Home Removal Services Blog

We all know we could go to the local department store today, get a some assembly required mishmash of wood and particle board, and have ourselves a fairly serviceable piece of furniture within the hour (longer if we’re missing pieces). We also know that desk or entertainment center will probably be broken within the year. You would do better on your investment if you were to find a more expensive, but better made piece that will last you for years to come.

Oak is a good middle of the road wood to go with if you’re looking for something that will last but don’t want to break the budget. There are antique oak pieces dating back hundreds of years ago, so this is a material that’s can easily hold out for a lifetime.

Once you decide on a material, you must then look for the individual piece of furniture. You will have the easiest time finding high quality craftsmanship if you purchase an unfinished piece.

Wood stain and especially paint are often used to cover up mistakes made by the builder. If you choose unfinished furniture there will be nothing to hide the actual build of the furniture, and you will be able to be more discerning in your choice.

Joints are especially important in the construction of furniture. More complex joints, such as dovetail joints, can be a good mark of solid craftsmanship. Be sure that nothing looks loose or poorly connected.

Knots in the wood is also something to watch out for. If these are loose they may come out, leaving an indentation in your furniture. If you are looking for a more rustic look you may prefer this, but if you’d rather have smooth lines stay away from furniture with a great number of knots.

There’s nothing wrong with asking questions. If you are unsure about any component of the furniture you’re considering, be sure to ask. Furniture is a good sized purchase and you have a right to be sure it is what you want before committing to anything.

Finding good quality work is the key to increasing the longevity of your furniture.

Forget shopping for furniture, it’s tedious and monotonous (though sometimes a lot easier) and you don’t get that satisfied feeling you get from building something with your own hands. I’m a hobby wood worker and I’ve built a ton of furniture in my day and I suggest you give it a try on your own. If you’re just a novice and you haven’t built anything before I suggest you try building something small like a corner bookcase. There are a few good woods to choose from when making a bookcase.

Remember that scene in the film Pulp Fiction? I’m an oak man myself. Half of the furniture in my house is made out of oak because it has that beautiful rich quality to it that you just can’t find in many of the other wood types. If you’ve built furniture before you know that Oak is a nice wood to use but it can easily get damaged. Be careful with your tools and make sure you plan out your steps properly if you plan to make a corner bookcase out of oak. Actually, I’d suggest you just go out and buy an oak one.

If you’re into dark wood there is a type of wood that I find to be excellent in quality. That wood type is Mahogany. Mahogany corner bookcases look fantastic, especially if you match them with other mahogany furniture. The cooling dark yet shimmering brown color in mahogany makes any bookcase stand out and most of the ones you can find today in the stores have really nice cabinetry in them. If you’re looking for an antique look for your room, get some furniture made out of mahogany.

Not everyone can afford the expensive wood types so they might not be interested in oak or mahogany bookcases. If you’re one of those people you don’t have to worry, you can find some corner bookcases that are cheaper and made out of synthetic and composite woods like plywood. Plywood makes for a sturdy but utilitarian bookcase. You don’t have to worry about the shelves falling apart (unless they get wet) and you can paint them to be any color you like.

Pine trees and pine cones smell nice don’t they? Well so does pine wood furniture. I love working with pine because you get that lumberjack sense whenever you open up your tool kit. If I knew how to chop down a pine tree I would just so that I could build a bookcase or two out of the fallen tree. Pine is really easy to work with and you can stain it or paint it to be any color you want but I choose usually to leave it in its natural state.

Wood working is a fun little hobby and you can really make some nice furniture once you get into the hang of it. Just keep in mind that there are good woods to use for furniture and there are bad woods. Oak, plywood, mahogany, and pine are some of the better woods to use but I’m sure there are others. Just take a look at the massive lumber selection at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s hardware stores. You’re sure to find the right wood for your new corner bookcase there.

Nat loves his mahogany corner bookcase and he can always be found talking about them and a antique corner bookcase at his blog.