaces that must be coordinated – sometimes cabinets and flooring, other times wood trims and furniture.

  • But what makes one wood tone clash with another?
  • What makes one stain look fabulous and another look fugly?
  • And how do you coordinate or mix wood tones when you have an existing wood (that maybe isn’t your fave) and want to add a new one?

It all comes down to undertone.

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However, not all wood undertones are obvious at first glance—some wood stains just look like wood. This is why I’ve created this guide to help you see examples that might enlighten you about your wood finish and what it might be hiding. We’ll also learn how to coordinate with it!

Benjamin Moore Natural Cream painted kitchen cabinets, greige taupe quartz countertop, raised island, wood beams, wood trim.

 

There are dozens of species of wood found in today’s home – exotic, natural, engineered, plastic products made to LOOK like wood. Whether it’s real or fake, this blog post has a heavy focus on the following woods…

  • OAK
  • MAPLE
  • CHERRY
  • HICKORY
  • ALDER
  • DARK/ESPRESSO STAINS (not a wood, but a category to itself)
Hallway in Sherwin Williams Austere Gray, Pure White trim, warm wood oak flooring. CLIENT PHOTO, Kylie M Interiors Edesign, best gray green paint colours

Notice how the subtle green hue on the wall enhances the pink undertone of this floor.

However, there are other woods out there. While they aren’t as common or popular, they do pop up in my clients’ homes.

  • PINE
  • BEECH
  • WALNUT
  • EXOTIC (tend to be heavy on the red and orange)
  • MAHOGANY (especially on trim and furniture)

While I haven’t hit ALL the woods in this blog post—I’M ONLY ONE WOMAN—the same principles apply. You’ll find tons of tips below to help coordinate these woods, too. I don’t have as many images of these woods in action, so if you have photos of your own home, send them along! If I can get enough, I’ll make a blog post for you!

Benjamin Moore Texas Leather in kitchen with orange stain wood cabinets floor, granite countertop, greige green brown blend paint colors.

Today, we’re looking at the most popular woods used in the average home, including oak, maple, and cherry, and we’ll coordinate wood stains like pros.

how to coordinate and match different wood stains and tones, maple, cherry, oak, alder, pine. Wood floor, wood cabinets, wood furniture, trim Kylie M Interiors Edesign, diy blogger

 

1. FIGURE OUT WHICH WOOD SPECIES YOU HAVE

Whether you have wood cabinets, flooring, furniture, or trim, it’s ideal (but not vital) to determine which type of wood it is. If you don’t know, take pictures of it in a few areas, take it to a local flooring or wood supply store, and ask the professionals there (ask a few different ones to make sure the opinions are consistent).

rustic natural wood beams on primary bedrom ceiling or living room

Knowing which species of wood you’re dealing with can be one way to determine whether it has undertones, for example.

  • ALDER: can have golden red tones (red can mean ‘pink’)
  • ASH: warm-yellow-golden tone
  • CHERRY: commonly has red/pink undertones
  • MAHOGANY: caters to red undertones
  • MAPLE: often has yellow or yellow-pink hues
  • POPLAR: usually yellow, can grab a flash of green
  • RED OAK: pink undertones
  • WALNUT: often has red undertones, can grab a wink of violet
  • WHITE OAK: has the most neutral undertones, more of a soft golden warmth – can become more golden over time
Benjamin Moore Oxford White painted kitchen cabinets, wood oak island, wood floor, black pendants, mountain style chalet home, vaulted tongue and groove ceiling

While the stains aren’t the same, they both share a pink undertone, so they work! 

Of course, these are all subject to the STAIN color you choose. Remember, even with a well-intentioned stain, a wood with a strong undertone (i.e., red oak) can still flash some pink in the background! 

2. FIGURE OUT THE MAIN UNDERTONE OF YOUR WOOD

This is tricky, as so many people see their wood as pretty darn neutral or brown. As with neutral paint colors and their undertones, sometimes you don’t know the undertone of your wood until you compare it to something different.

For example, in this next bedroom, the pink undertone of the oak floor flows well enough with the violet-red of the dresser. However, notice how the footboard pops up a touch of orange in comparison. It’s no biggie, just something to note…

Red oak stain flooring, red bedroom furniture, Benjamin Moore Cedar Key beige taupe paint color. Kylie M Edesign

 

3. DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO MATCH OR COORDINATE WOOD STAINS

If you want to match your wood stain, you want the same depth and undertone. You can do this with the same wood species or, as shown in this next kitchen, two different ones.

Red oak wood floors in kitchen with wood island, Caesarstone Staturio Nuvo white quartz countertop, pendants,White Dove walls. Kylie M Interiors E-Design update ideas

When coordinating wood cabinets with wood flooring, it’s often better to have the wood cabinets or island the darker of the two.

