Few materials have the strength, stamina and design appeal as real wood. For thousands of years, master woodworkers have crafted beautiful, functional and elegant pieces of furniture out of solid wood. Even in today's world of mass production, real wood furniture still has a place and can be found in almost everyone's homes.
Furniture manufacturers use several different wood species when designing and building their products, depending on the design goal, buyer's aesthetic and price point. The most common wood species used to build furniture are pine, birch, maple and oak. Each of these wood species has unique properties that make it the ideal wood choice for various types of furniture. Each species has its benefits and limitations when it comes to wood working, something that custom furniture makers spend years understanding.
Pine
Pine is a soft wood characterized by grains and knots. Pine trees are some of the most commercially important trees in the world and are often used to make window frames, roofing, floors and paneling, in addition to be the wood of choice for many furniture makers. Solid pine furniture can be easily distressed (a decorative technique used to make an object look older), another reason why pine is a favorite wood of furniture manufacturers. Pine is often used to create a "country style" of wood furniture.
Birch
Birch is a hard wood with a light grain and no knots. Birch wood often has sheen to it, making it a popular veneer choice. Birch is also one of the strongest plywoods available. Using plywood construction for the sides of a piece of furniture will ensure structural rigidity and avoid any splitting of the wood. The natural resonance of birch wood also makes it the most sought after wood for manufacturing speaker cabinets and drums.
Oak
Oak wood is a hard wood with a deep grain. Oak's unique grain markings have made it a popular choice since the Middle Ages as the wood of choice for the interior paneling of prestigious buildings like cathedrals and palaces. Oak wood is commonly used for furniture making, flooring and timber frame buildings. Oak barrels are also used in the production of red wines, sherry, brandy, Scotch whisky and Bourbon whiskey. The barrels directly impact the color and flavor of their contents.
Each type of wood has its own unique properties and uses, yet all can be used to create great looking furniture. Real wood furniture is durable and, when taken care of, can last for a long time. One of the biggest bonuses to investing in wood furniture is that, even after time has taken its toll, owners can easily refinish their wood furniture and make it look brand new again.
Craft Kitties is a Home&Office Accessories brand based on design innovation. Craft Kitties always adheres to the design concept of minimalism + function and is committed to designing and producing high-quality solid wood products with nature as raw materials.Click to learn more
