Wood brings warmth and a natural feel into your home and is one of the most important materials in furniture design. But oak, beech, walnut and teak don't just look different – they also have different properties. We introduce the most important types of wood and explain what to look out for when caring for wooden furniture.
Which types of wood are used for furniture?
Oak is robust and easy to recognise by its distinctive grain. Depending on how it's finished, its colour ranges from light natural tones to dark smoked oak.
Beech has a finer, more even grain and a light, slightly warm colour. This hard, resilient wood is often used for chairs and tables.
Ash is comparatively light and has a lively grain. It's particularly common in Scandinavian furniture design.
Walnut is much darker and looks particularly elegant with its warm brown and chocolate tones. Its characteristic grain makes every piece of furniture unique.
Teak naturally contains a high proportion of oils and is particularly resistant to moisture. That's why it's often used for garden furniture.
Solid wood, veneer and plywood: what's the difference?
Not all wooden furniture is made entirely of solid wood. Depending on the construction and design, different wood-based materials are used.
With solid wood, the main elements are made of natural, grown timber. Veneer, on the other hand, is a thin layer of real wood applied to a base material. This preserves the natural look and feel of the wood while using material efficiently.
Plywood consists of several layers of veneer glued together. This creates a stable material that can be used in many ways in furniture design.
Caring for wooden furniture
How you should clean and care for a piece of wooden furniture depends mainly on its surface finish. Oiled, lacquered and waxed wood have different requirements.
Oiled wood keeps its natural feel and needs to be re-oiled from time to time with a suitable product. Only use a care product that is suitable for the piece of furniture.
Lacquered wood has a protective surface and can usually be cleaned easily with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
Waxed wood should be dusted regularly with a dry, soft cloth. If a new coat of wax is needed, follow the manufacturer's care instructions.
As a general rule: wipe up spilt liquids as quickly as possible, use coasters for hot or damp items and avoid harsh or abrasive cleaning products.
Wood changes over time
Wood is a natural material and changes with light, humidity and everyday use. Differences in colour, grain patterns and small irregularities are part of its natural character and make every piece of furniture unique.
Direct sunlight and placing furniture right next to radiators can intensify these changes. With the right care, wood develops its own patina over the years and stays beautiful for a long time.