On the other hand, if you want to COORDINATE wood stains without matching, you’ll need one wood surface to be lighter or darker than the other…

Dining room with wood ceiling and beams, dark wood trim, Benjamin Moore Spanish White off-white cream paint color on walls

The warm wood trims, dining room furniture, and flooring in the above dining room are very well-coordinated (I only wish the ceiling were a touch softer/less orange – but I’m just being picky). 

4. CONSIDER THE DEGREE OF RUSTICNESS OR MODERNITY YOU WANT

Like Brangelina, not all wood grains were meant to be together; in fact, they can bring out the worst in each other. For example…

  • If you have rustic, alder, hickory, or alder cabinets, you might need a wood floor with a less graphic pattern to tone down the party.
  • An exotic wood floor with a ton of visual interest can be overwhelmed by equally striking cabinets. Take one of the colors from your floor and repeat that on the cabinets in a more muted wood and moderate grain pattern (or just do painted cabinets instead).

The grain of these next cabinets is reasonably strong. While the stain color is gorgeous and moderate (workable), the new LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) flooring clashes, not just in colors but also in grain pattern—something’s got to give.

Oak kitchen before being updated (2)

This next kitchen is an example of a kitchen with a lot of visual interest via its wood stains and grains. The combo would be great if the cabinets were just a bit less patterned (more like the panel above the stove).

wood kitchen before painting (2)

However, considering the intensity of the wood tone, it’s still a lot for many people (including this color cowgirl). In this case, my client was ready to calm things down with painted cabinets…

Kitchen with painted wood cherry cabinets, wood island, granite countertop, cream subway tile backsplash, wood floor. Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Creamy. Kylie M ONline paint color expert

It’s 50/50 – some would keep the wood cabinets, and others would be slappin’ paint on them! 

The floor is much happier because of it. Why? It has something to bounce off of and play with (like when I married Tim)!

And you KNOW I’ve been waiting patiently to say it…

Just because it’s wood doesn’t mean it’s good.

That’s right. At the end of the day, some wood surfaces look better without a nearby competing wood finish—no matter how well it’s coordinated. Think twice before you commit to wood-on-wood spaces. It’s not a hard no, and it’s more often a very strong yes. Consider what your home could look like if you didn’t add more wood and chose a paint color, tile, or contrasting product instead. 

THE MOST COMMON WOOD UNDERTONES

The first color is the bossiest in the following combos…

  • orange-red
  • orange-yellow
  • yellow-orange
  • yellow-green
  • yellow-pink
  • red-violet
  • red-orange

The wood furniture in this dining room is well coordinated with the floor. Between them all, the wood grains and stains jibe as they share a red hue…

Stonington Gray in a south or westfacing room with wood floor and furniture. Looks much warmer

And, of course, we have whitewashes and gray washes.

If your wood cabinets or flooring have a white or gray wash, they likely have purple or purple-pink undertones. I know they might ‘look gray – trust me, they aren’t.

Entryway foyer with Behr Gratifying Gray warm neutral paint color, Extra White trim, white fronty door and wood look tile floor.

The above wood-look tile floor is gray…with a strong violet undertone. 

Iron Ore painted kitchen cabinets and island, cabinets Sherwin Agreeable Gray, a greige, walls are Snowbound. Wood floor. Kylie M client photo

This wood floor has pink-violet tones.

I’ll write a separate blog post on gray wash and whitewashed wood finishes, as they’re creatures unto themselves! If you have one of these, you might find the info on ‘violet and pink’ wood stains helpful (in the info below).

The undertone of your wood will directly affect your choice of paint color, other wood finishes, furnishings, sanity, and more.

How to mix and match or coordinate wood and stains in a room with cabinets and flooring. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, DIY blog and home decor ideas with paint colours

In the above images, which flooring would YOU pick with those kitchen cabinets?

  • TOP RIGHT: too rich and red – notice how the cabinets look more orange in comparison
  • BOTTOM LEFT: Again, too red, although it’s more red-orange than the previous combo
  • BOTTOM RIGHT: Right idea, but too yellow and washed-out (and too rustic)
  • TOP LEFT: Winner winner, chicken dinner – just LOOK at those undertones! While it would be great if it were a bit lighter, it’s the closest.

Now, before we get into the meat n’ potatoes (with a TON of homemade gravy), let’s cover a few tips… 

WOOD STAIN COORDINATING TIPS

It’s not just about mixing and matching stain colors—there’s more to finding your wood’s tone and coordinating it with another.

1. AVOID TWO BUSY GRAINS

If you have two wood surfaces with a strong grain, they can compete. For example, choose a rift cut if you have oak cabinetry from the 90s and want oak flooring. Or, step into a different species like maple or alder with a smooth, less busy grain pattern.

wood walnut tone cabinets, laminate granite look countertop, handpainted subway tile backsplash, stainless, Kylie M Interiors best paint colors

In the above kitchen, this combo works for a few reasons…

  1. The undertones of the woods coordinate with each other (purple-brown).
  2. While the hardwood floor has a reasonably strong grain, the stain color is so dark that the pattern gets blended.
  3. The cabinets have a more moderate grain pattern.

