Shea McGee shows us that mixing woods instantly makes a room more interesting | Homes & Gardens

Designer Shea McGee discussed how a light, oak coffee table can be styled with darker pieces for a beautiful and calm living room look

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With wood drenching on the rise, we are thinking about ways to incorporate different shades of this natural material into our homes. While there is a tendency to stay uniform with shades of wood within one room, Shea McGee is proving that mixing and matching can be far more interesting.

The designer and mind behind McGee & Co. recently shared a video on her Instagram page, wherein she discusses one of the brand's new coffee tables – and how she likes to wood drench with it.

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'Whenever we're designing cabinets I'm always thinking about how it can apply to furniture, so that's what we've done here,' she states in the clip.

'We have a home that we're designing right now and we're designing this beautiful oak bookcase. I knew I wanted to translate that to furniture. The great thing about this honey color is that it pairs really well with lighter and darker tones.'

According to experts, lighter and darker woods each have different benefits, so mixing different wood tones in one space reaps the positive outcomes of shades across the spectrum.

'Mixing woods can elevate the welcoming warmth that comes from embracing natural materials in your home,' says Helen Pett, brand ambassador at Arteriors. 'Darker shades of wood can be used to bring depth and dimension to a space with lots of natural light whereas more enclosed rooms would benefit from choosing lighter shades to avoid intensifying the heaviness of the space.'

Alternatively, keeping woods within the same family (with only slight variations) is an option. 'Maintaining one tone throughout the room is another great way to keep all the elements working harmoniously,' Helen says. 'Warm woods like walnut and oak are rich in tone and create an inviting and cozy space, while cooler toned woods like ash and maple lean more towards a cleaner and more contemporary aesthetic.'

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Being a natural material, wood inherently has a relaxing ambiance, making it a great staple for spaces like the living room, kitchen, and bedroom. It also makes any room feel cozier, whether you use a light or dark wood.

'I love a light, natural oak, but this is one step warmer so you can add that warmth and character to your home,' Shea says of her coffee table.

The textured look on this organic oak table adds visual interest and a contemporary touch to the furnishing.

This three-drawer dresser is petite yet sturdy, made of walnut and carved meticulously in the 1900s.

With modernism influences from the '60s and '70s, this nightstand has a softly curved silhouette and is finished with unlacquered brass that will patina over time.

New to mixing and matching woods? Start small with accessories, like an oak fruit bowl on top of a walnut coffee table. Regardless, mixing woods, as Shea shows us, can look just as seamless as decorating with a single wood finish in a space so long as you style intentionally.

Hannah is Homes & Gardens’ News Editor, with a focus on celebrity style and entertainment content. She got her start in media as a digital editorial assistant at ELLE Canada, and has since written about lifestyle and culture for publications such as Nylon and i-D.

Her love of film is rivaled only by one with a great soundtrack, and she hopes to someday decorate a Nancy Meyers-worthy kitchen.

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