Making your own furniture is not only a great hobby to have but also a useful one! Being able to create your own furniture for your home means that you will have exactly what you want, and you can ensure that the furniture is well made and suited to your own requirements.
There are lots of courses that you can go on that will teach you the art of furniture making, and all of the skills that you need to be able to create furniture of your own. You also will need to make sure that you have a place to work on your furniture and the right tools and safety equipment for it.
Another thing that you will need to learn about are the various types of wood that can be used to make furniture and the various qualities that each type of wood has. If you go to a local timber merchant like this timber merchants Portsmouth based company www.timbco.co.uk you will be able to get most of the types of wood that you need for furniture making. Here are some of the most popular types that furniture makers use…
Pine – Pine is what is known as a softwood and is popular in furniture making. It is less expensive than many other types of wood and readily available. Pine can be left untreated, or you can stain it to get a different colour, but pine also naturally comes in different shades, so it is worth looking at the different types available.
Beech – This is a strong hardwood and has a light colouring as well as a tight grain. Another popular wood for making furniture, beech is a very attractive type of wood and its strength and durability ensure that it makes sturdy, long lasting furniture. Although it has many qualities, some consider it to be more difficult to work with than other types of wood.
Oak – Traditionally used for building, oak is well known for being strong, and many oak framed buildings that were built hundreds of years ago are still standing strong today. When it comes to furniture, the strength as well as the colour of oak make it a great choice, and you will get a long lasting piece of furniture when you build it from oak.
Why oak suits handmade furniture
Oak is one of the most popular choices for furniture makers, and for good reason. It is abundant, very tough and naturally resistant to fungi, which makes it highly durable. It has a warm glow and an attractive grain, so it needs little decoration to look good.
No two pieces are quite the same. The shade of the wood varies between trees and even between branches of the same tree, so even after oiling there is plenty of variation in colour and grain. That individuality is part of its appeal for anyone making their own furniture.
Oak is used for tables, cabinets, bookcases, chairs and all kinds of storage, because it lasts and stays strong over many years. Its uses go well beyond furniture. It is popular for flooring, exposed beams, porches, framed garages and other building work, and oak barrels are used to age wine. If you are starting out, oak can be harder to work than softer woods, but the finished piece will be built to last.
Oak beyond furniture in frames and garden rooms
Once you have worked with oak on a small piece of furniture, it is easy to see why it is also used for whole buildings. Oak is one of the hardest woods available, which makes it very resilient, and its natural look is what draws many people to it. Oak framed extensions are popular for adding space and character to a home, and a well designed frame can add value as well as visual appeal.
For an older property with plenty of character, a new oak framed extension can blend in naturally and create a striking result. The same applies to offices and other buildings, where exposed timber framing gives a warm, distinctive finish.
Many people also use oak framing for garden rooms. Its natural colour suits almost any scheme, and green oak combined with darker timbers creates a woodland feel. Oak also sits well alongside other woods such as cherry and pine, which is worth remembering when mixing timbers in your own furniture projects.
Why oak is a favourite for furniture
Of all the woods available, oak is one of the most popular for anyone building something to last. It is strong, durable and attractive, and its character suits almost any style, from a rustic farmhouse table to a clean, modern sideboard. Those qualities explain why it has long been a first choice for wooden structures of every size.
Oak is not cheap, so planning matters. Before you buy, work out exactly how much timber your project needs and allow a little extra. Running short partway through can leave you hunting for boards that match the colour and grain of the ones you have already used, which is never easy.
It is also worth remembering that oak is not a single product. There are many different types, and they vary in look, workability and price. Take time to research the options and, if you can, see and handle the wood before buying, so the oak you choose suits both the piece you are making and the way it will be used.