In this next kitchen, the oak cabinet’s grain pattern is pretty darn strong, as is the floor…

Oak cabinets, wood floor, oak wood trim, orange hue, black granite countertop, beige walls.

  1. While this isn’t a BAD combo, a) it would be nice to see a bit more difference in depth between the two stains, and b) overall, it is a busier look with the two stronger wood grains.
  2. Also, notice the red-stained island and how it’s too red for the orange of the cabinets.
  3. Ugh, I hate picking a room apart because nothing has to be perfect (it’s a HOME, not a HOUSE). But for learning, notice how the table picks up more yellow than the pink in the floor.

Remember, you can mix different wood species, so don’t feel limited to one particular tree.  

2.  COMPARE

Comparing different woods to each other can make the undertones easier to see (as shown earlier). If you’re choosing new wood flooring or cabinetry, lay a few ‘similar’ samples next to each other. You should see a shift from one color to another and can eliminate the undertones you want to avoid. You must do this in your own home, not in the store, as store lighting always skews things – as does a glass of wine, so have a drink after you’ve picked your fave.

 3.  ASK A PRO

Whether it’s a flooring store or the paint dept (or me!), a professional should be able to tell you the ‘basic underlying color or dominant wood tone’ in your stain. If you can’t bring a sample of your existing wood finish to them (i.e., a cabinet drawer), take a quality photograph, and they should be able to give you the general idea.

Living room furniture layout, sectional, square wood coffee table, brown leather accent chair, white oak flooring. stone fireplace. Kylie M INteriors Edesign, online paint color

Note the consistency in wood undertones between the mantel, coffee table, and flooring—and they’re all different species! 

Now, here’s where I blow your mind. Okay, maybe not, but at least you’ll be slightly entertained as you may have never known your wood has pink, purple, or even green tones (will wonders never cease!) 

COMMON WOODS & THEIR UNDERTONES

This is where I come in handy (wink wink)—I am an expert on hard wood (wink wink). Just joking—I’m an Online Paint Color Expert—not a wood expert. However, I am pretty darn good at seeing colors and undertones.

I’ve put together some collages to show you the variations you can expect to see in the more popular wood species.

Kitchen with Sherwin Williams Pure White painted cabinets. Best white. wood floor, white quartz marble look countertop, accent tile behind stove. Gold brass hardware. Kylie M Edesign

This wood flooring has a pink undertone.

Look for the one that looks the most like your wood’s COLOR, even if the species isn’t the same.

By the way, pink is a lighter version of red. In the descriptions below, I use pink or red, depending on how dark/strong it is.

OAK & ITS UNDERTONES

Even though it’s taken a good 20 years for oak to become popular again on flooring and cabinets, I find it timeless. It all comes down to…

The grain and the stain.

Sherwin Williams best green paint colour, Evergreen Fog, shiplap, white oak, Pure White walls and trim. Kylie M

This wood floor looks quite pink-violet with its undertones.

How to Update Golden or Honey Oak Cabinets

While some of these are blends, I’ve tried to capitalize on the main color. I’ll note any secondary undertone in brackets.

MIX AND MATCH COORDINATE WOOD TONES FLOORING, CABINETS, TRIM, FURNITURE WITH KYLIE M, WHITE OAK, RED OAK

The most versatile oak stain will have some brown to calm down any yellow, orange, red, or green.

A: VIOLET (RED)  B: ORANGE (RED)  C: ORANGE-PINK  D: ORANGE-PINK  E: PINK  F: RELATIVELY NEUTRAL, CATERING SLIGHTLY TO RED-BROWN  G: VIOLET-PINK  H: YELLOW-ORANGE (GREEN) I: PINK (VIOLET) J: PINK  K: YELLOW-ORANGE (GREEN) L: PINK-VIOLET  M: RED-ORANGE  N: RED-ORANGE  O: PINK-ORANGE  P: ORANGE-RED

Of the above wood stains, the most common ones I see in my Online Paint Color Consulting are H, L, N, and P.

This next oak floor is a traditional oak, common from the ’90s (which is likely when this kitchen was updated). Notice its orange-pink tones and how the pink looks stronger on the right side…

Cream kitchen cabinets, painted with granite countertop, orange warm wood floor. Kylie M Edesign client photo

How to Update Cream Cabinets & Trim

These next cabinets have a dominant orange tone with a good dose of red (common in kitchens from the 90s & early 2000s)…

Update oak wood kitchen cabinets with quartz white countertop, subway tile and painted island. Ideas from Kylie M Interiors Edesign, paint color advice blogger

Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets Without a Drop of Paint! 

