Home » Home Improvement » Furniture
DesignFurnitureWall Decoration
Novozhenina Anna
11516 Views
An interior in the wenge style is, first of all, a statement of status, since we are talking primarily about the noble color that you choose for your home. Wenge color finishing in the interior has certain rules, let's look at the most interesting samples with the material.
Features of the material
Most prolific in Central Africa, this dark wood is best known for its use in musical instruments and fine furniture. Despite some concerns about the sustainability of this type of wood, it has come into vogue in a new environmentally friendly form.
Its unique color and flocked appearance serve as a muse for designers of the most beautiful, modern laminate flooring, furniture, and decorative items. Although the whole thing is not usually made from natural wenge, but instead created from more sustainable types of wood, this look carries with it the image and feel of exceptional design. Let's find out more about why Wenge is such an inspiration.
An interior in wenge style is, first of all, a statement of status
Origin story
The Wenge tree is an exotic species of tree that originates from West Africa. It reflects in a pleasant shade from orange to dark brown. Over the past thirty years, the population of these trees has decreased by half, as a result of uncontrolled forest exploitation, when all natural habitats of trees are exploited.
As a consequence, the Millettia laurentii tree from which Wenge is made has become one of the species threatened with extinction according to the World Conservation Union. These factors make Wenge wood an expensive and not so environmentally sound choice.
Wenge is best known for its sound quality, which is why it is so popular in the world of instruments as an instrument material. Traditionally, wenge is the name given to the bean tree Millettia laurentii, which was grown for drums in places such as Gabon, Cameroon, and Congo.
Wenge color finishing in the interior has certain rules
Its wood is heavy and it is also extremely dense, which means it reflects sound well. Instruments that are commonly made from Wenge include not only drums, which benefit from its deep sonorous qualities, but also guitars.
Wenge is often used for those parts of guitars that require density and support, as well as musical tone - this is the neck, neck . The material pairs well with lighter woods such as maple to provide both stability and lightness to the instrument.
The color looks very stylish
Main characteristics
Wenge also looks very stylish, which is why its distinctive pattern is so popular in today's interior design market. Its beautiful wavy pattern is similar to the color of the feathers of feathered partridges. This effect is evident in both the main Wenge cuts and the partitions, where the contrast of the wood between the dark and medium brown grains shows up in higher contrast.
Material characteristics:
- Color/Appearance : The heartwood is medium brown, sometimes tinged with reddish or yellowish, with almost black stripes. When finishing (especially with oil) the wood can become almost black.
- Grain/Texture : The grain is straight, with a very coarse texture. Low natural shine.
- Granularity : diffusely porous, large and very large, but rare pores without a specific location. Sometimes there are dark brown inclusions; the middle rays, not visible without a lens, are at an average distance from each other. The parenchyma is vasicentric, confluent, with wide stripes, usually thick, with pores.
- Durability and stability . Wenge is an extremely heavy, dense material. These characteristics give the material strength, which explains why Wenge is so popular for flooring and furniture. Wood stands the test of time.
Extremely heavy, dense material
- Laconic appearance . Has straight lumber to work with and greatly simplifies construction and design, making it easy to work with when it comes to appearance.
- Rot Resistance : Very durable, pest resistant.
- Labor intensive : Difficult to process by hand or machine. Blurres the edges of the tool. Sanding occurs unevenly due to differences in density between light and dark areas. Very splintery - care should be taken when handling unfinished wood with bare hands as splinters have an increased risk of infection.
Very large pores may be difficult to fill and are not suitable for applications where a perfectly smooth/even finish is required.
When finishing the wood can become almost black
- Odor : Wenge has a weak, slightly bitter odor when working.
- Allergies/Toxicity : Although severe reactions are quite rare, inhalation of wood dust from this tree has been reported to cause a central nervous system reaction, abdominal cramps, skin irritation, eye irritation, and is a sensitizer. In addition, splinters from it tend to take longer to heal and are also more likely to affect a larger area than splinters from other breeds.
- Pricing/Availability : Available in wide planks and veneer sheets. Prices are high and are likely to remain so as supplies dwindle.
- Sustainability : This timber species is not listed on the CITES appendix but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as threatened due to a decline of more than 50% over the last three generations, caused by the decline of its natural range and exploitation.
Has a sleek appearance
A wood with excellent strength and hardness properties and is also dark enough to be used as a substitute for ebony.
- Common uses: veneer, paneling, furniture, clocks, figurines and other decor. As well as finishing materials, doors, door handles, musical instruments. Noble dark shades can not only emphasize the geometry of the room, but also bring luxury and nobility to the image of the interior.
Wenge has a visual impact on others due to its chocolate brown color. It also provides great contrast when designing spaces alongside lighter, more contrasting wood species.
