Embrace Wood Furniture

Here’s the easiest route: furniture. Dip your toe in the honey oak revival by incorporating a few statement pieces made of the material. Sarah Sherman Samuel’s collection for Lulu & Georgia is full of shapely curves and warm wood that bring a wave of organic personality to a space. On a more affordable scale, the Better Homes & Gardens collection at Walmart has been rocking the honey oak look, using it on coffee tables, benches, cabinets, and shelving, to name a few. To use pieces like these in your home, look for furniture that blends this type of warm oak with a unique silhouette or a mix of materials. This way, the piece reads, “I’m new and cool and interesting,” and not, “hello from your childhood bedroom—yes, I’m still here.” (But of course, we always love a repurposed throwback, too.)

The ultimate trick with making this work in modern spaces is to pair it with something fresh and updated. That way it reads less like a period piece and more like a warm, thoughtful addition to a space. And don’t be afraid to invest in warm oak; evidence suggests it’s here to stay. Current and forward-thinking design trends are all about warmth, sustainability, and timeless organic texture; all characteristics of that classic—dare we say timeless—honey(ish) oak.

Get the Look

Add touches of honey throughout your home.

Juliet Nightstand with USB

Glendale 5-Shelf Bookcase With Doors

Juliet Coffee Table

Credit: Jared Kuzia

Credit: Gavin Cater

In the Kitchen

Using honey oak alongside a sleek, modern palette like black and white is a gorgeous way to modernize the look. Contemporary finishes like matte black pendants and sconces, a waterfall countertop, and contrasting white flat-panel cabinetry pair seamlessly with the warm, honied cabinets in this modern kitchen. Streamlined hardware ties the look together.

On the flip side, this color of oak also lends itself well to cozy Spanish style. In this kitchen by Sapna Aggarwal, natural oak cabinet doors are framed by their white plastered frames; emerald zellige tile drives home the Spanish feel. All together, thanks to timeless (yet undeniably trendy) finishes like plaster and zellige tile, the look feels both modern and warm. Though honey oak, per se, isn’t necessarily common in Spanish-style design, it adds undeniable warmth to the cooler palette.

Kaitlin Green

On Floors, Walls, and Ceiling

Famed interior designer Emily Henderson went all-in on warm oak for her brother’s home project, cladding the floors, walls, and ceiling a gorgeous oak wood plank. Think of this home as the anthesis of the wave of millennial gray, where cold, austere tones took over an entire space. A bold use of all-over oak feels undeniably warm and nostalgic, without the orange overwhelm. Again, pair it with modern fixtures and silhouettes (like a statement wall sconce, sculptural pedestal table, or shapely emerald green rug) and the look steers instantly modern.