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All about wood
As a designer, I deal with a wide variety of materials and their possible uses in interior design on a daily basis. One of my absolute favorite materials is wood. In this article I would like to give you an overview of the different types of wood, their origin, use and interior design styles.
The different types of wood
There are countless types of wood that differ in color, grain and hardness. Some of the best known types of wood are:
- Oak: Oak is a robust wood species with a distinctive grain. It grows mainly in Europe and North America. It usually takes about 80-120 years for the wood to become suitable for use in furniture. Oak is considered a high quality wood and is popular for its hardness and durability.
- Beech: Beech is a light wood with a uniform texture. It grows mainly in Europe. It takes about 80-100 years before beech wood can be used for furniture. Beech is considered a high quality wood due to its strength and is often used in furniture, cabinets and parquet flooring.
- Pine: Pine wood has a light color with a distinct grain. It grows mainly in Europe and North America. Pine wood can be cut and used for furniture after about 30-50 years. It is often used for furniture, doors and window frames because of its easy workability.
- Maple: Maple wood has a light color and fine grain. It grows mainly in North America. It takes about 40-60 years before maple wood can be used for furniture. Maple wood is considered a high quality wood due to its hardness and is often used in furniture, cutting boards and musical instruments.
- Teak: Teak is a dark wood with a golden color. It grows mainly in Southeast Asia. It takes about 50-70 years before teak can be used for furniture. Teak is considered a very high quality wood due to its durability and resistance to moisture.
- Mahogany: Mahogany is a dark wood with a reddish or brown color. It grows mainly in Central and South America. It takes about 60-80 years before mahogany can be used for furniture. Mahogany is considered a high quality wood because of its beauty and is often used in high end furniture and interiors.
- Walnut: Walnut wood has a dark color with a rich grain. It grows mainly in North America. It takes about 60-80 years before walnut wood can be used for furniture. Walnut is considered a high quality wood due to its stability and is often used for furniture and woodwork.
- Birch: Birch wood is a light-colored wood with a fine grain. It grows mainly in Europe. It takes about 40-60 years before birch wood can be used for furniture. Birch wood is easy to work with and is often used in furniture, plywood and veneer.
- Alder: Alder is a light colored wood with a vivid grain. It grows mainly in Europe and North America. It takes about 40-60 years for alder to be used for furniture. Alder is considered a high quality wood due to its strength and is often used for furniture, flooring and cutting boards.
- Ash: Ash wood has a light color with a distinct grain. It grows mainly in Europe and North America. It takes about 40-60 years before ash wood can be used for furniture. Ash wood is considered a high quality wood due to its strength and elasticity and is often used in furniture, sports equipment and parquet flooring.
Each type of wood has its own characteristics and thus offers different advantages and disadvantages when used in the interior.
The origin of wood species
Most types of wood logically come from forests. For example, pine grows in Europe and North America, teak in Southeast Asia, and mahogany in Central and South America. It is important to know where the wood comes from and whether it comes from sustainable cultivation or perhaps even illegal logging. Whereby you can never know exactly when buying furniture. Nevertheless, there are certain certifications for wood, e.g. FSC certified wood.
The use of wood
Wood has been used for thousands of years for a wide variety of purposes. From furniture to tools to houses and bridges. Wood is also still a popular material in furnishings, as it exudes warmth and coziness. Wood can be used in the form of solid wood furniture, parquet flooring, wood paneling or veneer.
Furnishing styles with wood
Wood suits many interior styles and can be used both rustic and modern. For example, in the following interior styles:
- Scandinavian: In a Scandinavian style of living, wood is mainly used in combination with white and gray. Light woods such as birch or alder are mostly used here.
- Farm house: In the farm house style, wood is often used in a rustic and natural way. Here, pine and oak are particularly suitable.
- Industrial: In industrial style wood is combined with metal and concrete. Here, mainly dark wood such as walnut or mahogany is used.
- Shabby Chic: In Shabby Chic style, wood is often used in combination with pastel colors and vintage elements. Here, wooden furniture painted white is particularly suitable.
- Boho: In boho style, wood is combined with bright colors and ethnic patterns. Here, exotic woods such as teak or rosewood are especially suitable.
- Colonial style: In colonial style, a lot of wood is used and is often also provided with dark metal fittings. Dark wood such as mahogany or walnut is particularly suitable here. In combination with muted colors.
Modern furniture
Unfortunately, the vast majority of modern furniture, which nowadays you can buy in furniture stores or online, is no longer made of solid wood. They are made of pressboard. Some may still be covered with real wood veneer, but the majority is coated with some kind of foil. The equivalent of fast fashion clothing or fast furniture. This furniture is not sustainable, not environmentally friendly, not even good recyclable and they age terribly.
Not only do they consume environmentally harmful chemicals in their manufacture, but they then release them into our ambient air for months or years. If they get a scratch or a quirk, they just look shabby and not in a perhaps still intentional “shabby chic” way, but just in a really unsightly way. They usually can’t move with you, as they usually don’t survive another set up and tear down.
Real wood furniture, on the other hand, ages in a beautiful way. They get darker, may develop a patina, and small scratches and quirks tend to give them even more character. They can last for decades and even centuries. They can be restored, modified, rebuilt, recycled or upcycled.
Conclusion
Wood is a wonderful material that can be used in many areas. The versatility and the warmth that wood radiates in the interior, I appreciate it the most. I hope this post has given you an insight into the world of wood and maybe inspired you to use this wonderful material more in your interior, if you don’t already. What do you think of real wood furniture? Do you prefer high quality solid wood furniture or do you rather buy the nowadays popular Fast Furniture? Feel free to let me know in the comments.
I wish you a cozy weekend!
All the love
Christina
“The closer you get to real matter, stone, air and wood, boy, the more spiritual the world is.”
Jack Kerouac
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About the author
Christina Ernst is founder and CEO of Linen & Quince. She is also a designer, author and real estate expert. She shares her experiences and knowledge not only on our Linen & Quince blog, but also on her personal blog, christinaernst.net , where she writes about financial knowledge, starting a business, real estate knowledge and personal development. She loves interior design, art, antiques, as well as elegant, sustainable and high-quality fashion.