The tree is very durable and resistant to pests
Finishing
The wood structure of wenge is well suited for creating not only full-fledged coverings and furniture frames, but also for small design elements that are always relevant.
Ceiling
In typical apartments and residential buildings it is not customary to make the ceiling covering dark.
This finish conceals the space, reducing it in size. It is more relevant for spaces with high ceilings, where you can even install dark beams, provided the background of the ceiling is light.
Most often, such decor is done in the loft or industrial direction.
Floor
It would be better to make the floors with this shade.
In construction markets you can easily find laminate, linoleum, carpet and parquet of this tone. Even the tiles imitate wood color.
After laying the floor, the room is transformed, becoming fashionable, neat and stylish, only if there are no excess dark tones.
Walls
It is advisable to use wenge on walls in large rooms. Otherwise, small rooms will seem even smaller.
One of the walls should be decorated in a dark style or use several dark cladding panels.
Wenge color in the interior
Wenge has become a popular color now due to the new interest in mahogany and other darker woods in interior design. Because Wenge is so unique in its color spectrum and depth of browns and blacks, it has also been used as a substitute for ebony.
Walls and floor
When it comes to the design value of your flooring or wood paneling, the color and style of wenge hardwood cannot be overstated. This look is stunning, and from an engineering standpoint, a floor that leans on a dark palette and also has a hard grain will enhance your home beautifully, especially if you're looking for a very modern look.
This is a tree that needs an audience, but at the same time its thinness and low tone variation means it will match almost any design scheme.
Noble dark shades can emphasize the geometry of the room
Furniture
Wenge wood not only makes a gorgeous laminate floor, but also makes an excellent material for cabinets in your home. From tables and chairs to bathroom cabinets, this wood is sure to complete the look of any home.
The reason for this popularity is a combination of durability, color and type of texture, which depends on how the material was cut. This is a great wood that can be part of any design.
Wenge as a background
One of the most common ways to use wenge as a background color is as a floor finish. Laminate or floor tiles can harmoniously fit into any interior and add a little exoticism and luxury to it.
The only drawback of this choice is the above-mentioned difficulties from a functional point of view: a dark floor means noticeable dust, foot prints.
Another mistake of inexperienced designers designing their own apartment will be the problem of choosing furniture. Due to ignorance and fear of making mistakes, many people take furniture of a similar color. The resulting effect is called the “Wenge trap” in professional jargon.
Dark floors, furniture and, in most cases, poor lighting make the room dull, dull and depressing.
The positive effect of such combinations will be only in two cases, and their presence should be observed simultaneously:
- Good artificial lighting and large windows that let in a lot of light.
- Volumetric room.
Advice! For wenge floors, you should select furniture in warm, pastel shades.
The second option for using wenge color as a background color is a zoned finish. If it is not suitable for full wall cladding, then a part of the wall or a spacious brown niche looks great.
A color scheme
What color goes with this dark brown tone? Here are some examples of how to mix furniture and Wenge colors without getting a gloomy look in the room.
Wood with excellent strength and hardness properties
Wenge wood has a dark brown color with black veins. Depending on the processing method, this material can also have narrow, beige lines that fade to black. Wenge wood is most often used dark, and it can be completely black with a characteristic oily sheen. Today in stores there is a very wide selection of melamine MDF boards that reproduce many shades very well, including Wenge.
Tip To bring out the dark shade of Wenge wood at its best, mix furniture with warm yellow, orange, red tones. Green will give the space a fresh touch.
When deciding on a shade, keep in mind that yellow or green do not always go well with red. Consider colors inspired by the African savannah if you want to give your home an ethnic touch.
Has a low natural shine
Tip Ethnic style suits the wenge style, as the material has a very characteristic authentic look, which is often found in nature. Therefore, it makes a realistic “earthly” decor.
When you prefer natural, muted tones, a creamy, silky gray tone is suitable. Stay away from dark gray and brown tones such as anthracite, chocolate brown, which can give a gloomy effect on the room. The white large glossy surfaces also create a good contrast with the dark brown Wenge wood.
Floor, doors, windows
Wenge color is used not only in furniture. It is good for floor coverings, creating a feeling of stability, confidence and security. In this case, it is desirable that the doors echo the floors at least with platbands.
Not every room can withstand the powerful pressure of dark color. And if you make the door leaves dark brown, it can significantly reduce the size of an already small room. There is an exit. It is enough to decorate only the extensions and platbands in a noble shade. And the doors in this case will be milky-creamy tones.
The same principle works for windows. In spacious living rooms and bedrooms you can install frames covered with high-quality imitation African wood. If the scope and concept of the project allows, then it is permissible to use dark window sills.
In rooms with a modest area, it is advisable to assign wenge the role of an accent and auxiliary shade.
