Use Oak to Bring Warmth to A Contemporary Bedroom

When most people think of oak, they think of heavy, ornate furniture that is unmistakably traditional in style, but the new generation of furniture designers have found innovative ways to use the distinctive character of oak to create contemporary furniture that makes use of its warmth and colouring.

Contemporary style is defined by sleek, flowing lines and the careful combination of textures, but in recent years, this has often resulted in rooms that are cold and in which it can be difficult to relax. Modern designers have turned to the uniquely warm and charming characteristics of oak to help to solve this problem, resulting in furniture that combines the up-to-the-minute cool of contemporary design with the appealing textures and colours of oak.

Surprisingly, oak can be a light, welcoming
presence in a contemporary room

Of course, too much oak can overpower the design of a room, so you'll want to pick your pieces carefully. Choose an oak bed and bedside cabinet, to create a focal point, but you'll need to vary the textures surrounding it. Use fabric to dress a four poster bed, or bring in an upholstered chaise longue to provide contrast.

If you want some more advice on how to use oak and other traditional timbers to create a contemporary bedroom, check out channel4.com's in depth article.