The moment for rooms filled with matchy-matchy wood décor has come and (thankfully) gone. These days, mixing up different wood shades when decorating adds variation in color, texture, and pattern, which makes a space more visually appealing. But what is the secret for combining different woods tones without making a room feel cobbled together?

While there are no hard and fast rules, there are a few things you can keep in mind to achieve a specific look or mood. The essential need to know? Natural wood colors are neutrals making them fairly goof proof to incorporate into any color scheme. From contrasting tones to patterned grains, here are tips for mixing and matching wood shades like a pro.