At the same time, there should be an abundance of white and pastel colors around the noble color. In this case, you will achieve the desired result.
At the same time, there are cases when you need to create a subdued, intimate atmosphere. Billiard rooms, wine cellars, home cinemas, poker rooms - these are rooms in which an excess of dark chocolate color is appropriate. But even here it should receive an elegant frame in light colors. Instead of covering all the walls with wenge, alternate it with pearl gray, blue, pale pink, and turquoise. Give him coffee and tea shades as companions.
Bedroom
Wenge bedrooms feature many traditional and modern details such as straight lines, raised, long and low furniture, as well as a variety of components such as leather, linen upholstery and wood.
Stylish and beautiful bedroom
With a dark background, decoration in silver and white colors goes well, which gives the interior an elegant look.
If your room is small, adding a silver oval mirror, light-colored bedding and rugs can help make the area appear larger than it actually is. Another aspect that would be appropriate is white chests of drawers with open legs and long lamps in the shape of a bouquet of flowers. Silver trim will add a sense of sophistication, especially when paired with shiny patterned bedding and a variety of stylish pillows.
If your preferred lifestyle is clean and uncluttered, then a modern bedroom style is for you. The outstanding feature of this style is the purity of the design.
The overall design uses a lot of clean, straight lines for sharp corners and straight edges. The palette of this style relies on the use of neutral background tones and a minimal number of accents.
In the style of minimalism
A modern bedroom design can move away from the minimalist towards more conservatism without looking boring. Glass or mirrors are materials that are used very often and a lot in the modern bedroom due to its clean appearance and reflectivity. A modern wenge bedroom often includes large windows and glass or mirror walls.
The bed in a modern bedroom gives the design a penchant for straight lines and sharp edges.
Tip If you're looking to add a little more of a traditional look to your bedroom style, instead of dainty carved frames on your bed, try using a decorative headboard.
Overall, the furniture and decorative items in this type of bedroom tend to be modern in style and elegant in design. Bright color can be included, especially in abstract designs, but care must be taken to ensure it matches the crisp and clean feel of the rest of the room.
Wenge bedrooms have many traditional and modern details
Furniture
As mentioned above, furniture of this shade needs to be accompanied by a light color. In this case, the structure and nobility of the material is clearly demonstrated.
In small rooms you should not install a set completely decorated in this shade. It is better to use a combination of contrasting tones. For example, let the facades shimmer with a milky-creamy palette, and the use of wenge in the framing of cabinets will give the desired severity. This option is good for the nursery and kitchen.
In the living room, you can increase the amount of dark tone and assign it to a set of upholstered furniture. In this case, be sure to maintain the noble shade with light walls and flooring. The smaller the square meters, the more light shades.
You should not use two types of wood with a pronounced texture in one interior. The best companions for this African wonder would be bleached oak and ash.
Wenge sets are good in classic and modern interiors. However, for classic projects it is better to use this color in measured quantities when making any frames, handles, small details and accents.
The texture of the material is best revealed in modern trends, such as modern, eco-style, African and colonial. This shade is also good for urban interiors in the spirit of constructivism and loft.
The fittings should only emphasize the beauty of the material. She is given a supporting role. Bronze and gold are well suited for warm shades of facades. Cold purple tones will be supported by silver, chrome and mercury.
Sometimes you can find advice to combine wenge with zebrawood. It should be noted that both materials have a pronounced character and texture. Such a juxtaposition is possible only when they are present in small quantities in the form of accents. You shouldn’t combine both textures in one headset. The best setting for both materials is plain materials that will not compete with them for the right to be the first violin in the orchestra.
Living room
Your living room is a place where you spend a lot of time. This is where you relax, spend time with your family or entertain guests. Depending on the layout of your home, the living room can include many different functions. It is often used as a formal seating area, a place to watch TV or socialize.
Typically, the living room will have comfortable sofas, armchairs, a coffee table, an entertainment center, and possibly a fireplace. This room can also work with wenge from minimal to contemporary designs, as well as from traditional to extravagant.
Excellent material for use in the living room
Dark brown furniture will give the area a sense of masculine security, offering tranquility and comfort. A large rug will add sophistication and spaciousness to the room. A white fireplace will be the centerpiece that will provide just the right accent. It will always be beneficial to have large windows in the room that offer more light and great views. They are especially needed if the room has dark furniture or decor.
Design ideas
High ceilings . A great way to create a ceiling is to use exposed wood beams. The height of the ceiling allows for more volume for more accent lighting, such as chandeliers or downlights.
Dark brown furniture will give the area a feeling of masculine security
French doors or large windows . As the center of the home, the living room should be a space of warmth and lightness. Large windows or French doors opening onto a garden or veranda are amazing features in any luxury living room. Having large landscape windows will make it especially nice to have a living room facing any good view or panorama.