Now notice the degree of red in the floor compared to the orange of the cabinets. Ideally, the floor would be more orange and less red.

Don’t worry—we’ll get into coordinating tips shortly. First, I need to hit the other woods.

If you have questions, find answers here: Coordinating Wood Stains & Finishes: COMMON QUESTIONS

 MAPLE WOOD CABINETS, FLOORS, & UNDERTONES

Maple is one of the most popular wood finishes for cabinets, but clearly, all maple stains are not created equal! Again, some of these are a blend, so I’ve tried to capitalize on the main color…

coordinate and match wood floor, cabinets, trim and furniture, maple, oak and cherry undertones and paint colors. Kylie M online expert

The most versatile maple stain will have some brown to neutralize its colors.

A: PINK (ORANGE)  B: YELLOW-PINK  C: YELLOW-PINK-ORANGE  D: RED-ORANGE  E: VIOLET-PINK  F: PINK-VIOLET  G: YELLOW-PINK  H: PINK-VIOLET  I: VIOLET-PINK  J: RED-VIOLET (BROWN)  K: PINK  L: ORANGE (PINK)  M: RED-PINK (VIOLET)  N: PINK-VIOLET (BROWN)  O: VIOLET  P: YELLOW (PINK)

Open layout eating nook, dining area and kitchen with island in cherry or maple. Travertine tile backsplash and Benjamin Moore Abalone wall colour. Purple inspired

These maple cabinets are gorgeously brown with a subtle violet undertone. This type of brown is a great, versatile stain color.

These next maple cabinets have a strong pink hue (pink-orange or pink-peach). With this type of cabinet, it’s best to have a tile floor as no wood floor will look great UNLESS it’s a match in color/depth…

calacatta misty, modern gray, maple cabinets. Beige tile floor, stainless steel appliances

Sherwin Williams Modern Gray 

CHERRY WOOD FINISHES & THEIR UNDERTONES

While woods change color over time, naturally finished cherry is well-known for becoming richer and more orange-red as time goes on…

ideas to coordinate, update, mix and match wood tones using oak, maple, cherry, kylie m interiors

You’ll see a lot more consistency in the undertones of cherry wood finishes! Ultimately, expect SOME degree of pink in your cherry finish and varying degrees of orange, red (dark pink), and violet.

The most versatile cherry wood will have some brown to calm down the red-pink.

A: RED (PURPLE)  B: ORANGE-PINK  C: ORANGE (PINK-PURPLE)  D: RED (PURPLE)  E: PINK-VIOLET (BROWN)  F: PINK (VIOLET)  G: VIOLET (RED)  H: PINK (VIOLET)  I: PINK- (ORANGE) J: RED-ORANGE  K: PINK-VIOLET  L: ORANGE-PINK (BROWN)  M: PINK-ORANGE (VIOLET)  N: RED-ORANGE (VIOLET)  O: ORANGE (PINK)  P: PINK-ORANGE (VIOLET)

Granite countertop, similar Venetian St Cecilia, cherry wood cabinets, Repose Gray paint color on walls too gray. Kylie M Edesign

I don’t know if these are cherry or another wood with a red stain – either way, they’re strong! 

Cherry cabinets with island painted dark gray green, light wood flooring, slate tile backsplash, black granite countertop. Kylie M INteriors Edesign

These more natural cherry wood cabinets have a red (pink)-orange hue. 

ALDER & ITS UNDERTONES

While alder isn’t nearly as common, it was popular in homes built in the early to mid-2000s. Even today, people are putting alder in their homes, more often on cabinets than floors.

alder wood cabinets or floor mix and match wood stains, and undertones. Kylie M Interiors diy expert decorating blogger (2)

Alder is another wood that caters lightly to pink over the other undertones, as shown in the above examples, so let’s see what we’ve got…

A: ORANGE (PINK)  B: ORANGE (PINK)  C: BROWN (PINK)  D: YELLOW (PINK)  E: ORANGE (PINK-VIOLET)  F: ORANGE (pink)  G: PINK-VIOLET  H: ORANGE (VAGUE PINK) I: VIOLET-PINK  J: PINK (ORANGE)  K: ORANGE (PINK)  L: YELLOW (PINK-GREEN)  M: ORANGE (PINK)  N: VIOLET-PINK  O: RED (PINK-VIOLET)  P: PINK-VIOLET (ORANGE)

This next bathroom was our home when we first bought it (that’s my way of saying I didn’t choose this wall color or seashell decor). It’s still waiting for its facelift (hopefully this year) but has some reasonable bones to work with…

bathroom, st cecelia granite, hickory wood cabinets, beige pink tile floor, travertine accent tile, dark wood mirros, chrome. Kylie M Update ideas

These alder cabinets are brown with a touch of pink undertone.

