Beautiful Furniture from Unfinished Furniture Stores

You can find some of the most beautiful and durable furniture you will ever own in unfinished furniture stores. You can also find expert advice on finishing your furniture to create any effect you desire there. Whether you shop online or in a local store, you will find high-quality furniture and knowledgeable salespeople in an unfinished furniture store.

The high quality of unfinished wood furniture cannot be matched by prefinished furniture in the same price range. Unfinished wood 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, while 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.

Look for the same indicators of quality construction in an unfinished furniture store that you would search for wherever you buy furniture. The construction of drawers is generally a good indication of overall furniture quality. Some drawers have no guides, which can cause the drawer to bind when it is opened and closed. Others have wood-to-wood center guides, nylon-to-wood center guides, side-mounted roller guides or center-mounted metal guides. Many drawers have glue-blocks to strengthen the bottom, always a sign of good quality. The bottoms of the drawers in an unfinished furniture store are likely to be solid wood.

Feel free to ask the dealer to explain construction methods of the items in unfinished furniture stores. Mortise-and-tenon joinery, so popular with the Arts and Crafts Movement, is always a sign of excellent craftsmanship, as are doweled and dovetailed joints. However, modern bonding blues and pneumatically driven staples coated with resin are quite durable and save on construction costs.

You will see fully assembled models on the sales floor of unfinished furniture stores, but the item you take home may look quite different. Some unfinished wood furniture is purchased fully assembled, but some requires partial assembly. Table legs and pedestals often must be attached, and desk components often need to be screwed together. Assembly is usually straightforward and simple, and the necessary bolts or screws are included with the purchase. Dealers are happy to advise you if you have questions. You may be tempted to purchase the floor model, but don’t do it. Hundreds of people are likely to have handled the item, and the oils from the skin cling to wood. This can hinder the smooth application of stains and finishes.

Retailers in unfinished furniture stores can also advise you on finishes for your furniture. Many retailers are members of the Unfinished Furniture Association and have completed the association’s highly regarded Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way® certification program. You couldn’t ask for better advice!

Visit unfinished furniture stores when you’re looking for beautiful and durable furniture and expert advice.