1. Earthy Vibes
One way that natural wood can truly shine in any home is by going back to those youthful, bohemian, earthy vibes. Whether you had your boho phase in college or you’re still deep in it, natural wood can bring a sophisticated, earthy feel to any room.
From furniture to floors, the neutral tones and unique washes of natural woods can bring any space together and make it feel even more connected to nature. For example, take this luxury SoHo residence, which incorporates floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall natural wood cabinetry. The residence softens modern sharp angles with a grounded, natural feel.
2. Vintage Design
Maybe you don’t want to take things all the way back to the earth, but you do want to bring in a bit of vintage charm. If that’s the case, natural wood might be worth looking into.
While furniture and fixtures play big roles in this, natural wood flooring can set the foundation for every vintage direction — from Victorian to mid-century modern. If you can find original flooring or real vintage furniture, that’s even better.
One of the best ways to incorporate natural wood in a vintage style is to mix and match different pieces throughout your home. For example, if you're interested in adding a rustic touch, you might want to view barn style doors that can easily bring that classic, warm feel to any space. You may also add vintage light fixtures or use reclaimed wood for shelving and accents.
The Philip House condos in Carnegie Hill are the perfect example of vintage inspiration in action. This prewar building is renovated for modern use, but still incorporates natural wood flooring and cabinetry evoke a timeless feel.
3. Organic Color Palette
For those who love neutral, organic color palettes, natural wood might be exactly what you need.
If you tend to go for minimalist black-and-white tones in your usual decor, bringing in some natural wood can add some dimension without overpowering your creative vision. This can be seen in popular trends embracing natural touches like interior barn doors or natural wood kitchen cabinets.
If you tend to veer more towards a varied neutral color palette, natural woods can even add a bit more depth to what you already have in your home. Neutrals are the hot new thing, so it makes sense to add to the subtle and sophisticated look.
4. Artistic Shapes
If you’re going more neutral in the color department, there are plenty of areas where you can suddenly play — even if you didn’t realize it before. One of the areas you can begin to explore is shape and texture.
Usually, color and color design dominates a room, especially if you tend to go bright and bold. But when you’re leaning into natural woods and neutral colors, you can go for more interesting furniture shapes, layer textures on top of one another, and even mix and match. Features like exposed beams and original molding can shine when you go for a more natural look.