One of the greatest woods available from which to make furniture is the under-rated Oak. This hardwood is abundant in many countries in the world, including the United States and there are two types, commonly known as red and white. The white oak is extensively used in outdoor furniture due to its better durability and the fact that it is much more weatherproof than the red variety. This quality means that it has been used extensively in the manufacture of ships and barrels where its waterproof nature is required.
The Oak is considered one of the hardiest of woods and is extremely popular for many different types of furniture, having an amazing grain structure which lends itself to coating with either clear varnish or the many stains which are available. You have a lot of options when considering oak bedroom furniture.
Before you buy a piece of Oak furniture it helps to understand what makes a good piece of furniture and what does not. Many examples use an Oak veneer and although these are not as hard-wearing as solid oak, they are considerably lighter and cheaper due to the reduced amount of oak. The veneers are often glued to cheaper woods to make the furniture less expensive but to retain the true beauty of Oak in appearance. The grain should still be noticeable through any staining and if you cannot see the grain it’s usually a sign that someone is trying to hide the fact that the wood underneath is poor quality or damaged in some way.
If you plan to buy some furniture made from Oak then it’s a good idea to buy unfinished wood. Not only will this save you money but you can also see the quality of wood more easily and you can also ensure that you get the exact color and finish that you are after. This is particularly valuable when buying a number of pieces which need to match. Oak furniture varies considerably in color and finish and it can be difficult to get an exact match with a number of different pieces existing in close proximity, for example in the bedroom.
Another point to note is that all joints should be correctly made with minimum use of nails and screws. Oak tends to react with iron and this can quickly spoil a piece of furniture, although this can be avoided by using galvanized nails. The best pieces, however, do not use nails or screws at all, relying on the skilled used of correctly fitted joints to join parts of the furniture together.
If you really want to see what a true craftsman can do with oak then take a look at English made oaken rustic bedroom furniture from the 17th and 18th century. These are some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture ever made and the fact that they have lasted several hundred years is testament to both the durability of the English oak and also the superlative skills of the early craftsmen. Many examples of their art are still available throughout the world but don’t expect them to be cheap!