Choosing the Right Stain Color for Wooden Furniture

One advantage to buying wood furniture is the quality craftsmanship. Wood furniture is typically strong and durable, and looks great in any room. When you bring home an unpainted piece for your living room, bedroom, or kitchen, you have the option of leaving it untouched to achieve a rustic look, or you can stain it any color to match your decor. If you decide you want to add some color to your new acquisition, you can either inquire about staining options through the furniture store or do it yourself. Which color, however, is best for the piece you own?

Depending on the type of furniture you have purchased, you could be looking at an arduous task. If you've bought a bedframe or a chest of drawers, that's a lot of wood to cover, and you may consider paying the extra charge to have a professional do the job for you. For something like a night stand or small table, however, you have more choices. Definitely you should first examine the furniture in the room and see how it goes with the rest of the furnishings and colors.

With a new piece, you should confer with the vendor or manufacturer to see if anything needs to be done to it before you stain. If it isn't necessary to strip the piece (this is usually reserved for wooden pieces that have already been painted), you can research stains and find the right color for you.

Some guidelines when choosing a stain for your tables, chairs, or wooden shelves:

Look for a product that contains a polyurethane gel. This is a stain and sealer combination, and is good if you want to get the job done as soon as possible.

The right stain should not show lap marks when brushed on the wood. Lap marks resemble seams, and may appear when a wet layer of paint is brushed over a dried layer.

Look for a stain that is water resistant, especially if you are staining patio furniture.

A non-drip formula is also highly recommended, as it will help the stain not to bubble in places.

You will want to consult with a professional at a home improvement or paint store to find a good brand that will not fade or chip over time. A good stain will typically dry completely in about six hours, allowing you to enjoy your new furniture. When you choose the right color, you can improve your home's look and overall comfort.

The Benefits of Wooden Furniture

Wooden furniture is timeless and beautiful. There's nothing like natural wood, a wonderful, warm and attractive material when it comes to furniture. Wooden furniture can be broken down into three main categories: rustic, traditional or modern. Regardless of style, wooden furniture is durable and if well cared for, it can last a lifetime. This article highlights the benefits of wooden furniture however, before we begin it's important to look at a brief history to give you a better perspective on this natural gift.

Wood furniture has a reach history dating back to the British Monarchy circa 1550. The Antique period in Britain has been highlighted by Elizabeth and Tudor, Jacobean and Regency to name a few. In France, we have seen the Renaissance period followed by the early Colonial in America. The development of timber such as solid oak was used as a primary source for furniture. Design wise, the introduction of wooden "settle" or long wooden benches with high backs and "armoires", wooden cupboards is evident. Walnut, cherry, mahogany, oak and beech wood was later used in a variety of wooden products from beds, chairs and tables and bookcases. Let's now look at the advantages of natural wood when used for furniture making.

One of the benefits of wooden furniture is that, it brigs a luxurious, warm and rich feeling into a home. A home is a sanctuary, a place where one comes to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Given that wood is still available in abundance, although we can argue differently here, it is fairly easy to find a wooden furniture piece that suits your personal style and comfort. In addition to creating a natural living space, wood is also easy to clean and maintain as mentioned earlier.

Cost is another benefit. Given the large number of furniture stores, one can find a beautiful and durable wooden piece to fit a budget. This is made possible given the variety of wood types from pine, maple and cherry wood. Pine for example, is an inexpensive wood however, it retains the richness and quality that wooden furniture is known for. If you like a more unique furniture piece made from rosewood, a Brazilian wood, you can also impress your friends with this excellent, unique and rare furniture piece. All in all, affordability is there for all which makes this a desirable and wise choice when it comes to furniture.

Wood furniture also provides the green or eco-friendliness factor. Furniture made out of reclaimed wood, typically recycled from old buildings, provides a good way to reduce deforestation and manufacturing waste that can harm the environment. Now days, it is quiet easy and fashionable to have your home more eco-friendly. If you are driving a Prius, you most likely are considering or already have bought other green products. Why not get a beautiful, natural furniture piece from your favorite furniture shop?

Another added benefit of wood is that you can use it for both indoor and outdoor purposes. wooden floors look beautiful and really open up the space in a room along with maintaining a more hygienic home vs. carpeting that can attract a lot of dust and thereby contribute to allergies. Wicker furniture such as wickers chairs, wicker coffee tables are great and attractive furniture pieces you can add to your patio or sunroom. Think about how many times your Wal-Mart plastic chair broke. Why not invest into something that is durable, beautiful and easy to maintain?

Given the benefits of wooden furniture outlined such as durability, ease of care, affordable price points, eco-friendliness, design variety and richness that wood furniture can bring into a home, you are now better informed to make a decision on your next furniture piece. We encourage you to visit your favorite furniture shops, ask questions and get the perfect wooden furniture chair, table, bed or whatever it may be that you can enjoy comfortably for many years to come.