Where Can Wooden Inlays Fit in Your Home?

There is nothing more beautiful than the combination of art and craftsmanship. When a master craftsman combines the zenith of their skill with their artistic eye, magic happens. This fusion between art and skill is most visible in wooden inlays.  

Wooden inlays are pieces where shapes or patterns are cut into a piece of wood then those designs are embedded into other pieces of wood. Typically, the inlay and the background are different wood types. For example, dark mahogany may inlay into a white oak background for a stark color contrast. 

Let's take a deeper dive into wooden inlays. In this post, we will discuss how you can add wooden inlays into your home, including on floors, furniture, doors, walls, ceilings, staircases, and kitchen cabinets. Keep reading to learn more about visually stunning wooden inlays. 

Where Can I Add Wooden Inlays in My Home? 

Wooden inlays are a great choice for any home because they fit almost anywhere and enhance the aesthetic value of any space in which they are installed. 

As a master craftsman, there is nothing I love more than transforming a space with artistic craftsmanship. Let's look at a few places where wooden inlays do best. 

Floors

Floors are a great place to add wooden inlays for an artistic twist to what can otherwise be a boring surface in your home. Floors are ideal for wooden inlays because they are often already naturally segmented by floorboards, tiles, etc.  

Personally, I love simple geometric shapes like diamonds or circles at the center of a tile or floorboard. I think it makes the space pop and breaks up the same-old, same-old.  

That said, you can go for something a little more detailed like a complex pattern or design. 

Furniture

Furniture can be an excellent place to add a wooden inlay, especially if you don't want to commit to adding inlays to a full surface. Wooden inlays fit perfectly in tables, desks, chairs, and even wooden bedframes.  

Since they are smaller surfaces inlays in furniture can often be more complex than those that go in floors or walls.  

Doors

Doors are another great place for wooden inlays. Since doors are large, flat surfaces, an inlay can be the perfect thing to add a touch of artistic splendor. 

Some of my favorite examples are inlays of room names like "kitchen," "bathroom," and "basement," signifying the room that lies beyond. One of my favorite artistic examples is an inlay of a wonderfully detailed tree I saw on a bedroom door years back. 

Walls

Like floors, walls are ideal surfaces upon which you can add a wooden inlay. Unlike floors, walls are not often divided by tiles or boards (though there are many exceptions to this) so, personally, I like larger inlays for walls.  

You can add a stunning art piece, or reoccurring geometric shapes to spice up a space. One I remember that stuck out to me was an inlay of a train opposite of a kitchen wall with subway tiles. Not only was the train magnificent and complex, but it added to a larger theme. 

Ceilings

Don't forget your ceiling when it comes to imagining ideas for inlays! The ceiling is often a great place to add more complex, artistic inlays that establish a theme or go against the grain. The best part about the ceiling is that it's subtle, but with a wisely added inlay, you can make a big statement. 

One example I remember is a celestial theme complete with stars, planets, moons, and more than another craftsman installed in a child's bedroom. Imagine gazing up at that as you fall asleep! 

Staircases

If you want to go after something more unconventional, staircases are the way to go. If you know me, you know I have a fondness for staircases. Often overlooked, staircases quite literally connect two parts of the home. What better way to accent this transitional space than with a lovely pattern?  

Here, I recommend something simple, like geometric shapes that run across the lengths of each step. Simple shapes make a subtle pattern that can add a lot to a staircase.  

Kitchen Cabinets

One of the best ways to give your kitchen a pop is by enhancing the cabinets. Like doors, cabinets are excellent canvases upon which you can add an artistic element.  

One of my favorite examples is a set of kitchen cabinets with inlays depicting a different fruit on each cabinet. It was a charming theme and since each cabinet was different there was a healthy amount of detail added to the space, without becoming repetitive. 

Wooden Inlays from Old School Craftsman 

Adding wooden inlays to your home is one of the best ways to create an artistic theme that will excite the eyes and create intrigue amongst your guests. The best part is that the only limit is your imagination. Whether you want simple shapes or intricate, detailed designs, wooden inlays are the best option.  

What's more, with today's advanced technology, like CAD technology, creating advanced or complex patterns is easier than ever before. 

If you are interested in wooden inlays for your home, reach out to Old School Craftsman. We can create complex inlays right here in our shop, and we are here to make your vision a reality. Click here to reach out today!

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