How To Use & Style With Light Wood Furniture in Your Home

Sheena explains, “Pale timbers work especially well in bedrooms; the light finish creates a soothing space and sense of calm.” Practising what she preaches, the design studio have just completed a beautifully airy bedroom at the Berkeley Hotel as part of a luxurious new suite. The choice of pale wood cabinetry (with simple bronze inlay) and matching television stand is nigh on celestial and makes the most of the light the space has.

But who wants to confine luminosity and light to bedrooms? We say try it in any room you’d like to add a bit of life. For a living room space, Sheen advises, “Pale timbers provide a neutral backdrop in a living room, working particularly well on joinery”, although she mentions that incorporating it into furniture is key for achieving a cohesive and balanced look.

“One of [the] characteristics [of pale woods] is their ability to introduce understated glamour to living spaces; [We] often pair these timbers with antique bronze which perfectly complements and enhances [their] luminosity.”

Helen Green’s own exclusive range runs the gamut of wood finishes – from the burgundy undertones of the Metropolitan cherrywood to the honeyed birchwood of Oro. One of the most popular choices, Betula is characterised by a silver gloss which offers a luxe finish. “In many of our projects we use Betula due to its versatility. It is available in both matte and gloss and has been designed as a complement to a range of other in-house finishes, including darker tones such as Classic as well as Oyster – a figured sycamore reminiscent of black pearl,” Sheena says, “Other popular finishes include bleached eucalyptus, often chosen for its beautiful markings.”

Beautiful markings are certainly one of the advantages of going pale and interesting. Who can resist the knots of bird’s eye maple or the ripples of sycamore?

However, because of the more delicate nature of pale woods, attention to the materials used is essential, making a well-crafted and high-quality light wood furniture piece a truly remarkable creation. Sheena says, “Unfortunately pale timbers are not as hard-wearing as darker finishes; they are prone to staining and, over time, joins can often bleach so the quality of craftsmanship is of utmost importance.” Invest in quality with any light woods you choose and enjoy peace of mind that they will last much longer than lesser quality alternatives.

Are there any rules for pale woods? How do they differ from their darker counterparts? Sheena has a few suggestions.

“Matte finishes will keep the look contemporary as will furniture with clean lines,” tells the designer. This preference towards a sharp aesthetic is apparent in the studio’s classic contemporary designs. Their geometric Nino tables, klismos-inspired Tallulah side table and Hera console table are examples of how equally exquisite refined silhouettes are when realised in paler woods as they are in darker ones.

Her advice for the best colour palettes for pale woods is to “team [them] with a complementary soft palette. [Our] HGD Collection’s Betula finish looks especially effective with pink or even with a deeper blue for greater depth.” That makes pale woods bang on trend with the shift towards retro pastels and everything pink.

The abilities of dark woods for marquetry, parquetry and other interesting woodworking techniques are well-known, particularly richly veined varieties like macassar. But dark woods certainly don’t have the monopoly on decorative techniques. “Pale timbers book-match well which adds interest to bespoke pieces of furniture and can also produce interesting detail when used for marquetry,” Sheena assures.

To the question of whether pale and dark woods can be mixed and matched, Sheena’s top tip is: “To introduce pale woods into a space which is dominated by darker woods, the easiest solution is to add a piece of furniture which combines the two, thereby creating a dialogue.” Follow this lead if the look is a new one for your space. Concentrate on contrasting lighter doors or tabletops with darker frames. As additional pieces are added, your space will gradually become lighter and take on a new, fresh aesthetic.