Unfinished furniture is an investment for your home. It can help you achieve the kind of style you’re looking for, because you can finish your furniture however you want. If you’re the kind of person that likes to be creative, or isn’t satisfied with most major furniture brands on the market, and wants something special for your home, unfinished furniture is right for you.

Of course, after deciding that you want unfinished furniture, making a decision about the kind of unfinished furniture that you want can be a hassle if you don’t know how to sort out good furniture from bad. Generally speaking, good unfinished furniture will be solid and made from good wood. Typical woods used for unfinished furniture are: oak, pine, alder, ash, aspen, birch, beech, cedar, maple, mahogany, hickory, eucalyptus, and cherry. Each of these woods offers a particular advantage for your home.

For example, cherry often defines Quaker, Mission, and country styling. Oak was an early favorite among English craftsman and was a prime building material for the American colonists. These and other woods add value to your home by giving it a natural feel, especially if you live in a rural area.

If you like do-it-yourself projects, buying unfinished furniture can be very satisfying, especially if you enjoy interior design. If you’ve never finished furniture before, it’s easier than you might think. Painting or staining your furniture is all that’s really necessary. You can varnish it for that extra shine after you’ve painted or stained it. Make sure you stain or furniture with the right kind of wood stain or paint. For instance, if the stain you chose is slow-drying, it will be difficult to work with in damp or rainy conditions. If the paint you chose is oil-based, the paint will be high in toxic fumes, so make sure you prepare your work area correctly.

For how-to guides, there are many on the market that can be of service to you. If you’re anxious about how the project may turn out, or aren’t sure if you can achieve the look you want, think about hiring an experience professional, or ask a friend who has finished furniture before for help. It will definitely be more cost-effective if you buy whole unfinished pieces from unfinished furniture stores rather than ordering each piece custom-made, which can be very expensive if you don’t know what you’re doing.

In the end, your total price may be higher than it would be if you simply bought furniture from a discount store, or even a major brand store. But, if you’re interested in a custom look for your home, unfinished furniture is the way to go.


No related posts.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Filed under: Advice • Tips & Tricks

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!