Wood Furniture Design:Types of Wood used in Furniture Construction

It is common today for many people who ownfurniturenot to know what kindof wood their furniture is made of. Often it is very difficult to determine whatkind of wood the furniture is made of if it is not clearly labeled with thefurniture. Almost any type of wood could be used to build furniture. Somewoods have always been favored for their beauty, durability, and workabilityand rate a lot higher in that respect to people who build and buy furniture. History of Wood Furniture Construction Before 1900, mostwood furniturewas made with woods like walnut, oak,mahogany, rosewood, fruitwoods, and rare wood veneers and inlays were incommonly used. American Colonial furniture was dependent on the localavailability of wood. Their furniture was made with maple, oak, walnut, birch,and cherry, as well as pine. The preferred furniture woods were readilyavailable, so less attractive or durable woods were used only for hidden partsinside a piece. For this reason, pre-1900 furniture is almost always worthrestoring. As these preferred woods have become scarcer and moreexpensive, furniture has been made with more abundant woods; thetraditional favorites have become rare.Furniture Wood Basics Today, mostfurnitureis made with ash, pine, gum, fir, and other inexpensivewoods that are mostly used for hidden parts. The rare woods like walnut, oak,mahogany, rosewood are used only for very good furniture, and they're oftenused in combination with the less expensive woods. By you being able toidentify the type of wood or woods used for your furniture can help youdetermine your furniture's real value is. Identifying your furniture's wood cansometimes be the deciding factor in figuring out if your furniture is worthbeing refinished or if it should be thrown away. Who knows, maybe there is achance that your beat-up old dresser was built with what today is considereda rare wood and is really a valued piece of great furniture after itsrefurbishing! To determine things like this you will have to examine yourpieces of furniture for their details, identifying marks, and things of thatnature to help you identify the type of wood used to create it that piece of