An Unfinished Armoire Is Versatile

Whether you use it to hold an entertainment center or your wardrobe, you will be happy with an unfinished armoire. These handsome pieces of furniture, once restricted to the bedroom, are now found throughout the house. They are made from many different woods and produced in a variety of styles.

The versatility of an armoire makes it very popular, and can make it a very costly purchase as well. Many people prefer to acquire a unique piece of furniture and save money too by purchasing an unfinished armoire. They get better quality with this approach, as unfinished furniture is constructed from real wood, not particle board – a product made of bonded wood chips. Real wood furniture can last for decades, providing service and pleasure to generations. Particle board seldom survives more than a decade of normal use. Much prefinished “all-wood” furniture is actually made of particle board covered by a wood veneer. You can check by following a seam in the furniture all the way to the end, where the end grain should be visible. If veneer has been glued over the end of the seam, there is a good chance that you are not looking at solid wood construction. Unfinished wood furniture is typically made from high-quality kiln-dried wood that has been carefully handled and is free of knots, cracks, and other weaknesses. An unfinished armoire can give service for a lifetime.

Unfinished armoires can be given a natural finish to show off the beauty of the wood, or they can be adorned with a variety of decorative techniques. Natural finished are usually associated with traditional styling, but decorative techniques can easily create a modern look.

A natural finish requires a stain followed by a protective topcoat. Most unfinished pieces need additional fine sanding before finishing. This eliminates any surface fuzz or roughness that will show when the stain is applied, as well as removing any oils that may have clung when the furniture was touched by human hands. Use very fine sandpaper, and always sand in the direction of the grain. Then rub surface with a tack rag to remove any dust. Stains can be water-based or oil-based, liquid or gel, designed to be the first step in a multi-step procedure or incorporated into a one-step finishing project. Each manufacturer issues directions and safety warnings with its products. Be sure to follow all safety precautions and to follow directions carefully when working with unfinished oak furniture.

Decorative techniques include painting and stenciling, gilding and decoupage. The large surfaces of an unfinished armoire give the artisan plenty of space to work! If the armoire will be used as an entertainment center, the interior side of the doors should be decorated as well, since they will be seen when the television is in use.

Whether you are looking for a dignified wardrobe or a vibrant entertainment center, you'll get what you want with an unfinished armoire!