Today, pine, birch, beech and oak are the most popular and common types of wood in Russian furniture production. A person who decides to purchase wooden furniture for the first time always has the question “What kind of wood should I choose furniture from?” Below is a comparison of all 4 types of wood, their features, advantages and disadvantages.
| Pine | Birch | Beech | Oak |
How is pine different from birch?
For example, the wood of pine and birch differs not only in color - birch has a light color, with some red veins, and pine has darker shades of yellow and brown, however, pine is a light species. ... Unlike birch, pine is not plastic, but is resistant to mechanical stress.
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What properties does solid beech have?
Beech is a hardwood with an unusual pattern of growth rings, practical and reliable. That is why it is loved in the furniture industry. The cost of furniture made from this solid wood is lower than that of oak, but their performance parameters are comparable. Wood contains components useful for humans: lingin, pentosans, hexosans.
Beech is malleable in processing, which allows you to make various furniture from it:
- Steaming increases elasticity, the material becomes pliable for the production of bent chairs.
- Tinting allows you to imitate the texture of noble species (mahogany, walnut).
You can glue wood - it dries very quickly. The solid wood bends well, which opens up many prospects in the furniture business.
Often the tree trunk does not have knots to a height of more than 2 meters, and the pattern is uniform and unobtrusive due to the absence of a pronounced core. These properties are also used in the furniture industry, bringing to the market high-quality and elegant home furniture.
Birch
Drawing
Birch has white-yellow or white with a reddish, brown tint; the heartwood and sapwood do not differ (heartless wood). The medullary rays on it are visible only in a radial section, the annual increments differ little, and are well expressed only in late growth.
Birch wood may have reddish-brown stains or a special grain structure caused by curling, a genetic defect that causes the fibers to grow in a crooked and irregular manner. This defect in carpentry is considered an advantage, because it allows you to obtain very beautiful products. Sometimes you encounter birch that is infected with a viral infection, resulting in bark inclusions in the wood that, when cut, form brown dots (specks) and stripes. Such a biological defect is an undeniable value when creating products.
Strength
The strength characteristics of birch are determined by its type. The densest and most durable wood is found in iron birch, slightly inferior to the wood of yellow, stone and black birches. In furniture production, silver birch (warty) and downy birch are used mainly, which, in terms of density and strength, occupies an intermediate position between hard and soft varieties - 0.65 g/cm3. Their wood is viscous and elastic, which makes it possible to produce shaped (bent) elements of high strength, for example, slats for orthopedic furniture bases, which are equipped with many beds in our store. These same qualities allow birch wood to reliably hold fasteners and adhere tightly - products made from it are difficult to loosen or break. That is why in the budget segment chairs and stools are mainly made of birch, since this furniture is most often subjected to cyclic loads.
Types of wood by density
Wood for furniture production must have strength, wear resistance and resistance to deformation. These characteristics are determined by the density of the wood, which refers to the ratio of mass to volume of the tree.
Taking into account the density, wood is divided into the following types:
- Soft (less than 540 kg/m3) : pine, spruce, linden, aspen, fir, alder, cedar, poplar, chestnut.
- Hard (from 550 to 740 kg/m3) : oak, larch, birch, beech, walnut, apple, maple.
- Very hard (more than 750 kg/m3) : mountain ash, white acacia, hornbeam, iron birch.
Furniture items that are most often made from beech
Furniture made from solid beech is varied, it is made in sets, sets, you can buy individual items for interior decoration. Strength is the reason that beech is used to make frames for upholstered furniture and beds, as well as surfaces subject to intense loads. Desk tables, sofas, armchairs, and beds are made from it.
Let's look at exactly what items are made from this natural material.
Beds (children and adults)
Beech beds are the choice of those who value comfortable, healthy sleep. Thanks to the durable frame, the furniture will withstand significant loads, so it is suitable for both overweight people and dynamic children. Stable legs provide additional protection, and graceful round headboards provide style and aesthetics.
Cribs for newborns and models for teenagers are made from environmentally friendly material.
The main features of such beds:
- The variety of colors allows them to be used in various interior styles.
- Environmental cleanliness is a guarantee of comfortable sleep.
- Maintainability – if damaged, the bed can be restored.
