Mixing wood and metal furniture is a great way to elevate your décor to a new level of sophistication. Whether your style is traditional, contemporary, farmhouse or eclectic, it’s hard to go wrong. You can make metal the focal point of a room or accent with an antique brass floor lamp or media console with wrought iron “barn door” cabinets.
Our Starmore Bookcase, mixing engineered-wood acacia veneers with blackened gunmetal, is a bestseller because it matches a lot of our home décor. Add silver metal candleholders or brass picture frames to its shelves and it could be the star of the room.
Here are a few ways you can bring wood and metal together to add dimension and interest to any room.
Place wood and metal side by side. Pair furniture with exposed wood legs - such as our Rachel Sofa in Omega Mist or Lucy Accent Chair - with coffee and end tables with metal bases. Or alternate wood and metal chairs at your dining table for a rustic/eclectic look.
Invest in a showpiece. Our Tiffany Accent Chair in deep navy, with its diamond stitch tufting and silver nail-head trim ending at dark wood legs, can make any room sparkle. If you love wine-tasting, invite friends to gather around our Orrica Counter Height Table. This signature wood and metal pub table has a built-in wine rack and wineglass holders. Pull up a matching bar stool and savor your latest find.
Add some Old World charm. Dark wood with wrought iron grillwork, hinges, handles or knobs will give your room a Spanish Hacienda elegance. Our traditional Alyemere Lift Top Coffee Table pairs ornately scrolled legs and ornamental carving with swirls of brass-finished metalwork on the sides. If you prefer something more of a Country French feel, place a wrought iron baker’s rack beside your rustic oak or pine dining table.
Combine different wood tones with metal. The minimalist Bluemound Coffee Table fits in with contemporary furnishings. Its distinctive drum shape rimmed with tan, brown, and gray wood with white wax accents sits on a gunmetal frame.
Paint. Put a fun twist on wood furniture by painting it with shiny, metallic paint to create an accent piece or focal point.
Accent Away. We have a wide variety of metal lamps, framed mirrors, sconces, sculpture and wall art that will add beautiful finishing touches to every room in your home. The brushed silver finish of our Rishona Table Lamp makes it an elegant addition to a living room end table or bedroom nightstands. Add a set of three painted Cast Iron Jacks to your coffee table or hang the Bulana Mirror framed with an eye-catching web of gold. Take some time to browse through our Accents collection and get inspired!
Tips for Mixing Wood and Metal Furniture
- Choose a dominant color.
Most metals are either warm-toned (brass, copper, gold) or cool-toned (silver, aluminum). Blackened gunmetal and wrought iron are neutral and can be mixed with both. If your room décor has more wood with warm undertones (such as cherry, mahogany and hickory), stick with warm-hued metals like copper and gold. Wood furniture with cool undertones (such as ash, maple, poplar and pine), stick with silver metals. Neutrally toned woods like walnut are the most versatile, so you can mix and match warm and cool metals. Begin with a dominant metal color such as brass and accent it with one or two cool-tones.
- Tailor the metal’s finish to the style of your décor.
As a rule of thumb, antiqued and satin finishes look best in traditional settings. Brushed metal complements eclectic and polished styles, hammered finishes suit rustic and vintage looks and polished metals complete modern and minimalistic rooms. Mix and match metals and finishes or go for a more uniform look by using different finishes of the same metal. Adding a mirror with a metal frame amplifies the reflective feel of metals.
- Space out metal accents.
Be careful not to cluster different metals in one part of the room. Instead, spread them out at different heights around the room. The same goes for creating a gallery wall. Scatter frames in wood and metal with matte and polished finishes throughout the arrangement.
- Tie it all together with pillows or a great rug.
Area rugs, wall hangings and throw pillows are all great ways to provide the contrast that makes your well-chosen wood and metal furniture and accent pieces pop.
