The Best Wall Color for Oak Floors

Now that you've installed oak flooring in your home, you'll need to select a color for the walls that complements the floors well. Paint hues in the same color scheme as the oak will result in a monochromatic effect for the room; complementary colors, or hues on opposing sides of the color wheel, will add attractive and sophisticated contrast to the wood floors.

Tan or light tan oak flooring is well complemented with a darker color on the walls. A medium shade of brown, like a dark bronze or nutmeg shade, is ideal if you want to give the room a classic or modest feel; tan shades tinged with yellow will have the same effect but add an understated brightness to the space. A deeper, medium shade of brown on the floors will contrast well with a lighter, pastel color; a cinnamon-colored floor is further showcased when coupled with powder blue walls. You can also add more warmth to the room by choosing a light warm color to the walls like a dusty or blush pink.

Oak floors with tinges of red give the area a cozy and inviting feel. Using another warm color on the walls will continue the welcoming theme in the room. A cooler color will offset the red in the flooring while still promoting an air of relaxation. For instance, a butter yellow color on the walls will complement red oak floors, slightly intensifying both hues. Green, on the other hand, is directly across from red on the color wheel and will provide a colorful balance to the room. For instance, amber oak floors coupled with medium or pistachio green walls create an environment of welcomed serenity to the area.

Light and medium colors like sky blue, slate gray, a peachy shade of orange or Kelly green are ideal for dark oak floors that are a rich shade of brown or almost black. Cocoa-colored oak flooring will stand out when the walls or paneling is in a bold shade of green that isn't too overwhelming. Another color in the warm family, like an understated orange shade, make the room more inviting and allow the floor to be the main color feature. A black pearl shade of oak for the floors is appropriate for a modern-style home; a subdued shade of gray on the walls will modestly showcase the floor and is the ideal palette for a single burst of color in the room, like a portrait or small furniture piece.

When the vibrant shade of yellow is showcased in oak flooring, neutral shades of white, cream and ivory are a suitable choice for the walls. Golden shades of apricot or light bronze are also common in yellow-tinged oak flooring. A bronze accent wall among three medium tan walls or bright bronze or gold wall paneling has a vivid effect on the room. Shades of red for the walls are also fitting for yellow oak flooring. A bright chili pepper-colored stripe on a tan accent wall will wake up the space while complementing the floors while a Moroccan red shade for the paneling adds bright and noticeable color without overwhelming the space or taking the attention away from the flooring.