Trend colors for 2025 – and which types of wood go with them

Color trends come and go, but wood remains. This very combination makes the topic so exciting: How can the trend colors of 2025 be combined with the right types of wood so that rooms look modern but don't appear "outdated" in a year's time?

The color forecasts for 2025 show a clear direction: away from cool grey tones, towards earthy nuances, warm neutrals and nature-inspired accents.

Instead of short-term effects, the focus is on color moods that convey calm, comfort and quality – ideal for combining with solid wood surfaces.

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1. Earthy brown tones & terracotta – strong partners for oak and walnut

Brown is back – but not in a 70s style; instead, it appears in truffle-like, cocoa, or mocha shades . Terracotta, clay, and warm rust tones are also featured, appearing as key colors in many collections.

Effect:

• cozy

• grounded

• timeless

Suitable types of wood:

• Oak (oiled) :
  It picks up on the warm undertones of the trend colors while appearing robust and modern at the same time.

• Smoked oak:
  Creates a darker contrast without appearing harsh – ideal for accent furniture or accessories.

• Walnut:
  With its deep, slightly reddish grain, walnut wood goes perfectly with terracotta and oxblood tones, enhancing the luxurious look.

Practical tip:
Those who paint walls in terracotta or warm brown should opt for calm oak for large surfaces such as tabletops or sideboards and introduce contrasting colors through textiles and decorative items. This way, the combination will remain harmonious in the long term.

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2. Sage green & olive – natural tones for light woods

Green tones will remain important in 2025, but will shift away from cool mint shades towards sage, olive, and eucalyptus . They are often described as a counterpoint to digital sensory overload: colors that evoke nature, forests, and tranquility.

Effect:

• balancing

• fresh, but not loud

• Ideal for kitchens and open-plan living and dining areas.

Suitable types of wood:

• Maple:
  Very light, with a fine grain – in combination with sage green it looks particularly clear and modern.

• light oak:
  It brings more structure to the game without visually weighing it down.

• Ash:
  For everyone who likes Scandinavian clarity.

Practical tip:
Green kitchen cabinets harmonize perfectly with oak or maple countertops . Those who aren't quite ready for a colorful kitchen (yet) can start with sage-colored walls and open oak shelving.

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3. Warm neutrals: Greige, sand & taupe – base for almost any wood

After years of cool gray dominating, 2025 will see greige , sandy beige tones, and warm taupe shades take center stage. Greige is a blend of gray and beige, while taupe is a warm gray-brown. Together, they belong to the so-called neutral tones —subtle, versatile colors like beige, sand, greige, or taupe that can be combined with a wide variety of materials.

They are considered "new neutrals" because they work in almost any interior design style.

Effect:

• quiet

• reserved

• durable in design

Suitable types of wood:

Oiled oak:
Probably the most versatile combination – from country style to minimalist interiors .

Ash:
Emphasizes bright, airy room effects.

Birch:
Particularly harmonious in smaller rooms, which are intended to appear visually larger.

Practical tip:
Warm neutrals are ideal as a background color for rooms with many wooden elements. Greige walls + oak flooring + a single dark piece of furniture (e.g., a walnut side table) create a calm yet intriguing overall look.

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4. Deep blue and petrol tones – a stage for characterful woods

At the other end of the color spectrum in 2025 are deep shades of blue and petrol, sometimes even midnight or ocean blue . These are primarily used where deliberate accents and a touch of hotel aesthetics are desired.

Effect:

• elegant

• concentrated

• slightly dramatic

Suitable types of wood:

• Walnut:
  It looks particularly elegant next to dark blue, for example on sideboards or dining tables.

• Smoked oak:
  It enhances the depth of the color and is suitable for rooms that are intentionally kept dark (e.g. lounge, library).

• Dark stained oak :
  as an alternative for those who like the look of walnut but want to stick with oak.

Practical tip:
Walls in petrol blue or midnight blue should be combined with warm wood to prevent the room from feeling cold. A worktop or coffee table made of oak or walnut is sufficient to ground the color effect.

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5. Subdued violet and mauve tones – finely coordinated with light woods

Trend reports have been talking for some time about a comeback of violet hues – however, not in strong, dominant tones, but in muted variants such as mauve, eggplant and dusty lavender .
Mauve is a soft grey-violet, eggplant is reminiscent of a deep aubergine violet, and dusty lavender is a washed-out, slightly greyish lavender color. These understated violet tones appear calmer than classic purple and can be harmoniously integrated into modern interior design concepts.

Effect:

• reserved

• slightly romantic

• ideal for bedrooms and quiet living areas

Suitable types of wood:

Maple:
It enhances the lightness of these colors and looks particularly modern in combination with mauve or dusty lavender.

Ash and birch:
Emphasize the soft, elegant side of purple tones without making the room appear playful.

Practical tip:
Violet tones can quickly become dominant. Therefore, they are particularly well-suited for accent walls, textiles, or individual pieces of furniture. The wood surfaces themselves should remain rather neutral, for example in maple, ash, or birch, to create a balanced overall look.

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6. Which wood type goes with which color scheme? – A brief overview

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7. Why trendy colors and wood work together in the long term

Wood is not a short-term trend, but a decision for many years. Therefore, it's worth seeing trendy colors not as a complete "upheaval," but as accents .

• Large surfaces such as floors, stairs, and solid tables should be designed using timeless wood types – e.g., oak or maple.

• Trendy colors can be applied to wall paints, fronts, textiles or smaller pieces of furniture and can easily be replaced later.

• The combination of durable wood and interchangeable colors makes the overall furnishing more sustainable.

Closing remarks

Color trends change, but high-quality materials like solid wood retain their relevance for decades. By strategically combining the trend colors of 2025 with suitable wood types, you create a living atmosphere that feels modern without sacrificing timelessness. Whether warm earth tones, calming sage green, or vibrant petrol blue hues – each of these colors can reach its full potential when paired with the right wood.

Those who want to delve deeper into the interplay of wood, color and design will find more information in the Holzatelier magazine. I regularly publish further articles on interior design trends, materials science, and high-quality craftsmanship. In my shop , Holzatelier Theobald, you'll also find handcrafted pieces made of oak and maple, bringing many of the color and wood combinations described here to life – from simple accessories to distinctive individual pieces.

In this way, a trend becomes a design concept that brings joy for years to come.