Ways to use wenge color in interior design.

What color is this?

Like oak or walnut, wenge is a type of wood obtained from an African tree of the same name. Natural wood of this species has gained popularity not only due to its beautiful dark tone and pronounced texture (brown with black veins looks very decorative), but also due to its properties.

The material is very dense, durable, shockproof. It is not subject to bending, rotting, fungus and mold. However, complex processing and an extremely low number of remaining trees makes the natural material extremely expensive and practically inaccessible.

But manufacturers have been able to adapt and today offer imitation wenge shade in 2 options:

• Lamination. Classic chipboard boards covered with a film of a suitable color and texture.
• Paint. Natural wood of any other species is covered with a special paint that allows achieving similarity with the original source.

The photo shows the color of wenge in the kitchen

What are the shades of wenge?

Unlike the same oak, which can be milky, bleached, rustic, clear, natural, antique, tobacco, the shade of wenge usually does not have additional names and is designated in catalogs by one word. At the same time, the color of wenge looks different for different manufacturers:

• Melinge. Deep dark brown with a cool undertone, which is achieved through gray inclusions.
• Tsavo. Warm chocolate shade.
• Aruba. Rich range, going into burgundy.
• Linum. The lightest tone with the finest veins.
• Magic. Neutral dark shade.

Take a responsible approach to choosing the color of wenge in the interior: from the saturation and temperature depend on the combination options with other tones.

What colors does it go with?

Since wenge-colored furniture is almost black, this complex shade works in much the same way. Wenge goes well with almost the entire color palette.

The first contender for the pair shade of wenge – white. The tones in contrast look bright, but restrained. As an additional light shade, you can use gray. However, in the case of melinge, the combination may become too faded – you will need to add bright accents.

Harmonious duets are obtained by mixing the color of wenge with light warm companions: beige, milky, sand. Most often, this combination is used when creating a classic interior with wenge, because is proven and working.

As for black, you shouldn’t overdo it: the maximum is to add small details to the furniture in wenge color on a light background.

The photo shows a combination with red

You shouldn’t neglect the color scheme: the color of wenge in the interior looks equally good with pastel and bright tones. Cold melinge is usually combined with light blue, blue, green. Warm tsavo suits yellow, orange, red. Complex Aruba will sparkle in a new way next to purple.

Application options

The use of the wenge shade is extensive: most often, furniture is made in wenge color, but it is also used in the decoration of walls, floors, ceilings, accessories and even textiles.

Furniture colors wenge

Wenge furniture in the interior is a status indicator. It is installed in any room – living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, children’s room, hallway.

Coffee tables, wall units, and cabinets are made for the hall. In the kitchen, either the entire set or part of it can be made in wenge – the lower tier is made dark, the upper one – colored or light. Or they are used exclusively in the dining area: in the form of a table with chairs or a sofa.

The photo shows a classic milky-brown kitchen

The bedroom can be furnished in a shade from floor to ceiling (wardrobe, bed, nightstands), or use it sparingly as an accent. A freestanding chest of drawers, for example, will draw attention to the desired area.

Interior items can be either 100% dark or mixed: for example, wenge frames, facades – light oak or maple. The combination of white gloss and dark wood looks modern.

Decor and accessories

Decorative elements will emphasize good taste, but will not draw the attention of guests. These can be mirrors, small coffee tables, picture frames. Carved partitions or screens that zone the space look no less impressive.

Curtains and other textile

Of course, calling the fabric wenge is not entirely correct: this term refers to the dark brown color of textiles.

The curtains are good on their own, but they look best in combination with cream, milky, olive, gray, and blue shades. The same applies to the pillows and blankets on the sofa – if they are all chocolate, the composition will turn out too bland.

Doors and windows

Wenge-colored doors are a universal option for various styles. For example, in a classic style, beautiful relief panels with bas-reliefs will be appropriate. In a modern style, models with straight lines, clear shapes, and in minimalism, blind ones.

Dark windows are an excellent alternative to ordinary white double-glazed windows. They look more expensive and go well with interior doors.

Staircase

In front of the owners country houses face a difficult choice: what to make the stairs from? Regular wood is not always suitable, but dark African wood is more versatile. It looks equally good in combination with carved balusters and glass railings.

How does it look in decoration?

When carrying out major repairs and changing the flooring, many people turn to the wenge shade. Dark floors are a noble, aesthetic, although not very practical option.

But if you have a robot vacuum cleaner in your apartment or you don’t mind cleaning it once every couple of days, there shouldn’t be any problems. Of all the finishing materials, laminate, linoleum, and quartz vinyl are considered the easiest to care for.

The photo shows the color wenge in the wall decoration

In addition to wenge flooring in the interior, panels of this shade are often used to decorate walls. The design looks good behind the bed or opposite the sofa – as a base for a TV with an audio system.

The floor and walls are not the only option for using the wenge color. Dark wood slats, for example, are often used to decorate the ceiling: the decor looks good against a white background.

The tone is used in the kitchen for countertops and aprons. They can even be made in one color – there is a large selection of MDF panels on the market, decorated with the same film as the work surfaces.

What styles is it suitable for?

Unlike red wood shades, such as beech, alder, cherry, almost black wood is more versatile. If red is appropriate only in classic decor, then dark brown tones are also suitable for modern trends.

Example: high-tech. Wenge looks appropriate surrounded by glass and metal, the main thing is to choose interior items in a minimalist design.

Pure minimalism also chooses this wood type from all other types: neutral, but not black, color, ideal for decorating large surfaces.

When combining the incompatible (fusion), individual chocolate items will easily find their place.

How does it look in the interior?

We have already mentioned that wenge can be used in absolutely any room. But remember the rule: an abundance of dark details will make a compact space even smaller. So use it with caution in small rooms and only in combination with a light palette.

Kitchen

Lucky owners of large kitchens can afford a rich corner or U-shaped set with upper cabinets, tall units, columns, and an island. The excess of deep tones is compensated by light finishing and decor.

Important! Handles are a must for the fronts — thanks to them, there will be much fewer fingerprints on the doors.

The photo shows a combination of wenge and concrete

If the kitchen is less than 10 square meters, you need to choose what is more important to you – visual space or dark furniture. To save free space, at least visually, wenge is used only for the bottom row of cabinets or is used in specific places: for the countertop, chairs, dining table.

Living room

The same rules apply to the hall: in a large room, the entire furnishings can be in dark wood, while in a small room, only small details in a wenge shade can be used.

When choosing a console for a TV or a wall with many shelves and drawers, keep in mind: dust is clearly visible on the surface and you will have to wipe it 2-3 times a week. Therefore, it is better to give preference to closed storage systems.

If you do not like the rich shades of furniture, use the color on the floor or walls.

Bedroom

A few years ago, bedroom sets with the addition of a milky shade were popular. Today they look outdated, so if you want all the furniture in one color and style, take completely dark. And to level out the bulkiness, choose a minimalist design. Light walls and floors, white or cream decor, and textiles will help make the atmosphere more comfortable.

Hallway

If the living room is the heart of the house, then the hallway is its face. The thing that is in any entrance group is the door. Its interior design can be anything: it is good if it harmonizes with the interior openings and is made in wenge.

The same furniture is best suited to a coffee-colored entrance door. Built-in models will not look bulky, so it is better to make a custom-made wardrobe according to individual dimensions.

Bathroom

The bathroom is the place where wenge is most appropriate! A dark cabinet, shelf or rack will fit perfectly into the environment of glossy plumbing and light tiles.

You shouldn’t cross out wenge from the design, considering it outdated: just use it in a modern interior in a new way.