If you’re thinking about using pine bedroom furniture as the foundation for your decoration, know that it can be an excellent aesthetic choice. Pine in the bedroom can add a wonderful aesthetic when chosen properly. Here are a few important things to know about pine furniture.
The use of pine wood in furniture is extremely common and it can be used in a very wide range of styles due to its ability to be worked and engraved. The grain is soft and fine and furniture made from this relatively soft wood is not as robust as the familiar hard woods such as oak and mahogany. It is normally dried in a kiln to avoid its tendency to warp and split when exposed to ranges in temperature.
It is common to finish pine wood furniture with varnish or wax since it can be easily scratched and marked. The diversity of color and grain make it a good choice for furniture since it gives manufacturers wide range from which to choose.
It is possible to buy pine furniture in a finished or unfinished condition and it needs to be carefully looked after. Always place such furniture in a stable environment and avoid significant variations in temperature and humidity. Items of pine furniture should be regularly cleaned with a dry clean cloth to ensure that its surface is kept free from grease and dirt.
If the item is unfinished then it should be oiled with quality wood oil, followed by a hard block furniture wax. This will protect the wood from damage and prevent it from becoming dry and cracking. If liquid is spilled onto unfinished pine then it should be wiped up immediately otherwise the resultant stain will be impossible to remove. Similarly the use of cleaning fluid should be avoided since it contains detergents or Ammonia.
If you intend to stain unfinished pine then you will need to ensure that the wood is pre-conditioned with a suitable wood conditioner. If stain is applied directly to the wood then the pine will absorb the stain so quickly that the resultant finish will be inconsistent and patchy.
The following steps should be taken when staining unfinished pine furniture:
- Remove all fittings and place the furniture on paint proof fabric.
- Sand the item using fine grit sandpaper such as 220 grade.
- Remove any resultant dust by vacuuming or dusting.
- Thoroughly stir the pre-conditioner and apply it with a soft brush in the direction of the grain.
- Leave to dry and wipe off any excess conditioner.
- Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4, replacing the pre-conditioner with the chosen stain.
Older pine furniture is generally of a better quality since the pine was grown more slowly making it harder with a finer grain. Irrespective of the age of the pine, its use in outdoor furniture should be avoided since it has a strong tendency to rot when exposed to the elements.
Pine, like any solid wood bedroom furniture, can be decorated and painted easily and many owners prefer this look to the natural wood finish that pine provides. Such painting also makes the pine much easier to match with corresponding pieces, giving the same finish in both color and texture which is virtually impossible to achieve with the natural wood.