1. Information About Solid Wood
Furniture

2.  There was a time when every piece of
furniture that was made was made from solid
wood. There was no plastic furniture or
metal furniture, and certainly no veneers or
other coatings.
 Obviously, a lot has changed since those
times, and these days having solid wood
furniture is more of a luxury than a common
occurrence. If you are able to find a quality
solid wood furniture dealer, consider yourself
lucky. Here is some information about solid
wood furniture.

3. Common Wood Characteristics
 As far as furniture or anything goes, all wood
is not the same. There are different
characteristics to wood that are taken into
consideration when a furniture maker is
planning to create a piece of furniture. Some
of the common characteristics include:

4.  Hardness – Wood is broken into one of two categories: hardwoods or
softwoods. The difference isn’t always seen in the actual hardness of the
wood itself, but in the botanical classification. Basically, hardwood trees
are flowering and softwoods are conifers.
 Color – The color of the wood you use for a piece of furniture is important
because it will contribute to the character of the finished piece. Some
woods have telltale colors, while others are more varied. Quite often, a
furniture maker will have a certain tone in mind for the piece and seek out a
certain variety of wood to match.

5.  Grain – The grain of the wood you choose is going to
show up on the finished piece of furniture, so it must be
given careful consideration. Each species of tress has a
different cell structure that determines its grain. Wood
grain is either open-grained or close-grained, as
determined size of the cells.

6. Common Woods Used for Furniture
 Some furniture makers have favorite woods
that they prefer to use for the tone, feel or
grain. Here are some of the common woods
that are used for solid wood furniture.
• Ash
• Beech
• Birch
• Cedar
• Cherry
• Elm
• Gum
• Oak
• Pine
• Maple
• Mahogany
• Teak
• Walnut

7.  The different types of wood have different characteristics and different
marks that make them unique. Once you become a seasoned solid wood
furniture veteran, you’ll be able to distinguish between the different types of
wood just by look and feel. Some woods are lightly colored like oak and
pine, while others like mahogany are rich and darkly colored.

 For the homeowner, the type of wood that’s used is often a matter of taste
and how it blends in with the other elements in the room and the overall
design profile. In the majority of cases, all of the pieces within a specific
room or even within a whole house will be made from the same wood.

8. Types of Solid Wood Furniture
 Virtually every piece of furniture that you might use inside your home can be made from
solid wood. Some pieces will cost more or take longer to craft, but you can outfit most of
your home in solid wood if you have the means and the patience. You can use solid wood
furniture for things like:
Bedframes
 Dressers
 Mirror frames
 Dining room tables
 End tables
 Chairs
 Coffee tables
 Night stands
 Hutches
 Entertainment units

9. Benefits of Solid Wood Furniture
 Perhaps the primary benefit of solid wood furniture is the way it looks. Solid
wood is real wood and it’s always going to look more attractive than
manufactured wood. Solid wood has an air of old world craftsmanship, and it
really adds an authentic feel to any piece and any room of your home.

 Solid wood furniture is also more durable than veneered or similarly
manufactured furniture. You don’t have to worry about ‘strips’ of wood coming off
or peeling away after you’ve been using the furniture for a few months. Solid
wood furniture is designed to last, and there aren’t any additional pieces glued on
that can fall off once you’ve started using it.

10. How to Clean Solid Wood Furniture
 Despite its strength and visual appeal, solid wood
furniture isn’t self-cleaning and you will have to clean it
off from time to time. Use and lint-free cloth and get it
damp with ordinary water. Don’t use too much force,
and try to follow the pattern of the grain as you wipe it
down.
 To protect the integrity of any furniture you have that’s
made from hardwood, try to keep the level of humidity in
the room at around 35 or 40 percent. Also, try to avoid
leaving it in direct sunlight, or in front of your fireplace,
heat vents or radiators.