In the old days, people tended to decorate their houses according to the prevailing trend, without giving too much thought to their own tastes. These days, we’re generally more inclined to put our personal stamp on our living space, while continuing to draw inspiration and ideas from interior design magazines and TV shows. That’s one of the main reasons why an increasing number of people are now buying unfinished tables, chairs, dressers, beds, kitchen cabinets, and many other pieces of furniture, and customizing them to fit their existing decor and color scheme. .

With unfinished furniture, you can easily combine a newly purchased item with those already in the room. You can gradually add pieces over time without having to worry about a particular range being discontinued, as unfinished furniture tends to have basic shapes and patterns that won’t go out of style quickly. Naturally, you can also change the look of your home at any time by redoing items you’ve had for a while in a different finish or color.

Is it really solid wood?

Most unfinished furniture on the market today is made from solid wood, although it’s also possible to find items labeled “all wood.” This is not solid wood, but a composite of wood chips and resin, such as plywood or chipboard, which is covered with a thin wood veneer. While unfinished “all wood” furniture will cost you less than the solid wood equivalent, it won’t last as long or be as strong as the real thing. Since you’re paying a relatively low price for your unfinished furniture anyway, you should opt for real wood if possible.

The best thing about buying unfinished solid wood pieces is that you can see exactly what the wood looks like, and the manufacturer has no way of hiding knots, weak spots, or other flaws that weaken the item’s structure. What you see is what you get, in other words. For guaranteed top-quality wood, look for furniture certified by the Unfinished Furniture Association.

Some unfinished solid wood lines are made from hardwoods like oak, maple, eucalyptus, or beech, and others from softwoods like pine, cedar, redwood, or fir. Unsurprisingly, hardwoods hold up well to the rigors of home use, while softwoods can scratch or dent quite easily. However, this makes softwoods ideal for finishing with an aged or distressed look.

Finishing your new purchase

Unfinished furniture needs only a minimal amount of preparation before applying your choice of finish. Simply wipe all surfaces with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust and you are ready to go. The only exception is if you want to paint the item and then simply apply a coat of primer and allow it to dry before applying the paint.

You have a wide range of options when it comes to finishes for your new furniture. This is your chance to express your creativity and personality and produce a unique piece that is your own handiwork. Popular finishing methods include painting, staining, waxing, lacquering, lacquering, mosaic inlay, stenciling, and faux effects such as weathering, marbling, and crackle glaze.

ideas to start

You can paint bedroom furniture like beds, nightstands, dressers, and dressers to match the wall color or drapes, and perhaps apply a patterned design or distressed finish to make it truly your own. How about staining your dining set to match the window casings and baseboards for a chic, put-together look? A milk wash or whitewash finish can transform an ordinary kitchen table into a rustic farmhouse table in no time.

Involve your children in creating fun furniture for their bedrooms or attractive pieces for the study that the whole family can use. If you’re really good at refinishing your own furniture, why not use your skill to make lovely gifts for family and friends? They don’t have to be large items: an imaginatively decorated newspaper rack or key cabinet can make a great personalized gift. Or you could even turn your hobby into a lucrative small business making fabulous hand-finished pieces to order.

Now that raw wood furniture has become so popular, many schools and universities are offering classes in refinishing techniques, so there’s no excuse not to jump on this trend. Alternatively, you can talk to a professional wood finisher to try and get some advice on how to achieve the look you want.

Above all, enjoy the process, and you will have some wonderful pieces to treasure in the future.