Since ancient times humans have used wood for making furniture. Wood remains one of the most versatile and popular materials for furniture and interior decoration. According to the Statista Research Department, wooden dining and living room furniture sold by UK manufacturers in 2020 amounted to approximately £92.77 million.
There is no doubt that you can create beautiful wooden furniture pieces to last for decades. But it’s often daunting to select the best wooden material for your home. There’s a wide variety of types of wood. And we don’t always choose the right one according to the characteristics of the space.
Therefore, we will be sharing recommendations and key aspects to consider in this post.
Softwood vs hardwood
The key to choosing the best wood is to understand its properties. Not all woods are the same. According to their characteristics, including maintenance and durability, they can be classified into softwood and hardwood.
Softwoods
Softwoods like pine, cedar, and redwood don’t have vessels. This property allows softwoods to absorb adhesives quickly, resulting in a nicer finish. In addition, softwoods are easy to work with, lightweight, and affordable.
Softwood timbers are more sustainable as trees grow faster. However, they have a low density, which often results in less durability, strength, fire resistance, and a shorter lifespan.
You can create beautiful doors, windows, and furniture pieces, such as wardrobes and bedside tables. But, the wood needs to be treated and maintained frequently to withstand harsh weather conditions.
In addition, softwood may not be the best choice for floors that will be subject to heavy traffic. Softwood floors are prone to showing more signs of wear, such as dents and scratches.
Hardwoods
Hardwood timbers, such as oak, walnut, and ash, are resilient and less prone to rot and decay. Thus, hardwoods are the best option for outdoor furniture. Their strength results in a longer lifespan.
In addition, hardwoods are also known for their natural colours, styles and patterns. Therefore, this type of wood is widely used for creating high-quality pieces of furniture to last for decades, such as office desks, dining tables, and shelves.
Hardwood flooring is hardwearing and more resistant to moisture. It needs less maintenance and withstands higher traffic. Thus, it’s a good idea to choose this type of wood if you have pets at home as hardwood flooring is resistant to scratches. But one of the disadvantages is that it can be noisy to walk across some types of hardwood floors.
Best wooden material according to the room
It’s also advisable to consider where the furniture will be located to select the right wooden material.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are damp spaces filled with moisture. Hence, it’s essential to choose a wooden material that is water-resistant to create our bathroom shelves.
Using hardwoods for bathroom shelving is a smart decision as they are less likely to deteriorate quickly. But you can also use pine and other softwoods for bathroom shelves, as long as they are treated to resist moisture.
Living room and Dining room
Walnut is unbeatable if you’re interested in more traditional home interiors and furniture for high-traffic environments. It has a darker shade that adds personality to the room.
In addition, walnut furniture is more resistant to moisture and perfect for humid climates. American Black Walnut is a stunning dark wooden material that is excellent for manufacturing living room and dining room furniture and kitchens.
Walnut coffee tables and dining tables are superb investment pieces as they remain strong against wear.
If you would like a clean, simple look, interior designers often recommend lighter hardwoods, such as oak and ash. Ash is one of the lightest hardwood options. Its properties make it a great choice for creating curved pieces of furniture, including chairs.
Bedroom
Your bedroom is probably the most important space at home. We spend a lot of time in the bedroom and may use the furniture frequently. For instance, wardrobes and drawers are opened and closed often throughout the day.
Therefore, bedroom furniture needs to be functional, aesthetically pleasing, and durable.
Ash is flexible and provides a smoother appearance to furniture. Pine is an economical softwood option for making chests of drawers and dressing tables.
Oak is a good choice for creating timeless and sophisticated furniture pieces. The hardwearing nature of oak ensures that furniture will stand the test of time. This wood is also ideal for creating highly-resistant bed frames.
We hope our tips have been helpful to decide which wooden material to choose for your space. With these recommendations in mind, you should be able to make an excellent decision.
But if you have any doubts about the wooden material that you should use for your next project, don’t hesitate to contact us today. We will be happy to answer your questions.
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