Perhaps the trickiest aspect of home design is deciding between the endless array of options. Most home products come in a wide range of design styles, patterns, colors, and textures. Choosing wisely can mean enjoying enhanced beauty that boosts your home’s curb appeal, while a bad choice can seriously detract from the value of your home.

One of the oldest and most traditional design choices is wood—a stunning natural material used in so many of our home features, from window frames and doors, to roof shingles, flooring, and so much more. Natural wood is an amazing material that is durable, energy-efficient, and functional in all kinds of presentations. 

Whether you’re installing replacement windows, replacing your home’s floors, or planning a complete makeover of the bathroom with wood accents, aesthetics play an important role in the decision-making process of virtually any home improvement project. While it’s always recommended to work with qualified contractors such as the team at All-Weather Seal of West Michigan, it’s more important to have a base understanding of how wood in regards to aesthetics before committing time and money to your next home improvement project.

The Versatility of Wood Designs

Most people tend to think of wood as a non-versatile design choice. This is largely due to common terms such as “rustic” being thrown about when exploring wood options. However, contrary to popular belief, wood materials aren’t just for log cabins—so before we dive into how to use wood to enhance the home, we’ll briefly discuss four distinct style choices that wood is most commonly used for:

  • Industrial: This is a style marked by wood that has a rugged and vintage appearance. Dark antique-like aesthetics are common with this option. Alternatively, a distressed wood pattern can add considerable character and a touch of masculine charm to your design. With the right décor, this style can also give off a bohemian vibe.
  • Country: Country style is very similar to rustic, which is where wood’s reputation as an interior or exterior design choice comes from. Make no mistake; the country-style approach is a valid design choice for many homeowners. To really optimize this selection, stick to lighter wood shades that are complemented by navy blue, hunter green, light beige, and timeless white. 
  • Urban Modern: Wood can feel just as home in the city as it does in the countryside when stained dark and paired with minimalist décor. You can play up this option by contrasting the dark wood stain with lighter trim and other elements. 
  • Modern: This design style is accentuated by clean lines, darker wood tones, and paired with state-of-the-art technology and smart features. 

Implementing the Design

Now that you have a decent idea of the different styles available with natural wood, let’s take a look at the areas of the home you can apply those styles for a truly balanced design.

  • Crown Molding: This is a wood trim that is placed on the ceilings for decoration. Crown molding is known for its various profiles, which allows for ornate or simple lines. Crown molding can complement virtually any style choice you choose.
  • Home Exterior: It’s not just the inside of the home that can feature wood as a design choice. Whether you choose to utilize wood siding, wood roof shingles, or wood trim and shutters, wood can add strong character and curb appeal to any home design. 
  • Contrast Trim: Most of the time, the trim running along the bottom and top of your walls is white or off-white. However, you can use this as an opportunity to leverage your home’s design by implementing dark stained wood trim to add visual interest. Plus, for those who love the urban modern approach, this is an easy way to get started with the look.
  • Finishing Touches: Don’t forget the finishing touches of the home. Practically every home has cabinets, entry doors, window frames, and other similar features. This is your chance to enhance what already exists in the home with natural wood accents. For example, dark wood cabinets pair really well with white or cream-colored kitchen walls. A wooden entry door painted in white or stained in the tone of your choice can make for a truly grand entrance to your home, while a painted one in red, green, or another bright color can add boldly enhance your home’s curb appeal.

Nothing beats wood when it comes to traditional beauty—but it’s also versatile, and can be beautifully paired with a number of non-conventional looks and design styles. At All Weather Seal of West Michigan, our window contractors are proud to offer numerous products all designed to suit any aesthetic chosen for the home.

Ready to explore your options? Then give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our professional home remodeling services, or fill out our online form to schedule your free, in-home pricing estimate and design consultation now.