Nightstands and chests of drawers
Beech is used in the production of chests of drawers and cabinets; this furniture is necessary for the comfort of the living room, bedroom, and nursery. The model range is very wide. There are chests of classic design - with drawers, equipped with high-quality fittings. There are aristocratic ones, with carved decor, on beautiful, durable legs. Any color is acceptable, but chests of drawers in the shade “Italian walnut” look most advantageous.
Beech chests of drawers have a wide range of applications; there are models for the kitchen, bedroom and living room, as well as changing options - environmentally friendly and safe. The color range is rich: warm light colors are suitable for small rooms, and luxurious dark ones are suitable for offices.
Cabinets
Beech furniture such as cabinets is suitable for classic and modern interiors. The headsets are practical, ergonomic, with various filling options. You can buy a wardrobe for clothes, dishes, books, display cases, consoles made of high-quality and durable material. The cabinet itself can be built-in or free-standing, part of a set or used as a separate module. The model - one-, two- or three-leaf - is chosen depending on the area of the room. Facades can be made of wood or glass, including frosted glass or decorated with stained glass.
Inside there is everything necessary for comfort: shelves and niches, a bar for outerwear, drawers, mezzanine sections. Models with open shelves look elegant. Sliding wardrobes are suitable for small living rooms and hallways; they intelligently organize space, help preserve usable space and maintain order.
Tables
Beech tables are not inferior in mechanical strength to oak, but are much cheaper. This environmentally friendly natural furniture is suitable for classic and modern interiors. Countertops can be cream, beige, yellowish - depending on the conditions in which the tree grew. They look very chic and respectable, but the downside is that when constantly exposed to the sun, wood loses its attractiveness.
Kitchen and dining tables, coffee tables, desks and computer tables of various designs are made from beech. They can be varnished or painted in bright colors.
Viennese bent chairs
Viennese chairs - comfortable seats, high legs and graceful curved backs. Suitable for the kitchen, dining room or living room in a classic style. Can be combined with ergonomic curved chairs with twisted armrests and comfortable backs. This type of furniture is created for those who strive for harmony and aesthetics. You can order Viennese chairs in bright colors to decorate your living room or kitchen in a modern style.
The chairs are not only practical, but also aesthetically pleasing and will decorate your interior. Made from solid beech, they are very durable, able to withstand even significant loads, and are resistant to deformation.
Garden furniture
Garden furniture made of beech is in demand among lovers of country holidays and gardening. The tree is impervious to temperature changes, durable and wear-resistant. Tables, chairs, and benches are purchased for the plots. Wooden objects look very attractive, can handle heavy loads, and would be appropriate in the style of rustic or rustic landscapes.
Most often, country furniture is of a strict rectangular shape, chairs and benches have backs and armrests, the color is natural, the processing is insignificant.
Beech sets should not be left in the rain - moisture has a negative effect on the condition of the wood and can cause cracking. Therefore, the furniture is covered with film or left under the roof.
Oak
Drawing
The color of the oak core is dark or light brown: the core is filled with tills - cell outgrowths that accumulate gums, tannins, resins - strong natural antiseptics. Oak sapwood is yellowish-brown. The oak trunk grows with highly developed medullary rays, which largely form the characteristic pattern of the wood. The beauty of oak products is also determined by the large, very expressive texture of the wood.
The beauty of oak is most fully revealed in solid wood products. In our store you can order solid oak furniture - beds, chests of drawers, antique furniture, in which oak wood is presented in all its advantages: rich and representative texture, elegant color or artificially aged.
Strength
Oak wood has exceptional strength and not the highest density - 0.69 g/cm3. It is difficult to cut, especially small carvings - the wood splits, and its patternedness makes the elements inexpressive if the wrong unit of wood is chosen. Therefore, on oak products, the carvings are often made of a different material.
Oak is extremely resistant to biological damage, physical stress - long-term and short-term, and the destructive power of water. With unlimited durability - oak furniture will last indefinitely, thanks to its beauty, oak wood is one of the most valuable.
