Light-colored, Scandinavian-inspired woods have spent several seasons battling interior trends, but now dark wood is on the rise — and Paul McCartney is already on board.
Paul recently shared a look inside his (what appears to be) studio, decorated, perhaps unsurprisingly, with hundreds of records, photos and posters. However, while its music library is noteworthy, we’re a little distracted by the dark wood cabinets and shelves that are expected to continue shaping design trends in the coming year.
As Etsy trend forecaster Dayna Isom Johnson explains, “Darker, more traditional woods, including teak, walnut, and mahogany, have recently fallen out of fashion”—which means Paul is, of course, ahead of the curve.
On Etsy, there was a 337 percent increase in searches for walnut desks and accessories and a 28 percent increase in searches for brown seating or furniture, but what makes these deep tones so appealing?
“Dark woods create a sense of warmth and comfort in a space while also providing a touch of character and sophistication to the room,” Dayna points out. “Another reason why dark woods are so popular?” Its timeless quality. Just ask our group curator, Martha Stewart, who recently shared that “brown furniture is alive and well” and that “what’s old is new” once again.
Dayna Isom Johnson is Etsy’s fashion expert with over a decade of experience discovering the latest and greatest styles. She is unwavering in her pursuit of new and unique finds, and is passionate about helping shoppers find exceptional pieces that showcase their personal style.
(Image credit: Matthew Millman)
Bo Helberg, chief marketing officer at String Furniture, agrees. He’s also noticed a rise in dark-colored storage in recent months, and when we look at Paul’s system, it’s easy to understand the appeal.
Unlike their cool-coloured counterparts, these cabinets can sometimes seem more difficult to incorporate into our spaces. Although, as Beau emphasizes, decorating with dark colors is easier than we first think.
“Although dark colors may seem overwhelming when incorporated into an interior scheme, they can also tie a room together perfectly and make a unique design statement, especially when used on walls,” he says.
“Why not add a dramatic element to your living room with a dark wall or simply incorporate a subtle hint with your shelf?” Either way, these stylish colors are completely timeless and promise to stand the test of time.’
How we fill our cabinets is personal, but if we’re to take any lesson from Paul, it’s that any color (and any contents) looks great against a dark wood frame. And with the Beatles’ approval, is it any surprise that this tune went up?