Ideas to Update Your 2000s Bathroom 

HOW TO COORDINATE WOOD STAINS & UNDERTONES

While some of you are starting from scratch, others want to add a new wood finish and need it to coordinate with an existing one. This is MOST often the case with…

  • original wood cabinets and new wood flooring
  • old wood trim (and doors) and new wood flooring

Of course, the same tips apply if you’re coordinating furniture to floors or cabinets to trims, but the above two are the most common situations.

The challenge is that I can’t put together EVERY possible combination – I’m just here to give you tips and ideas on how to mix and match on your own!

Wood cabinet UPDATE IDEAS, Taj Mahal quartzite, old world feel, zellige tile backsplash, wood floor. Kylie M

The wood floor and wood cabinets both share a subtle pink undertone.

COORDINATING WITH YELLOW-TONED WOOD CABINETS, FLOORS, TRIMS

As an undertone or bossy hue, yellow can flex between yellow-orange, yellow-pink, and even yellow-green. However, the key ingredient is that of ALL the undertones, yellow is the most dominant. Interestingly enough, you’ll find less of this as it relates to oak, maple, and cherry, but it’s good info all the same!

wood floor, cabinets, trim, furniture with yellow undertones stain, oak, maple, cherry, alder, mix and match coordinate different woods with Kylie M diy

If you’re mixing two types of woods with similar undertones, make sure only ONE has a dominant grain (or neither). Both can’t have strong grains or they could compete. 

COORDINATING WITH ORANGE-TONED WOOD STAINS

Wood finishes with a dominant orange undertone can be orange-yellow (with the odd flash of green) or orange-pink (with the odd flash of violet). Of course, the odd wood stain looks more or less orange, but it’s not as common.

Update a wood kitchen with golden oak or orange maple cabinets, black granite countertop, warm white subway tile backsplash, stainless steel, tile floor

Of the finishes below, I haven’t paid as much attention to the type of wood or degree of grain—this is more about color.

Here’s a grouping of woods with an orange undertone that all look good together, as they all have orange in common…

ORANGE TONED OR STAINED WOOD CABINETS OR FLOOR, TRIMS, MIX AND MATCH OR COORDINATE DIFFERENT WOODS. KYLIE M

 

How to mix and match or coordinate wood and stains in a room with cabinets and flooring. Red oak or yellow or orange. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, DIY blog and home decor ideas with paint colours

This next home’s wood doors and cabinets are gloriously rich and orange-toned. These woods are dominant orange with a minor red tone…

Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige with wood trim, wood floor, wood doors and home decor. Undertones showing green. Kylie M ONline Paint Color Consulting

While the floor has more red, there’s enough orange that it grabs the doors and cabinets nicely.

The doors are ORANGE-red, the floors are RED-orange – and they love each other. They share the same colors, just in different proportions. 

COORDINATING WITH PINK WOODS

Woods with a pink undertone or red tone are variations of each other, as pink is the lighter. The warmer the red-pink, the more likely it is to grab a bit of orange or yellow. Cooler pink tones will pick up more violet (and often gray).

These red tones can be red-orange, red-violet, pink-orange, pink-yellow, or pink-violet—as long as red or pink is the BOSSIEST color.

A few of these are cutting it close, but the general idea is here…

pink or red violet stained wood floors, cabinets, furniture, coordinate or match with different woods in a room. KYlie M, oak, maple, cherry, alder

While this next floor has a tiny flash of pink, it’s really a great neutral, flexible wood stain…

Mountain home, ski chalet style with BEnjamin Moore Oxford White, cognac leather sofa, wood floor, taxidermy, mounted moose, black windows, vaulted tongue and groove ceiling

This next floor is more committed to its pink undertone. Notice how well the red of the dining table flows with the pink (the light version of red) flooring…

Open concept layout dining and living, wood floor, Dunn Edwards Foggy Day lightened, similiar to Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist. Dune trim Dunn E.

 

COORDINATING WITH STAINS THAT ARE LESS PINK & MORE RED

Some cherry or red stains are more committed to red. However, these red foods coordinate well with stains with a lighter red stain (pink)…

RED PINK WOOD STAINS THAT MATCH, COORDINATE AND ARE DIFFERENT SPECIES, OAK, MAPLE, CHERRY, ALDER. KYLIE M EDESIGN

How to mix and match or coordinate with oak or maple wood cabinets or flooring with pink, purple or red stain colour. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

And while I said it earlier, I’m sayin’ it again…

If you’re mixing two types of woods with similar undertones, make sure only ONE has a dominant grain (or neither). Both can’t have strong grains or they could compete.

In this next hallway, notice the play of the wood trims versus the wood floor…

Entryway and hallway, dark wood trim and wood flooring. Kylie M Interiors Edesign.

