Guest Post: What makes oak a popular furniture material?

Oak has been used to make furniture for many centuries. The Vikings and other ancient seafaring Europeans used oak wood to make ships. In the Middle Age, it became a popular material for building houses and furniture. Its popularity as an ideal material for beautiful, elegant and durable furniture reached its height during the industrial revolution. The English people loved it so much that they took oak furniture to every corner of the British Empire.

 

Why is oak so popular?

 

Oak is one of the most popular furniture materials today because it has several special qualities. It is a beautiful wood with grain markings of varying colors and a texture that varies from medium to coarse. It is very hard and can withstand a lot of wear without breaking or damaging. Because it contains the natural compound tannin, it is resistant to attacks by insects and fungi. These qualities make it highly durable and long lasting. It also soaks urethrane paint extremely well, which gives is a beautiful and lasting shine.

 

What are the different types of oak?

 

There are 600 known species of oak trees and many of them are ideal for making furniture and other items. Some of the most popular species are given below:

 

• Red oak: It has pinkish-red hue and straight grains. It has a coarse texture.
• White oak: It has long straight grains and the texture is medium to course.
• English oak: It is pale brown in color with straight grains and coarse texture. It is very hard.
• Natural oak: It has a coarse texture and brown lines running through its length.
• Tiger oak: It is similar to natural oak, but it has stripes instead of lines.
• Pippy oak: It has patterns that resemble cat’s paws.
• Burr oak: It is similar to pippy oak, but the patterns are denser.
• Bog oak: It is very hard and dark in color. It is obtained from peat bog.

 

What furniture can be made from oak?

 

Since oak is so hard, long lasting and beautiful, it can be used to make all sorts of furniture for the bedroom, living room, kitchen, study room and offices. Some of the most common furniture made from oak includes dining tables, chairs, side tables, coffee tables, lamp tables, sideboards and oak bedside cabinets. Whether contemporary, modern or classic, furniture made from oak lends an air of elegance to every place it occupies. Therefore, it is ideal for all sorts of settings where beauty and elegance are required.

 

What are the other uses of oak?

 

Besides making furniture, oak wood can also be used to make many many other things. Among its most popular uses are for making whiskey casks and wine barrels. True Scotch whiskey is Scotch whiskey that has been stored in an oak cask for at least three years. Similarly, vintage wine is wine that has been left to mature in an oak barrel for many years. The richness of the wood enriches the flavor, color and character of the beverages.

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