I Made My Dark Wood Furniture Feel 10x Lighter with These Color Tricks

Over a year ago, my husband and I relocated to Cairo, Egypt (and I’ve been writing about the decorating hacks I’ve been trying there ever since, from our custom-look shower curtain to our living room “built-ins”). To say this move was a huge transition would be an understatement. Due to my husband’s job, we were fortunate enough to be provided a fully furnished four-bedroom apartment, which included several matching sets of dark wood Drexel furniture. 

Despite being grateful not to have to pay rent or furnish an apartment on another continent from scratch, I wasn’t thrilled with the space’s plain white walls and traditional furniture (think: old-fashioned china cabinet and matching couches). I probably wouldn’t have chosen any of these things for myself. 

Instead of pouting (or, worse, living with everything as is), I decided to put together the most soothing color palette I could. That way, I could use color to completely energize the dated, visually heavy dark wood furniture I didn’t love. These are the colors I chose — and why they worked for me. This way, if you’re dealing with an inherited dark wood piece you don’t love, you could try using a pretty color as a backdrop or accent to reinvigorate it, too. 

After a weekend getaway at the high-end hotel La Maison Bleue in El Gouna, Egypt, I was hooked on making the apartment’s main color a light, almost pastel blue. I wanted a tranquil base that would soften up the somber, one-note feel of the dark wood furniture. 

As soon as the walls were painted, I immediately felt a sense of ease. This classic, French-inspired hue is known to promote tranquility and added a warm elegance to the living room, kitchen, and guest room.

Why does it make the furniture look better? First, blue is opposite orange on the color wheel, which means they are complementary colors. This color, therefore, can neutralize and offset the orange tones in the furniture and make it look richer. The pastel hue also lightens and brightens the entire room, which “lifts” the darkness of the furniture up visually.  

In the bedroom, we went with an earthy, sage green. Even though I wish it had less of a yellow undertone, I’m a fan of how it elevated the bedroom set and also created a nature-evoking, restful atmosphere. 

We also painted my daughter’s nursery a mint green, and we gave my husband’s art room, which doubles as a guest room, a coat of enveloping dark green. Mint may feel bold, but it’s actually a rich, versatile grounding color that pairs well with fun kid-friendly yellows, oranges, and pinks. 

For the art/guest room, my husband wanted a deep, calming tint that boosted creativity. The combination of the deep green paint and the dark wood furniture is proof that sometimes similar tones work better together. 

And why does the green family work? Greens instantly mesh with the wood, as both are so prominent in nature. The combo doesn’t feel forced. Go light with your green, and the furniture will seem lighter, too, where darker colors lean into a more luxe look. 

Because we have low ceilings, we color-drenched each room to create an illusion of height. Another color that took things to the next level for us was gold. From accessorizing with gold-tinted lamps to putting up large statement paintings with gold frames and creating a golden gallery cluster, this shiny finish plays off gold hardware in the Drexel pieces and makes the furniture choice feel more intentional. 

In short, don’t give up on a piece just because it isn’t your usual style. Channel your inner creativity and know that, when paired with the proper palette, there’s always a way to make seemingly outdated furniture shine.