Sonoma Oak: The Perfect Choice for Your Interior

What color is this?

Oak is one of the few trees whose shades vary dramatically depending on the variety. Natural wood can be a rich dark shade or a light tone, cold or warm red (like rustic oak).

Sonoma oak stands out in this list – a light oak undertone with pink, gray, sometimes milky or brown veins (depending not only on the variety, but also on the lighting). Unlike its close relative, milk oak, this one has a richer, more heterogeneous and noble texture.

The Sonoma variety of wood received its name due to the area in which it grows. The term is translated from Indian as “moon valley”.

The photo shows a wall in light oak color

Sonoma oak shades

Many people believe that the sonoma color looks exclusively like a light shade with a pinkish undertone. However, the common film for laminating chipboard displays only one hypostasis of sonoma oak.

This name hides light and dark shades: what natural wood will be like depends on age, humidity and other environmental factors.

Important! The older the tree gets, the darker the color of the wood becomes.

Light

The palette from almost white to milky is typical for young trees. Shades of pearl, ivory, cream, silver look elegant, perfectly complement the interior, make it more sophisticated.

The photo shows the texture of light laminated chipboard

Medium

Also called Sonoma oak truffle. It goes well with its light “brother”, but it also looks amazing on its own: the delicate texture of golden wood with dark, almost black veins attracts attention.

Dark

Dark tones are typical of European wood, as well as mature trees. Dark colors vary in saturation – from medium, slightly darker than truffle, reminiscent of Endgrain, to the most shaded, more close to the color of wenge.

What does it go with?

Neutral sonoma oak in the interior is not limited in color combinations: it looks good with monochromatic matte white, gray, beige surfaces, as well as with a dark gloss (dark blue, green, burgundy, chocolate).

Combining wood textures first of all we recommend considering a combination of Sonoma shades: light color with truffle or dark. The difference between them is only in the saturation of the color, so the pair will turn out to be quite harmonious.

Sonoma oak is no less successfully combined with wenge, replacing the milky shade. A cabinet made of two colors of oak is a timeless interior classic.

The photo shows an example of a combination with wenge

A stone of a similar shade, white acrylic, and metal will add a modern touch to the design as a countertop for a kitchen set with facades in the shade of sonoma oak.

If the space is designed in the Provence style, light furniture in sonoma color will go well with lilac or soft green. For a loft, blue and purple companions are more suitable.

What does furniture look like in this color?

Let’s start with the largest options – furniture sets. A wall in sonoma oak will look faded on its own, so it is better to complement its design with additional elements. Inserts made of glossy single-color MDF of any color, tinted glass or dark wood are suitable.

Important! In a modern living room, it is better to use a combination of white + sonoma.

The light set is suitable for arranging even small kitchens – it is an excellent alternative to the white or gray sets that many are bored with. Sonoma oak is appropriate in modern, classic and even rustic (country, Provence) styles.

Important! The advantage of a light oak set is that even a high corner set will not block the light and the room will remain visually spacious.

The photo shows a two-tone kitchen set

Sonoma oak furniture in the bedroom is usually represented by a bed, bedside tables, a wardrobe with a mirror or a chest of drawers. Recommendations for the design of a one-piece set are the same as in the living room: dilute the oak texture with additional shades.

The photo shows a bedroom set of light wood with white

The children’s room can also be completely made of sonoma oak, including a bed for a child, a computer or writing desk, a wardrobe. Thanks to the neutral furniture, the finish can be anything – from the same light to bright and saturated. Decorate the walls with pictures, leave space for toys or a colorful rug – the space will still remain cozy.

Since hallways in houses and apartments are often made small, a set of furniture in the sonoma shade is an excellent choice that allows you to combine beauty and functionality without cluttering up the space.

Important! The Sonoma color is not as active as rich wenge or red walnut, so when choosing such furniture, you can afford a little extra in the decoration. For example, choose interesting wallpaper or make a color accent on one of the surfaces.

How does it look in the interior of the rooms?

Before moving on to considering the interiors, it is worth mentioning: the Sonoma oak shade can be not only furniture. Manufacturers produce entrance and interior doors, floor coverings (linoleum, laminate), protective or decorative wall panels. If you try, you can even find options for wet rooms: tiles or PVC panels in the desired color.

Kitchen

Sonoma shade headsets can be single-color or combined, while sonoma can be either a light top (in combination with wenge, graphite) or a dark bottom (in combination with white).

Advice! To avoid the interior being too “wooden”, it is recommended to choose a table and chairs in a single color that stand out against the background of the cabinets.

Living room

The warm texture of the wood will definitely add coziness to the main room of the house. A large object (a wall unit, a console) or a small decor item — a coffee table, a flower stand — can be made in the color of Sonoma oak.

Hallway

The entrance group is perhaps the only place where oak should not be mixed with anything except white or milky colors. To “lighten” the appearance of furniture, it is better to choose sets with open hooks instead of cabinets, shelves instead of shoe racks.

Bedroom

Cabinet wardrobes or chests of drawers made of light oak will go well with both a bed in the same color and more modern models with circular upholstery. Combine with neutral calm tones: pearl, gainsboro, almond, linen.

Study

A light desk does not look as luxurious as a dark one made of ordinary oak or mahogany. But it fits perfectly into modern workspaces, including small ones, where more saturated analogues would look bulky, even rude.

Children’s

Sonoma is one of the few shades that grows with the child. Bright green, blue, pink facades will become irrelevant at 7-8 years old, while oak furniture suits any age and gender.

Sonoma oak is full of simplicity and elegance at the same time: don’t be afraid to use it in your interior, no matter what style you choose.