There are two different types of wood categories to choose from when buying furniture. Hardwood comes from trees that lose their leaves seasonally. Popular types of hardwood are oak, maple, ash, mahogany, cheery, teak and poplar. Second options for wood furniture you can purchase are softwoods. Softwood trees keep their foliage during the year, for example pine, cedar, cypress, fir and redwood are all softwoods.
Finding wood furniture to stand the test of time and endure everyday use and abuse can be a daunting task. There are many good questions to ask when shopping for wood furniture. The design of the wood furniture is also important for you to be happy with your overall decision in wood furniture. There are important questions to ask when you are looking for wood furniture to fit your home.
- How well does the wood piece fit your style?
- Is the wood furniture characterized by beauty or good taste?
- Is the furniture proportioned properly?
- How functional is the piece?
- How stable is the wood furniture during a move?
If you have a solid background on the wood you are purchasing, you will be able to get higher quality wood furniture for your home. Research your needs and be very particular about what furniture you are considering. Furniture is an excellent investment and if the wood furniture is taken care of and treated right it will prolong the life of your furniture. Many times a piece can become an heirloom and will age gracefully and be considered a piece of history for generations to come.
When shopping for wood furniture consider the following:
- Determine how much money you can invest.
- Take measurements of the area of your house you are buying furniture for.
- Determine how your furniture will be used and by whom.
- Will it be in an informal or formal room?
- When examining the structures of the furniture, look carefully and feel for imperfections.
- Ask the sales people many questions about the wood and how the furniture was built.
- Ask them how you can give the wood furniture the right care to prolong the quality and life of the piece.
Key points to remember for wood furniture:
- Wood furniture needs to be well constructed to endure everyday wear and tear. If it has drawers it should glide easily; metal or wood runners are the best choices. Make sure it does not have plastic runners because they break often.
- If you are buying furniture for storage purposes, consider the weight capacity of the unit.
- Almost all wood furniture needs to have a protective coating to prevent water rings and other surface marks.
- A high gloss finish has a greater tendency to scratch easily.
- Distressing and satin/ matte finishes will hide the flaws in the wood furniture.
- Dinning and kitchen tables, end tables, desks and cocktail tables get a lot of use and need to be able to withstand liquids, heat and pressure.
By Emily Thomas