Giving Your Dining Room The Solid Wood Treatment
Because solid wood is a material that, when taken care of properly, will remain new in appearance, using it in the dining room is ideal, as it can withstand generations of wear. Over time other common types of materials – like plastic, metal or, more commonly, veneer wood – can begin to deteriorate, to the point that not even paint will hide their aging imperfections and poor functionality. Solid wood is different, though: it’s a material that ages elegantly with proper care, as evidenced by the amount of antique wood furniture out there. Giving your dining room the solid wood treatment means that you won’t have to constantly worry about your tables, chairs or sideboards, giving you time to just relax and enjoy dinner!
You might still be concerned that, by replacing your existing veneer table, the dining room décor will be thrown off, but with a solid wood dining room table you can choose both the type of wood and the stain you desire, making it easily customizable. The most common types of solid wood you’ll find are maple, cherry, oak and pine, and in this blog you’ll get a run-down of what makes each of these woods unique.
Maple: This is a wood with a lot of character and different types of finishes, a wood that has a creamy white to light reddish brown color and a subtle, uniform grain. Once finished, the grain has a deep appearance that adds to its elegance. This is a great choice for condos, or if you have a white interior.
Cherry: Cherry is a unique wood with natural colors that can range from blond or tan to a deep brown. It’s a wood that darkens naturally with age and can have hues that range from golden yellow to deep red, giving it a noble, sophisticated character, like a fine wine.
Oak: This is a naturally strong hardwood with an open grain pattern, and a yellowish-brown colour whose patina can range from salmon or red, to a dark cinnamon. This is type of wood can be easily finished to show the hues within the wood in a rustic or elegant style.
Pine: A truly unique wood, pine has a rippled or “ring” type of grain whose deeper tan contrasts the light color of the rest of the wood. Its knots give it ample character, and with age the color can deepen even when it has a clear coat – a true woodsman’s choice.
Whether for your buffet hutch, your table or sideboard, solid wood remains strong, gaining more character and beauty with age. Even scratches, dents or flaws give it character – and, let’s face it: with a piece of furniture your family sits around each night, you’re going to get a few dents. Veneer wood, on the other hand, chips away and exposes its cheaper under-layer, which is not a good look. When redecorating your dining room, solid wood is the only choice durable enough for a family, and won’t need to be replaced after a few years; with the right care, you can pass it down for generations.
