Yondrix

When buying pine furniture, just like any other furniture it is important to look at the quality of the wood and the piece of furniture itself. It is therefore important to know what the characteristics of pine – and therefore pine furniture – is before deciding to buy a piece of pine furniture.

Unlike oak furniture ,pine is a soft wood making it very easy to work with. Its pale yellow colour also makes it blend in with other pieces of furniture in the room and in the house. The wood has natural knots and grain markings that give the wood its own, unique character. Although the knots are quite attractive in the wood, one must take care if the knot makes a hole in the wood. Too many knots can also be a problem as it could weaken the wood.

Because of its softness, pine furniture will be susceptible to dents and scratches and care needs to be taken when moving the furniture around. It is not advisable to put pine furniture in places where there is high humidity (e.g. a basement) as, like any wood, the pine will buckle and warp when exposed to too high humidity or moisture. This also goes for putting containers of water or another fluid onto the surface of the furniture. If the fluid spills and it is not properly cleaned up immediately, the furniture will be stained and may even warp a little. When putting warm or hot articles on the furniture always make sure that there is a coaster or some other kind of protection underneath it. Once again, like other wood, pine is very sensitive to heat.

When buying pine furniture, look for all the characteristics of the wood as mentioned above. Then look at the craftsmanship. A nightstand with a drawer for instance should have wood that is well rounded and plump with drawers that can pull out without sticking. The finishing of the piece should also be inspected very carefully. Where stain or varnish has been used check that there are no uneven areas where the stain or the varnish has been applied to thickly.

Other things to look out for are the amount of rough spots and knots in the wood. If there are too many, this could speak of poor craftsmanship or the fact that the piece is not built as sturdily as it should be.

When considering buying the piece of furniture, consider the environment in which it will be used. Too much moisture will make the pine shrink and damage your furniture. If the room or environment is going to be humid, the furniture must be heavily treated in order to avoid damage.

With all this in mind, it is now time to set off on a happy hunt for the perfect pine furniture.