Which Wood is The Best for Furniture
When given the choice, most people would go for wooden furniture. There is something very classy about wooden furniture. It looks natural and gives every room its own personality. If you’re furnishing your home and are confused about the variety of wooden furniture available online, we can help.
In this article, we will be talking about the different kinds of woods used for furniture, how to identify them and which wood is best for the different furniture pieces in your home.
Real and Manufactured Wood
When it comes to differentiating between the kinds of wood used for furniture, there are usually two major differences. Real wood or solid wood is made entirely of pure wood and includes hardwoods and softwoods. Manufactured wood is made of pure wood and synthetic materials.
Plywood and Particleboard
Among manufactured woods plywood is definitely the more popular one. Plywood is made up of 3-5 slices of lumber planks that are put together with an adhesive. On the other hand, particleboard is made by combining tiny pieces of lumber with the help of an adhesive.
Hardwood
It is considered one of the best wood for furniture. It comes out of deciduous trees or slower-growing trees which makes this wood a little more expensive than other options. Mahogany and Eucalyptus are two well-known examples of hardwood. It’s great quality, durable, easy to maintain and incredibly strong material.
Mahogany
When going for a luxurious desk or dining table, mahogany is an excellent choice. The reddish-brown colour of this wood is what differentiates it from others. It looks luxurious and is highly durable, does not shrink or warp due to the weather and is resistant to rotting.
Mahogany is usually used for heavy and central pieces of furniture. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a dining table, you can always go for a mahogany sideboard or a display cabinet. You would have noticed that mahogany is used often in antique furniture and is usually quite dark in colour. That is due to the fact that it does turn dark over a period of time but the structure will always remain intact.
Oak
Normally used for a more modern setting, oak is always considered a great material for furniture. The distinctive golden brown colour makes it really stand out but also sits perfectly with a sleek and minimalistic setting. It has a slightly wavy grain that makes it look different from other hardwoods. Oak can be a very eye-catching material hence it should be placed in the centre of the room. So, furniture pieces like coffee tables or bed frames would look great in this material.
Just like mahogany furniture, oak will last you a long time and will keep any sort of decay away. However, pure oak furniture is not very cheap. Furthermore, there are multiple different styles of oak furniture such as white oak, smoked oak and wild oak. The difference is mainly in the colour and texture of the wood and not the structure.
Ash
As the name suggests, ash wood usually has an ashen or cool-toned colour. The beige-to-light brown colour is perfect for a clean and modern look. Ash wood has a straight grain pattern which gives any furniture made from this wood a very sleek finish. Unlike some other hardwood options, ash wood is actually lightweight. It is known to absorb any wood stains easily, is durable and very aesthetically pleasing.
Solid woods have a tendency of changing colour over time. The lighter-coloured ash would end up becoming a little warmer with time and darker-coloured wood would turn lighter. Ash wood is available in different colours including soaped ash, taupe ash, sand ash, seared ash and weathered ash. Simple wooden chairs and dining chairs look great in ash wood.
Birch
Birchwood that has been obtained from the yellow birch tree has strong yellow undertones giving it a very warm finish. Other varieties include white and black birch. It can go from pale-white to almost a reddish-brown colour. This is one type of wood that you can find in the form of plywood as well.
It is quite easy to identify birch wood due to the colour. If you are buying an aged piece of furniture the colour will always be deeper and warmer. If it’s a fresh piece then it might be slightly pale in colour. Another identifying factor is the lack of shine. Unlike mahogany and oak, birchwood is inexpensive and you can easily find multiple furniture pieces in this material.
Beech
A super sturdy wood, beech used to be used for rails before cast iron was discovered. It’s known best for making cabinets, flooring and doors. The natural colour of beech is pale to almost white but it will turn into a hue of reddish-yellow over a period of time. It is a durable wood that is used for home interiors such as stairs. If you’re looking for furniture in this material then armchairs, bar stools, shelves and shoe cases are the way to go.
Teak
Bed frames and wardrobes made of teak look the best. The classic golden brown colour stands out in any room. Teak also changes colour if it’s left untreated and left outside. However, it is still considered perfect for outdoor furniture, since it can withstand extreme heat and cold temperatures. Teak’s colour and grain make it very extremely attractive and while outdoor teak furniture will change colour, the silver-grey tone of teak also looks very elegant. Teak outdoor coffee and dining tables are a great choice if you want your patio to look elegant.
Walnut
A unique and popular wood for office furniture, walnut looks great in just about any setting. It is, however, not very cheap. In fact, walnut is said to be more expensive than oak. It’s a dense, strong and durable wood that has a beautiful finish when carved into pieces of furniture. The colours of walnut vary a bit, but it’s not hard to spot walnut furniture. The grain is quite straight and the colours vary from pale yellow and grey to dark browns.
Structure-heavy office desks, cabinets and shelves are perfect if they are made of walnut wood.
Softwood
This comes from evergreen trees. Softwood can be used for a variety of furniture pieces and tends to be cheaper than hardwood. Moreover, evergreen trees grow much faster making this a more sustainable option. However, it is not a very strong and durable material. While most hardwood is considered excellent for all types of furniture pieces, there are certain restrictions with softwood.
Cedar
Furniture that is prone to higher usage should not be made up of cedar wood. While the material is strong and durable it is not meant for heavy usage that leads to scratches and indentations. However, cedarwood is considered perfect for the outdoors. It can take in moisture and weather changes. Whether it is outdoor wooden installations or outdoor furniture, cedarwood is perfect for it.
Pine
Despite being softwood, pine wood is considered ideal for home furniture. The natural creamy and yellowish colour gives it a very natural feel, making it the perfect choice for rustic style interiors. It’s durable, strong and looks perfect even in its natural form without being painted or stained. If you want to get furniture that looks beautiful but doesn’t cost as much as hardwoods, then this is a great choice.
Cabinets, tables and chairs made out of pine wood are great for your home. Moreover, since pine wood is easy to paint and stain, you don’t have to worry about the colour of the furniture. You can have furniture in the natural colour of the wood or in a darker colour.
Douglas Fir
A strong and pliable wood, douglas fir despite being softwood is perfect for home furniture. The strength of this wood makes it perfect for flooring and heavy furniture pieces. Large tables, wall shelves and storage benches can be found in this material.
The warm reddish-brown colour and the straight vertical grains are what make it so distinct. The grain is what gives it strength and prevents it from warping in extreme weather conditions. This is the reason why fir can be used for outdoor benches and dining sets as well.
What is Solid Reclaimed Wood?
Reclaimed wood is upcycled or recycled wood that has been taken from barns, wine casts, warehouses, old ships and factories. Structures made from pure wood often have to be broken down. The wood used in these structures is considered perfect to be recycled into multiple things.
The best part about reclaimed wood is that it uses a combination of different types of wood. So, you get a furniture piece whose natural colour is unique and beautiful. More importantly, reclaimed wood is good for the environment, since it is made using wood that has already been in use at some point. Another thing to remember is that reclaimed wood is made of solid wood. So, even if it is old wood, you can rest assured that your furniture will last longer and will always remain strong and healthy.