I would LOVE to have an older home like this – LOVE IT! 

Overall, it looks great. However, let’s do a quick little exercise (Richard Simmons style)…

1. Look at the door trim closest to you on the LEFT. Notice how rich orange/auburn it is and how great it looks with the orange tones of the floor. A similar tone is found further back in the hallway as well, and it’s awesome. 

2. Look at the door trim on the far right closest to you. Notice how it looks a touch more red-violet and is more disconnected from the floor. 

It’s all a play on lighting (Kelvins and exposure) and light bulbs, as the trim color varies throughout this hallway. However, the overall look is great with the wood tones of the floor. 

before update kitchen with dark red stained cherry or maple wood cabinets, gray taupe corian countertops, painted tile backsplash

SAMPLIZE peel and stick paint samples are more affordable than traditional paint pots and…

They deliver to your doorstep in 1 DAY! 

KYLIE M INTERIORS ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING, SAMPLIZE PEEL AND STICK ON THE WALL, REVIEW

Check out SAMPLIZE HERE!  

COORDINATING WITH VIOLET-TONED WOODS

Purple-toned wood floors and cabinets are often mistaken for gray, but they sure as heck aren’t. Try putting a color with a green undertone next to them, and you’ll see that violet pop up! The tones in these floors can lean pink or more violet, depending on the blend.

violet, pink, taupe, graywash wood cabinets or floors. mix, match, coordinate with different woods incl. oak, maple, alder, cherry. Kylie M DIY

How to mix and match or coordinate with wood cabinets or flooring with pink or red stain colour. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

While the buffet in this dining room (below) is a bit strong (orange-pink) for the floor and table, the room still looks amazing, as all the woods share a pink undertone.

Benjamin Moore Simply White warm white on north-facing walls and ceiling beams in dining room.

Also, notice the warm violet-pink hues in the area rug.

It doesn’t need to be perfect to be PRETTY! 

Some gorgeous, more purple-inspired stain colors…

How to mix and match or coordinate with wood cabinets or flooring with purple oak or red maple stain. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

Coordinating Wood Stains & Finishes: COMMON QUESTIONS 

COORDINATING WITH ESPRESSO OR DARK-STAINED CABINETS

Espresso is one of the trickiest stain colors to coordinate with, as while the undertone can look neutral, it often leans toward the purple end of things.

ESPRESSO, DARK STAINED CABINETS FLOORING THAT WORK TOGETHER, OAK, MAPLE, CHERRY AND MORE. KYLIE M MATCHING WOOD TONES

MIX AND MATCH WOOD STAINS AND TONES, DARK ESPRESSO CABINETS, VIOLET UNDERTONE OR PINK. KYLIE M UPDATE IDEAS

This next built-in cabinet/wood floor combination is great, as they share a decent violet undertone…

Dark wood flooring and built-in, Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige, Benjamin Moore White Dove trim, Kylie M paint color blogger

Benjamin Moore Antique White, off-white cream paint color, dark wood trim, dark floor and furniture, arched opening to dining room. Kylie M client photo

 

IS THERE ANY WIGGLE ROOM WITH WOOD TONES? YES!

There are always exceptions, and sometimes, as long as it’s not BLATANTLY different, you can get away with a subtle shift in undertone and have a better chance of it working if neither wood is drastically lighter/darker than the other.

For example, in this next photo, although the cabinets have a wee tiny bit more orange than the floor because both are reasonably toned down, the flow is all right.

Best paint colour for maple or oak cabinets, orange tone. Benjamin Moore November Rain gray paint colour with green undertone. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consultant

In this next example, although the cabinet has a slightly more washed-out neutral look, it does have some of the floor colors in its pattern, and that’s the tie that binds!

Entryway with Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray lightened wood cabinet, Ken Kirkby art. Kylie M INteriors Edesign, online paint color

You’ll also find more flexibility if your home is full of treasures and furniture. The more there is going on, the less attention is paid to these details. And while PERSONALLY, less can be more, there’s nothing wrong with a layered look. If that’s what you really love, just try to hit those coordinating undertones!

Want to learn what to do when your wood stains DON’T match?

Benjamin Moore Winds Breath, traditional transitional style living room with travertine tile fireplae, beige tan furniture, dark wood floor. Kylie M (2)

I’VE GOT THE ANSWERS to that question and more!

Coordinate Wood Stains & Finishes: COMMON QUESTIONS

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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, COMPLETELY OVERHAULED IN 2025

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49 Comments

  1. Well hellooooo Mary Anne!
    Nope, there is no rule at all – it’s personal preference! Now it’s usually easier to have painted risers than stained ones if you’re renovating…you know what, I’m going to do a blog post on this – you’re a genius!
    Anyway, the gist is it more depends on the look you are wanting.
    Wood tread/rise: Can be slightly more formal looking
    Wood tread/painting rise: can be slightly more country looking

    I also find that the painted riser can give some visual relief when there is A LOT of wood in a home….

