Classic Contemporary Furniture

When planning the interior design of your home, you could decide between a new or old aesthetic or go for a more unique, mixed approach. Merging contemporary and traditional design is all the rage right now and a classic piece of wooden furniture can make a great centrepiece to a room. Here are a few tips to make you’re able to spot the right piece of wooden furniture.

What Type of Wood Should You Be Looking For?

If you want quality furniture that will stand the test of time, look at furnishings made from hardwoods. Hardwoods, like oak, teak, and mahogany, are generally more resilient to marks or the kind of dents and dings that are inevitable from years of use. Contrary to popular belief, the difference between hardwoods and softwoods isn’t simply the strength of the materials, but the type of tree they come from. Hardwoods come from deciduous trees and softwoods from coniferous. You can still find quality furnishing made from softwoods, though, and some particular varieties, like Longleaf pine, Douglas fir, and yew, are actually much stronger than some hardwoods. Take a look here to see the different kind of options available to you.

Examine the Construction and Finish

Fortunately, you don’t have to be an expert to see quality in wooden furnishings. Identifying anything by smell won’t be necessary here. First off, you’ll want to test its sturdiness. Apply some force and if it starts to creak or wobble you’ll know if hasn’t been assembled properly. Make sure that it sits level with the floor and any doors, drawers, or panels sit flush with the rest of the piece. Everything should open easily and not require a great deal of effort on your part.

Before any finish is applied, the wood needs to be either air-dried or kiln-dried. This will remove any moisture left over that can make the wood weak, causing splitting or warping. Run your hand along the surface of the piece so you can tell it’s been appropriately sanded down. You’ll also want to make sure the finish doesn’t mask the beauty of the wood’s natural grain. Splintered edges and rough surfaces that mask the original wood grain are easy tells of a poor finish.

Consider buying wooden furniture as an investment for the furniture. Like a classic piece of leather, its appeal will only grow with age. Have any ideas about incorporating these kinds of furnishings into your home? Let us know in the comments below.

Photo from here.