Built-in fireplace with stove . A fireplace to warm your home instantly adds class to any living room. Decorating your fireplace in stone or brick will give the room a more characterful theme.
Warm wooden floor and floor mat . Wood flooring in light and warm colors helps provide a living room that feels consistent with the rest of the home.
An area rug is a great way to highlight an area, especially in an open floor plan where the living space is connected to the kitchen, dining room and foyer.
Interesting idea for a wall in the living room
Upholstery . There is no living room without a set of sofa and armchairs. Living room furniture comes in a variety of fabrics designed to suit the style and era the home wants to achieve. This is primarily a wide variety of leather and soft textiles that work in different styles from Modern to Neo Classical and Italian Gothic.
More than just a place to place coffee, drinks and a serving tray, a coffee table is the focal point of a modern living room .
In addition to choosing the right materials and profile for it, it is also important to pay close attention to the contents of the table, from interesting magazines to accessories that tell a story or inspire good feelings.
Stylish dining area
Wenge as an accent
The emphasis on wenge color is most often done through the harmonious arrangement of furniture. In this case, it is not necessary to clutter the room with objects of this shade. 3 types of accent are allowed:
- Single – one element acts as an attention-grabbing element. This could be a decorative slide, upholstered furniture, or even a frame for family photos.
- Selective - in this case, there are 2-3 wenge-colored elements in the room. They can appear in a single ensemble (table, chairs) or be distributed in a chaotic manner, that is, intended for opposite functions (sofa and table, bedside table and door), the effect will be the same.
- Full accentuation is carried out while ensuring that all the furniture in the room is made in the same color and style. In this situation, an important nuance is to avoid interspersing other dark tones due to the likelihood of a color overabundance.
When choosing the main wall decoration, you need to rely on one of three design options:
- Creating a bright design occurs with the help of unusual accessories and a bright background of the walls.
- With a contrasting combination, you will further enhance the attention-grabbing furniture due to the bright color borders. This is achieved by combining dark and light tones.
- The bedroom can be decorated in a soft style. Pastel colors are used, preferably universal gray or beige.
Healthy! The neutral shade of wenge, close to black, allows it to blend harmoniously into most backgrounds. The main thing in this situation is to combine it with the style of the surrounding environment.
Kitchen
One important decorating aspect to consider is the color of your kitchen cabinets. No matter what style you prefer - bold and bright or minimal and pastel.
Using more than one shade can create depth or focal points in your kitchen - why not consider a bold, stand-out kitchen island? The contrast should not be too harsh; even subtle shades can add depth to any size kitchen. For example, for Wenge, you can choose a cream shade that contrasts and complements it perfectly.
Cozy kitchen in classic style
Tip: Your kitchen should be made of durable material to last for many years. Try a combination of wenge and cherry wood to inspire you to create a kitchen in your own style.
Wenge and cherry wood are well known in kitchen design because they are considered hardwoods, have a beautiful appearance and are quite durable to use. In addition, cherry is easy to trim and design and has a smooth surface. Wenge and cherry woods are known for their resistance to abrasion and impact.
Wenge, with its dark grayish-brown wood, has a very unique and stylish look.
Cozy wenge kitchen interior design provides a comfortable interest that includes the distribution of colors, grouping of objects, participation in composition and design perspective so that all factors come together in a common group.
The contrast of colors in the kitchen should not be too sharp
The laconicism of wenge furniture, together with uncomplicated themes and components, is the main condition for a cozy design, the powerful distinctive feature of which serves as decoration and harmonization of the design idea.
VIDEO: How wenge color can change a design
Wenge in the interior
Choosing the color of the furniture
General recommendations
In order for the design of a bedroom with wenge-colored furniture to look harmonious, it is important to adhere to the following principles:
- in small rooms you should not use many dark-colored objects;
- for wall decoration, coverings with discreet geometric patterns are preferred;
- the use of soft, creamy shades will give the bedroom coziness and comfort;
- To visually increase space, mirror surfaces in moderate quantities are recommended.
Let's summarize: wenge wood has high performance properties and high cost. Therefore, furniture made from natural rosewood decorates only rich homes. However, a budget option made of chipboard and veneer, stylized as wenge, can also be afforded by less wealthy people.
It is worth considering that furniture in this color becomes the central part of the interior, on the basis of which the design of other elements is selected.
To ensure that the bedroom suits its purpose, designers recommend decorating floors, walls and textiles in light, delicate colors, giving preference to natural materials or textures.
If you want to add brightness and personality to the room, you can dilute the calm colors with brighter and more saturated elements.
An important detail of a thoughtful design is lighting, which involves the presence of central and spotlights. By taking these principles into account, you can transform your bedroom into a relaxing place that combines luxury and comfort.
