It goes without saying that most of us, when furnishing our living spaces, want a home that is comfortable, stylish and which reflects our personality. That is why we are going to discuss here the advantages of wooden furniture. While you will be aware that there is a massive choice when it comes to furniture, including stainless steel, rattan, glass and veneered chipboard or plywood, there is little doubt that natural wood is a great choice; but what reasons can we put forward for making such a claim? We could make a good case for other materials too. Let us look at the main reasons for choosing wood for our furniture.
- Durability
Wood comes in two types; softwood and hardwood. Softwoods include pine and cedar and are usually of a lighter colour, which becomes darker and richer in tone when exposed to light. While softwoods are prone to scratches and marking, this can add to the character of the piece of furniture, and can give a rustic feel to your décor.
Hardwoods include oak, cherry, teak, rosewood and mahogany. Hardwood trees are slow growing so the wood tends to be more expensive. It is also usually darker. Very hardwearing, it keeps its rich appearance indefinitely. Furniture made from these woods are extremely durable and last for generations.
- Appearance
Each piece of wood furniture is unique; even if you buy a dining set the table and chairs will all have their own charm. This is because of the grain of the wood; although all cut in the same direction, there will be subtle differences. A beautifully grained wood, like oak, will look stunning as a table top. Oak comes in white and red varieties; white is greyish brown, and red, as the name suggests, has a reddish tinge.
- Sustainability
Some woods have become threatened by over harvesting, and mahogany is a case in point here. Be sure to buy furniture that is made of sustainable wood. This is where trees are planted to replace those that have been cut down. Whereas with other materials you don’t usually have an option, with wood you can choose an ecologically sound method of furnishing your home or office.
- Easy maintenance
Wood is simple to care for. Regular dusting with a soft cloth (old tee shirts are ideal) will keep it looking great. You can also buy treated cloths for your wooden furniture. Wood with a polished finish benefits from natural wax polish rather than silicone sprays. It is best not to clean wood (especially untreated wood) with water. This is because it is very absorbent. However, for sticky spills a soft cloth dipped in detergent diluted with water can be used. Clean it off quickly and then dry thoroughly. On the other hand iron furniture is prone to rusting over a period of time even it has been painted.
- Suitable for all areas in the home
There is no reason why natural wood shouldn’t take pride of place in every room of your house. Your living area will probably have bookshelves, a TV stand, a fire surround (whether your fire is solid fuel, gas or electric), display cabinets and many other things. Your bedroom will definitely have a bed, and perhaps a dressing table and wardrobe, while your bathroom may have a large or small cabinet for towels or toiletries. There are some excellent pieces of wooden furniture even for your patio and backyard. As a matter of fact there are many DIY projects on how to make a picnic table for your backyard. All these can be obtained in your choice of wood.
- Versatility
Whether your home is traditional, modern, eclectic or has a rustic theme there will always be wooden furniture to suit it. Many love a traditional dining room with period style table and chairs, and the accessories to match, of course. Cherrywood is ideal for this, especially with a sideboard to complete the picture. This hardwood deepens in colour as it ages. A modern kitchen looks great in ash, while pine gives a rustic feel. It is fun to have a really eclectic bedroom with all your favourite things around you, and eclectic means that you can mix and match your choice of wooden furniture, much as you can mix and match styles.
- Great for the outdoors
Summer means spending time outdoors, and nothing is quite like spending lazy days in your own garden. Garden furniture has rocketed in popularity over the last few decades, and comes in all materials. Plastic, metal and rattan are all favourites, but nothing can beat wood for beauty and strength. You may have thought that garden furniture made of wood would not be suitable, but that is not the case. If the wood is treated, it will be fine.
- Strength
For centuries wood was one of the few things available for the manufacture of domestic furniture. Over time other materials became available. The industrial revolution brought iron and steel, while plastics were developed in the twentieth century. Naturally, people were keen to embrace what was thought to be progress. However, it was not too long before the strength and beauty of wood was appreciated again, and today the variety of woods makes it the material of choice for millions. For example teakwood is termite resistant and people install teak wood floor.
- Choice
Of all materials, natural or synthetic, wood cannot be beaten for appearance and strength. It lends itself to both traditional and modern designs. From Thomas Chippendale to Arne Jacobsen furniture designers have been inspired by wood. They have carved it, bent it, and engraved it, enriching the world with their wonderful and inspiring designs.
- Good value
Whatever you choose to spend you are getting a good deal when you buy wooden furniture. Nothing can touch the beauty and strength of natural wood, and it has an inner glow and richness which delights the eye. There are many shops that cater to only wooden furniture and offer a number of discounts for you.
These 10 factors demonstrate the advantages of wooden furniture and should make the choice of wood for your home furnishings an attractive and straightforward one. Nothing can beat beautiful natural wooden furniture.