    Thanks for asking my friend!
    Hugs, Kylie

    Reply

  2. I need your help!
    I have cherry plank flooring and light grey walls.
    I don’t want white cabinets for kitchen due to maintenance issues. What other colors wud look great with cherry floor and grey walls. I’ll select the counter top granite once cabinet colors are decided.
    Any suggestions would help.

    Reply

    1. Hi Shubha, it depends on what type of gray is on your walls, but you could do a gray that is contrasting from your walls, so either lighter or darker by a few tones, or maybe a blue/green/gray blend?

      Reply

      1. Thank you so much for you beautiful expertise! You really explain well about undertones. I did not know that such a thing existed!

        Reply

  3. I would like some help! I have maple cabinets with a pink undertone. I am refinishing my red oak hardwood floors and would like to do a gray stain. Will the floors take on a pink tone? Is there a stain color we could mix with the gray to offset the pink tone? Any advice would be appreciated.

    Reply

    1. Hi Staci! I’ve found the red oak often does well with restaining, but I have seen some flash slightly pink. Just keep in mind that you may NEED that weee wink of pink otherwise your new wood tone colour clash with your cabinets as the undertones would be different…

      Reply

  4. Hi Kylie,
    I have a honey oak spiral staircase (yellow tones according to your very helpful chart). For the front foyer, I’m considering an ivory porcelain tile (Edgecomb Grey walls) but I would like to replace the old tired broadloom between the stairs and the tile with Preverco Wheat or Preverco Santa Fe Nuance oak flooring. The Wheat looks more yellow online than it does in the store and is a lighter brown than the Santa Fe. Any thoughts? The oak will be continued into the family room (BM Jack Pine) while the tile could be extended throughout the foyer and down a short hall into the laundry and powder room (BM Muslin / Ballet White). I am definitely struggling with the three types of flooring in this front foyer area.
    Your talented input will certainly be appreciated!

    Reply

  5. Hi Kylie,

    What a helpful post! Suddenly I’m quite clear that I prefer undertones in the pink/red family. Question: can you recommend a stain color like the lower right image in your second-to-last grid? My husband and I are refinishing a nightstand made of two different woods, the darker of which is probably either walnut or mahogany, and a stain like that on the darker areas would be just the ticket.

    Again, loved this! It has already been helpful even if you’re way past responding to comments on this piece. Thank you!

    Reply

  6. Don’t know if you noticed but you are claiming the “Top Right” photo on your very first example is both good and bad. I think you meant top left and put top right again. Basically you said the top right wasn’t a good fit and gave your reason then at the end claimed it was the best one. Top Left was never mentioned at all.

    Reply

  7. Hi, I am struggling with a dark wood floor I already have in the salon (dinning/living room) because I want to use a white wood floor for the rest of the house and I am not sure if it will match nicely or totally crash
    Any advice? I will certainly appreciate your comments

    Reply

    1. Welllll, if it were me, I’d be pretty hesitant as I worry about it creating a patchwork look. It’s easy to change to tile/carpet/etc… but going from one wood to another usually doesn’t work :(. I mean, at the very least they’d need the same undertones/sheen level, but I still get a bit twitchy – I’m sorry!

      Reply

  8. I do not think this posting could be any more perfect or timely for me right now! As another poster said – you come to the internet “hoping” to find something that will help you make decisions in a renovation and often, it is sadly disappointing. I live in a California Ranch home (in Michigan!), which is known for it’s wide open floor plan, so my rooms and their color need to have some harmony and flow. I have red oak hardwood floors and natural cedar planked lounge in groove on all of my ceilings, so LOTS of wood! We are remodeling our kitchen and I want to combine wood look tile with my wood floors, which will be refinished. This post really gives me some great ideas and strategies on how to work the colors together, although I am not going to rule out doing a consultation, because I really want to get this part right. I know how I want this to look, but I want it to look right and complimentary. Thanks Much

    Reply

  9. The architect who built a house for his own family, and sold it to us when he needed to move, said that he would never put faux wood beside real wood, or faux tile next to actual tile, and so on. I think that is a good strategy. So for the Pergo flooring in this kitchen, the Pergo in a tile look would be best.

    Reply

  10. I need help! We are remodeling the basement family room. We are using vinyl plank flooring. Should flap in the walls. And a plank ceiling in place of the current drop down ceiling. I was thinking a natural looking finish on floor and white shiplap but I’m not sure what color or satin to have on the plank ceiling. I want some neutral, timeless and popular. I have a hard time visualizing it all together. Can you please give me advice?

