Q: I have been meticulously picking out decor for my son's big-boy bedroom and I would really like to do a gray-navy-orange color combo. The only problem is, I have to work with my husband's old honey oak furniture in order to stay on budget (or to justify splurging on something else!) Would slightly blue gray walls look horrible with the honey oak? The oak seems to look brassy with everything!
Sent by Lisa
Editor: If you're starting from scratch I think you can pick woods that work best with the colors you're planning, but if you already have the furniture I think you should forge ahead and not worry about it. If you don't love the oak wood, perhaps painting it is an option? Readers, what do you think?
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Painting the furniture white would make it look fresher.
I just finished my very first furniture painting project: an old oak bookcase that was mine from when I was a kid. It was a bit of a stressful project since I didn't know what I was doing, but in the end, it turned out alright and I am SO glad I did it. I say paint the furniture. If you use primer and a good quality paint, you will love the results! You can look on my profile to get to my blog if you want to see the before and after of the bookcase.
Assuming the like the furniture and don't want to transform it with paint, I would choose another color family. I think those colors are being to be odd together.
If it is solid oak and good quality why not just restain it?
Agreed with others- I loathe honey oak anything! Repaint that furniture or restain (if your hubby is cool with it) an easy fast alternative that requires no sanding, you could look up color glazes for it. Just pull the pieces outside and paint a thin coat over everything and the old grain would show through but not that yuck color.
I would say paint the furniture white, too, but you can work around it if that's too big of a job. If you paint the walls a pale gray instead of a blue-tone, then the room will look classier instantly. Use dark navy (NOT royal blue tone) and deep orange to never get a playschool/disney effect. Then the honey-colored wood might just look nice & retro. It's coming back, you know... :)
I agree with MrsHervi on pale grey, dark navy and a muted orange. Benjamin Moore Jack O'Lantern is a very pleasant orange. Also, this rug would look great in the room. http://www.landofnod.com/kids-wool-rugs/kids-room-decor/bold-stripe-rug/f4900
I would stick with warm grey. I think a darker warm grey would look nice. I'd avoid the blue-greys.
Thanks for the suggestions! The furniture is really nice, solid wood and has really nice lines so it would be a shame not to use it. For now I will only be using the chest and nightstand, it also has a nice queen bed but I want something smaller for my little guy for now- probably a twin. I agree that white would look fantastic and I have considered restaining. I love the glaze idea since I'm super busy and sanding the whole set would be a nightmare.
Warm grey would also be really nice for wall color.
favoritcolorblue- It's funny because that rug was my inspiration for the colors! land of nod is my fav for kids decor- if only it were a little less expensive!
you could also use a darker wax for the wood to change the color a bit. i dont think those colors would look bad. i say try it first then if you dont like it use a stain, wax, slip cover everyting, or paint. try it first it might not look as bad as your thinking.
Either restain or paint the furniture.
I refinished some bedroom furniture for my son's room from when I was little (and when my mum was little). It was in not-so-great shape and very ugly. Refinishing furniture is easier than it seems, once you feel comfortable with the process.
Strip, sand with low grit and then sand again with high grit sandpaper (or steelwool), then paint or stain (or both) and then seal with a poly top coat.
A darker grey would work with the wood, but please don't just paint it! If the wood is in good shape, stain in a different finish.
Can I recommend a walnut stain? I've used it with oak before, it brings out the grain in a very classy, neutral way. It would definitely go with your new color scheme, look very neutral, and still look like wood!