Oak Furniture – Buying Tips

Before you buy your oak furniture take a look at our simple tips.

Buying a big piece of furniture such as a new sofa, a replacement dining table or a new bedroom suite is something that happens infrequently. Oak furniture, for example, can be expensive, so ideally, you only want to invest in it once or twice. Whether you’re buying on a low budget, or you just want to make the most of your cash, it’s worth making sure you know what you’re getting before you commit.

Tips for Buying Oak Furniture

If it’s been a while since you last bought a piece of good quality furniture, it makes sense to do a little research so that you can be sure you’re looking for the right things at the right time:

• Solid oak furniture – this is the best way to buy oak furniture. Some pieces may have oak veneer, which means that cheaper wood makes up the greatest proportion of the piece, and a layer of oak has been laid on top. This can make the furniture cheaper, which may appeal to you if you are on a small budget, but the quality won’t be as good as you’d get with solid oak bed furniture. Check with the retailer to make sure that the piece you’re interested in is solid oak, which will look better and last longer.

• Craft – many pieces of oak furniture are hand-made, whilst others use a manufacturing process. Take the time to look at the way the furniture you’re interested in is made. Are there gaps between the joins? Is the top surface level? Are there any areas that seem to be made out of two or more pieces of wood instead of a single solid piece? If you see something in the construction that you’re not sure about, ask the retailer about it, and compare it to other pieces before you buy.

• Finish – some pieces of oak furniture are left unfinished so that you can add your own personal touch. Most, however, are finished with a sealant, a varnish or a stain. In all cases, you should be able to see the grain of the wood clearly and the finish should be smooth and consistent all over. Any bubbles, rough patches or heavy staining should steer you away from the furniture.