Wood finishes add warmth, texture and beauty to any interior. However, like all interior design elements, tastes and preferences evolve, and styles inevitably fall out of favor. Some finishes can inadvertently date a home, whether it’s the bold, orange-toned pine popular in the ’90s, the high-gloss wood finishes of the ’80s, or the heavily stained wood that gives a The bar dominated the cabinetry.
“General topics?” says Rosanna Basford, founder and lead designer of Memo Interiors “Finishes that are not naturally found on wood. They are trendy, and can easily date your home once the trend goes away.”
Read on for the top seven wood finishes that make your home look vintage, according to interior designers.
meet the expert
- Rosanna Basford is the founder and principal designer of Memo Interiors, a full-service interior design firm serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Paulina Carcache Paulina is the founder and principal designer of Carcache Interior Design, a full-service interior design studio based in San Jose, California.
- sarah hargrave is the owner and principal designer of The Collective, a boutique residential design firm and retail storefront based in Dallas, Texas.
orange maple
The 1990s and early 2000s saw heavy use of orange maple finishes in furniture, cabinetry, flooring, etc. and trim This look was achieved by using orange or gold stain to enhance the naturally warm colors of maple wood.
“Although it was prominent in traditional designs, it can feel out of sync with today’s more neutral and modern preferences,” says Paulina Carcache, founder and lead designer. Paulina Carcache Interior Design,
While warm-toned wood finishes are still desirable, many homeowners and designers prefer a more sophisticated and slower warmth. This can be achieved by choosing wood with warm colors and simple finishes for a more natural look.
dark cherry wood
Carcache says dark, reddish wood is another common culprit. Cherry stains were popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, but today, they can look overly formal and heavy.
If you like the look of dark stains, but want to avoid dating your home, it’s best to avoid overly red or purple shades like cherry or mahogany. Instead, choose colors with neutral undertones, such as deep walnut or chestnut, which provide a more natural, chocolatey-brown hue.
Rustic Oak with Faux Patina
This wood finish is a classic example of an overly “finished” look that does not work well in modern applications.
According to Sarah Hargrave, owner and lead designer of collective This highly distressed look was popular in the ’90s, but today it looks old and tired. It is often seen on cabinetry and furniture, although it can also be found on trim and flooring.
Skip the faux patina and opt for a more natural oak finish to bring this wood into the modern design era.
red- or yellow-colored pine and cedar
The modern preference for neutral and subtle wood tones means that red and yellow pine and cedar have also fallen out of favor.
These colors, reminiscent of mountain cabin decor, often feel out of place in current interior design…especially in city homes,” says Hargrave.
Instead, choose more neutral finishes that highlight the wood’s natural warmth and character. For example, light forest Natural grain, and matte or satin finish.
Almost-Black Espresso
Popular in the early 2000s, deep, almost black espresso stains dominated furniture, cabinetry, and flooring trends. They were admired for their formal, sophisticated and high-contrast look.
However, today this finish looks heavy and outdated. Basford says the desire for light, airy spaces and the trend toward more natural, nature-inspired finishes have left this look firmly in the past.
grey-washed finish
Grey-washed wood finishes were once valued for their neutral, rustic appeal and were often seen as a lighter alternative to black or dark espresso stains. They were big in the 2000s and early 2010s industrial And farmhouse Styles reigned supreme. Grey-toned finishes were commonly used on furniture, floors, and cabinetry to create a sense of vintage, reclaimed charm.
However, as preferences have shifted toward more sophisticated, minimalist and contemporary designs, grey-toned wood finishes have fallen out of favor, Basford says. Today, these finishes seem cold, artificial and uninviting.
Like espresso and the highly distressed faux patina look, the grey-washed wood finish can be chalked up to a fleeting design trend that won’t stand the test of time.
high gloss finish
Finally, avoid high-gloss wood finishes if you want your space to feel timeless. These smooth finishes were especially popular during the 1980s and 90s for furniture and flooring. They were often a symbol of wealth and prestige.
But today glossy finishes can make wood feel overly processed and artificial, making spaces uninviting and sterile. Instead, opt for more natural, matte and satin finishes, which showcase the beauty of wood without the high shine and create a feeling of warmth, comfort and understated elegance.
