Contrasting Timbers: How to Enhance Your Woodworking Projects
The judicious use of contrasting timbers can elevate your woodworking projects to the next level! Not only can the right contrast improve the aesthetic appeal of a piece, but different timber choices can also completely transform the overall look and feel of the finished item.
Knowing how to select, cut and assemble your timber can create a project that appears well-designed and eye-catching. At WL West Timber, we’re here to help by offering expert advice and top tips to ensure you achieve the best possible results.
Contrasting timbers can be combined together to create a unique woodworking project. Chopping board crafted by Rustic Creations.
Selecting the Right Supplier and Timber Species
Every successful woodworking project starts in the timber yard or store. The high demand for exotic hardwoods makes sustainability one of the top priorities for suppliers. It’s important to purchase your timber from a reputable supplier, and choosing responsibly sourced wood not only helps to protect natural forests, but also ensures the long-term availability of these beautiful materials. As members of Timber Development UK, WL West adhere to their mandatory Responsible Purchasing Policy, making sure our timber is legally and responsibly sourced. All suppliers undergo thorough risk assessments to prevent illegal timber from entering the supply chain.
Before making your selection, take a veneer sample or small piece of any timber you’re already using and compare it with boards or blanks you’re considering. This ensures that your chosen timbers complement each other well in terms of colour, grain and texture.
Choosing Boards with the Right Colour and Grain Pattern
Once you have decided on the timber species you want to use, take some time to carefully select the specific boards or blanks for your project. To achieve the best results:
Place your selected timber in a well-lit area to assess its true colour and grain pattern.
Remember that environmental factors affect the appearance of wood. For example, trees growing in colder climates or at higher altitudes develop tighter growth rings, leading to denser, more finely grained timber.
Consider how different cuts of the same species can exhibit varied patterns – quarter-sawn oak, for example, has a very different appearance from plain-sawn oak.
Matching Boards Carefully for a Seamless Look
If your project requires a uniform or symmetrical appearance, matching boards carefully is essential. At WL West Timber, we sell some matched pairs of boards, which is particularly useful when requiring a uniform appearance, achieving a consistent grain pattern. When joining two boards together, experiment with different edges until you find the best combination.
Combined grains for a stunning finish.
Choosing Your Contrasting Timbers
When it comes to mixing timber species, there are no hard and fast rules! With that being said, some combinations work particularly well. Light-coloured woods typically contrast beautifully with darker varieties. Additionally, you can mix timbers with prominent grains, provided the patterns do not clash or create awkward intersections.
While there is no specific guideline for the proportion of each wood to use, it is important to keep balance in mind. Highly figured or vividly coloured woods can easily overpower more muted, fine-grained species if used in excess. The key is to create contrast without making the final piece feel overwhelming.
Perfect Pairings – Our Recommendations
Although there are no definitive rules, some timber pairings are tried and tested for their visual appeal. Here are a few combinations we highly recommend:
European Walnut and Maple
The pale cream and golden hues of maple contrast beautifully with the light to deep chocolate brown of European walnut. Both species feature stunning grain patterns, creating fascinating combinations in furniture, cabinetry and decorative items.
Oak and Black Walnut
Oak and black walnut are two highly popular hardwoods that complement each other wonderfully. The light golden colour and distinctive grain of oak provide an attractive contrast to the deep, rich tones of black walnut. This pairing adds depth and interest to any piece, making it an excellent choice for furniture, flooring and joinery.
A perfect example of the harmonious combination of Oak and Black Walnut with this stunning chopping board created by Wood’n Designs.
Chechen and Black Ebony
When paired together, chechen and ebony have a pure, dark elegance. Chechen has a gorgeous reddish-brown colouration with contrasting darker stripes, while ebony is usually jet black with little to no variation or visible grain. Both timbers can be polished to a high lustre and together, they create an exotic and expensive look that is perfect for decorative items, high-end furniture and cabinetry.
Olive and Sapele
The lustrous reddish brown iridescence of sapele alongside the striking streaked appearance of olive create a wonderful combination. Ideal for woodturning or fine furniture projects where you are aiming for warm tones and a distinctive appearance.
Olive and Sapele combined to create an eye-catching olive oil bottle by Mark at Havant Men’s Shed.
To Conclude
In the end, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder! If you find two timber species that look great together, trust your instincts and enjoy the process of creating something unique.
At WL West Timber, we offer packs of contrasting timbers as well as a vast range of individual species to suit any project. Whether you prefer to shop online or visit us in-store at Selham, we are here to help you find the perfect timber for your needs.
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Monday to Thursday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday: 8:00am – 4:00pm