buy unfinished wood furniture

In the old days, people tended to decorate their houses according to the prevailing trend, without giving much thought to their own tastes. These days, we are generally more inclined to put our personal stamp on our living space, while continuing to draw inspiration and ideas from interior design magazines and TV shows. That’s one of the main reasons why a growing number of people now buy unfinished tables, chairs, dressers, beds, kitchen cabinets, and many other pieces of furniture, customizing them to fit their existing décor and color scheme. .

With unfinished furniture, you can easily combine a newly purchased item with those already in the room. You can gradually add pieces over time without worrying about a particular range becoming discontinued, as unfinished furniture tends to have basic shapes and patterns that won’t go out of style quickly. Naturally, you can also change the look of your home at any time by redoing items you’ve had for a while in a different finish or color.

Is it really solid wood?

Most unfinished furniture on the market today is made from solid wood, although it is also possible to find items labeled “all wood.” This is not solid wood, but a composite of wood chips and resin, such as plywood or chipboard, which is covered with a thin wood veneer. While “all wood” unfinished furniture will cost you less than the solid wood equivalent, it won’t last as long or be as sturdy as the real thing. Since you’re paying a relatively low price for your unfinished furniture anyway, you should opt for real wood if possible.

The best thing about buying unfinished solid wood pieces is that you can see exactly what the wood looks like, and the manufacturer has no way to hide knots, weak spots, or other flaws that weaken the structure of the item. What you see is what you get, in other words. For guaranteed premium wood, look for furniture certified by the Unfinished Furniture Association.

Some lines of unfinished solid wood are made from hardwoods like oak, maple, eucalyptus or beech, and others from softwoods like pine, cedar, redwood or fir. Unsurprisingly, hardwoods hold up well to the rigors of family use, while softwoods can get scratched or dented quite easily. However, this makes softwoods ideal for finishing in an aged or distressed style.

Finishing your new purchase

Unfinished furniture only needs a minimal amount of preparation before applying your choice of finish. Simply wipe down all surfaces with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust and you’re ready to go. The only exception is if you want to paint the item and then simply apply a coat of primer and let it dry before applying the paint.

You have a wide range of options when it comes to finishes for your new furniture. This is your opportunity to express your creativity and personality and produce a unique piece that is your own work. Popular finishing methods include painting, staining, waxing, varnishing, lacquering, mosaic inlay, stencilling, and faux effects such as distressed, marbling, and crackle glaze.

ideas to start

You can paint bedroom furniture such as beds, nightstands, dressers and dressers to match the wall color or curtains, and maybe apply a patterned design or distressed finish to make it truly yours. How about staining your dining room set to match your window frames and baseboards for a chic, coordinated look? A milk wash or whitewash finish can transform an ordinary kitchen table into a rustic farmhouse table in no time.

Involve your children in creating fun furniture for their rooms or attractive pieces for the study that the whole family can use. If you’re really good at finishing your own furniture, why not use your skill to make lovely gifts for family and friends? They don’t have to be big items—an imaginatively decorated newspaper rack or key cabinet can make a great personalized gift. Or you could even turn your hobby into a lucrative small business making fabulous hand-finished pieces to order.

Now that unfinished wood furniture has become so popular, many schools and colleges are offering classes in finishing techniques, so you have no excuse not to get on board. Alternatively, you can talk to a professional wood finisher to try and get some advice on how to achieve the look you want.

Above all, enjoy the process, and you’ll have some wonderful pieces to treasure for the future.