For many centuries, our grandfathers and great-grandfathers used processed wood material to make furniture. In the age of progress, there are many synthetic substitutes, but even now the consumer prefers natural materials. Furniture made of natural material creates comfort in the house, ennobles the room.
Wood varieties have extensive properties that differ not only in color and texture. When choosing, you need to consider the main characteristics of wood: wear resistance, strength, hardness, elasticity, moisture resistance.
Furniture made from strong wood species has a longer service life. It is strong and less susceptible to external technical influences. Such species are difficult to process. It is virtually impossible to make a quality product from them with your own hands.
Hardwoods: iron birch, maple, merbau, white acacia, dogwood, yew, boxwood.
Varieties of raw materials with moderate density are well suited for making furniture with your own hands.
Cherry, oak, walnut and beech have moderate density.
The product made from soft wood looks great.
Soft varieties include: pine, birch, alder.
For the kitchen and hallway, it is more practical to select a set of durable varieties. Furniture made of moderately hard wood is perfect for the living room. The bedroom can be furnished with a set of solid pine.
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What kind of wood is furniture made of: choosing by color
When choosing a wood set, density is not the only fundamental element influencing the choice of material. It is also necessary to consider the availability of color diversity. For decorating a space of significant dimensions, a set of dark colors is suitable.
Surfaces painted in dark tones absorb light, visually reducing the space of the filled room. Chocolate, dark red colors bring the presence of warmth to the environment. Dark colors combine perfectly with the background of light walls, filling the room with calm coziness.
Dark, rich colors are possessed by: walnut, wenge, cherry, merbau, amaranth, kempas.
The soft-colored product harmonizes wonderfully with the rich decor of the room being furnished.
Light, transparent shades are typical for: ash, beech, birch, maple, pine, alder, oak.
A light yellow shade is acceptable when decorating rooms with windows facing west.
Does the space lack light, sun? Pastel-colored furniture will visually reduce the size of the room, but will bring a feeling of warmth, the presence of sunlight in the room.
Oak, alder, teak and cedar have a golden hue.
In some cases, when choosing an array for modeling a product, you can not focus special attention on the color of the wood. The color is changed by means of stains, tinting varnishes.
It is important to remember that when applied to the coating, the varnish changes the natural shade. The tone becomes more intense, slightly darker.
How to Choose Wood for Furniture: Texture and Image
Each type of solid wood has an individual texture, an image formed on the surface of a tangential cut of wood.
The following types of wood are distinguished:
- with a weakly drawn, inconspicuous image;
- with an image in the form of various rings;
- with an image in the form of stripes of different lengths and widths.
The sawing method significantly affects the external qualities of the wood.
With a radial cut, the image of the pattern on the wood surface is actually lost. The pattern is not noticeable, the environment is homogeneous.
When cut tangentially, the stripes and bends that form the original image are clearly visible.
For a classic atmosphere, choose a set with a uniform texture.
Lines, curves, rings on a single-color canvas can be depicted independently using gouache, pencil, a thick brush. Vivid wood patterns look great against the background of neutral walls.
How to choose wood by hardness, density, moisture resistance
Furniture made of durable material is practical in use. It is less likely to get scratches. The production of products from durable types requires a lot of labor, significant material costs, and certain skills in working with wood.
Interestingly, not all hard varieties are moisture resistant. There are soft species that have good moisture resistance.
Furniture made from dense wood that is not resistant to moisture will lose its presentable appearance in a couple of years and will turn into a ruin unsuitable for subsequent restoration.
Properties of different types of wood
The most popular types of solid wood among consumers are the following.
- Walnut – is durable. It has a rich variety of colors. The most common are bright yellow, greenish-gray, red-chestnut colors. It is an easy-to-process material.
Walnut wood is a durable and stable material 
Large solid walnut table for the living room - Oak – is distinguished by its hardness. Yellowish-chestnut colors predominate, resistant to decay. Oak furniture serves for centuries.
Solid oak is a durable but expensive material 
Oak furniture for the bedroom is made in a distinctive design - Pine – refers to soft varieties. It has a clear color. Centuries-old trees have a dark shade. Furniture made of pine does not depend on temperature fluctuations and is resistant to rotting. The most common material for the production of desks for educational institutions.
Pine is an affordable soft material for making furniture with your own hands 
Charming cozy kitchen made of solid pine - Beech – is distinguished by its strength and plasticity. The material is easy to process. It has an interesting wood pattern. Varnish coating does not change the tone of the material. Absorbs moisture, is prone to rapid decay.
Beech wood has high strength and beautiful texture. 
Stylish Beech Bedroom Furniture Set - Eastern larch – characterized by density and increased moisture resistance. Has a uniform color range. Has lower viscosity and ability to stick together compared to other conifers.
Larch wood is a healing material, suitable for interior decoration 
Aged chest of drawers made of larch – a combination of elegance and solidity in one item
Video: What wood and materials to choose for your furniture?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=_v45m4YOK64