    Reply

  11. I’m in the process of building/completing a log cabin that will be our permanent home. I’m really struggling with all the wood and trying to pick finishes that tone it down. Especially difficult is choosing stain colour for the fir flooring. Do you offer stain suggestions with your e-design packages? As this is new construction it is a pretty blank canvas … except being surrounded by yellow-pine logs and pink-fir flooring.

    Reply

    2. Hey Danya – I have a log cabin and can honestly say that I have at least 4 different woods and colors going on and they all look great together.
      Med cedar color on pine logs
      clear natural stain on pine walls
      Med dark stain on hickory cabinets
      Dark express stain on rough hewn floors

      Hope this helps a bit

      Reply

  12. Hi! I’m installing new quarter sawn white oak cabinets, and I will be refinishing the current red oak floor (that reads yellow with just an oil-poly on it with no stain currently). Any recommendations for stain color? Seems like there should be a gold starting point out there somewhere!!!

    Reply

    1. Oh, I WISH I could throw something at you. The challenge is always with the pink undertone in red oak that’s really hard to avoid, especially aginast the very NON-pink undertone of white oak!

      Reply

  13. Hey Kylie –

    Your hilarious, honest and to the point…love your candidness.
    I recently inherited my parents home and I want to leave the “real” walnut paneling in
    the living room as it goes with the divider and speakers my Dad made (Dad built the house
    in 1961 himself) I have been removing the old carpet and found oak flooring in the bedrooms
    with plain plywood flooring in the living/dining/hallway area……I’ll probably put Oak flooring
    in the lv/dn/hall to butt up against the bedrooms….but wondering what stain would go with
    the walnut paneling? It seems like this darker color you show as being the most easiest to
    match or coordinate with? Thoughts? My anxiety is through the roof as I’m also trying to
    match paint colors at a rental I’m also flipping….having a horrible time trying to figure out a
    fabulous color for a slight tray ceiling with a very wide crown cove molding and Spanish plaster wall…ugh

    Reply

    1. Oh, I would SO love to help you, but stain colors are not ma jam. It totally depends on the exact species and which stain was applied to the walnut and how it’s aged! As for the tray ceiling, it allll depends on the surroundings/hard finishes, but generally, warm off-whites look quite pretty!

      Reply

  14. Hi…I am redoing my kitchen and finishing the remainder of the first floor in red oak with a provincial stain, which is medium brown but pulling an orange undertone. I am thinking of pairing it with a maple cabinet. The grains don’t compete, both have orange undertones. Do you think this is a good combo?

    Reply

  16. This is SO timely for me. We just finished a 3 season room addition with a 12’ opening to the main living area of our home. Several years ago when our existing floors were refinished, we were told our floors were white oak. So, we had white oak installed in the 3 season room.

    After it was installed, we discovered our existing floors were not white, but red. Now we have an expanse of white butting up against red. Our new floor guy will do his best to stain them to coordinate, but due to the undertones and grain, it will never be an exact match. Our floors in the original part of the house are stained medium to dark brown. Those floors can not be refinished because they were stained ebony when we purchased the house. In order to get the ebony stain out it was necessary to sand them down so far, there isn’t enough wood to do another sanding successfully. Hence, our dilemma.

    Any advice and suggestions will be MOST appreciated. The thought of this beautiful new room thwarted by a finish that hits you in the face when you enter our home concerns me.

    With the state of the world, this is inconsequential. There are scores of people that would welcome mismatched floors, any floors, any home. I believe we are able to cope with real tragedy by focusing and deflecting on inconsequential. things.

    Be well all!

    Reply

    1. You know, you’re right, there’s SO much going on out there. But at the same time, our homes are pretty real to us and how we FEEL about them is very important! So, is it POSSIBLE for your fella to stain the new floors as close as possible, maybe adding a touch of red/cherry to the stain to pick up on a minor red hue? Some stains guys are pretty deadly with their craft. That would be my best advice!

      Reply

  18. Thank you for these two blog posts! My cabinets run red-pink with some purple based on your description without much grain. What stain color should I refinish my oak floors that are now the traditional 90s look? But aren’t too yellow. How do I determine undertones in a stain? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Oh Sar, it’s such a tough one! The best way is to go to an area like a closet or somewhere hidden, sand it all down there first and do some sampling. Most times it involves blending colors. LIke Minwax has a color called Aged Barrel, which has a grayish-violet cast – maybe play around with that with some other stains (non-yellow or orange-ones) and see how they blend. And the BEST way to see the undertones in stains is just like paint colors – compare them to each other!

      Reply

  19. Hi Kylie!

    We have orange (hint of red) wood cabinetry and floors in our kitchen and an open floor into the foyer. It is just way too much orange. We would like to change the cabinetry tone. What color stain would you recommend?

    Reply

  20. I ordered the Kensington dining table in mocha from Arhaus. I am having some floating shelves built and I would like them to coordinate but not be the same color. What color stain would you recommend?

    Reply

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