Color
Oak is so noble that it is often simply coated with transparent varnish, only emphasizing the advantages of the wood - its patterning, natural shine, expressive texture.
oak varnished
Bleached oak is beautiful, imitating the color of antique European furniture, which was literally whitewashed (limed) so that it looked neat and was not damaged by rot and bugs. Bleached has many shades - dark gray (“aged”), light gray (“Arctic”), pinkish, lilac. Furniture made from bleached oak wood gives interiors a special nobility; it looks like an alternative to fashionable new furniture and gloss, which is why it is so popular in classic and vintage European and American interiors, especially those focused on the colonial era.
Patinated oak has similar qualities. Before painting, the wood is brushed - the soft summer fibers are removed with a stiff brush, so that the hard ones eventually emerge, forming a unique wood pattern. The wood is then painted with white enamel, and the protruding veins are left naturally colored or covered with a darker color.
patinated oak
Emphasizes the aristocracy of oak and the ivory color. Products in this color look very expensive and give the interior solemnity, the nobility of antiquity and classics.
Style solutions
Various style solutions, whether classic or modern, mainly relate to the façade of the furniture and other elements. The style of the façade largely determines how well the entire structure will fit into the overall interior of the kitchen.
The choice of facades depends on the style in which the design of the entire room is designed. Wooden facades can be given a wide variety of shapes and appearance, for example:
- with smooth and clear contours;
- with milled surfaces;
- with carved edges or trim;
- with curved door silhouettes in a romantic style;
- with a deliberately rough finish in a rustic style.
Durable oak surfaces, elements made of pine and other solid wood are perfect for an interior created in eco-style or in a classic version. In these cases, the furniture either completely retains the colors of natural wood or is lightly tinted with dyes and furniture varnishes.
Panels for cladding using veneer, multiplex, and solid wood make it possible to decorate a kitchen in a wide variety of styles - from classic to modern modern style. The exception here is high-tech and loft styles, which require the use of modern materials or glass.
Beech furniture sets
Beech sets are universal, suitable for decorating classic, modern and creative interiors (loft, scandi, shabby chic). The numerous advantages of solid wood furniture are the reason for its growing popularity.
For the living room
Beech furniture is an excellent option for a stylish living room, regardless of whether you prefer classic or modern, loft or Provence. You can order a whole set in a single design or assemble your own living room from separate modules that are suitable in size and purpose. The array is used to produce everything necessary for the main room of any home:
- Frames for sofas and armchairs.
- Walls and cabinets.
- Dressers, cabinets and shelves.
- Coffee tables.
If you are decorating a living room in a loft style, pay attention to natural shades. And for a neoclassical interior, dark colors are suitable. Beech furniture looks great with LED lighting.
For the bedroom
Beds, cabinets, and cabinets made of solid natural wood are suitable for decorating another important room in any home - the bedroom. Beech furniture will become a bright decoration of the interior. You can choose a bed with different sleeping widths, with a high carved or soft headboard. Such furniture will turn the bedroom into royal chambers.
To get a harmonious space, you need to choose combination options. Beech furniture in light tones looks advantageous against the background of green, gray, and cream wallpaper. And dark shades benefit from contrast with white walls.
If desired, any piece of bedroom furniture can be ordered in a tinting that imitates noble wood.
For children's
Beech children's furniture is very popular. Solid wood is an environmentally friendly material that will never cause allergies or other health problems. On a bed made from it, sleep will be the healthiest and deepest. The wood is very durable, so even if your family has several very active children, you don’t have to worry about their safety - the frame will withstand jumping.
The following pieces of beech furniture are made for children's rooms:
- Bunk beds. They will help organize space in small rooms for two children.
- Side tables, chests of drawers, cabinets, racks. They can be natural in color or covered with photo printing, which will delight the little ones. Such furniture is practical, safe and will help maintain order.
Thanks to the smooth surfaces, scratches and splinters are excluded. Often, cabinet furniture fittings are replaced with carved holes, which reduces the risk of injury to zero.
For kitchen
Kitchens made of solid beech look very attractive, environmentally friendly, safe for children and allergy sufferers, with a pleasant, unobtrusive aroma. The facades and countertops are pleasant to touch, and cooking here is a special pleasure. The furniture is wear-resistant, practical, ergonomic, but requires careful care. For cleaning, do not use abrasives, sponges, or alkali-based compounds. It is important to ensure that the surface remains dry at all times; if accidentally exposed to moisture, wipe immediately.
The color of beech furniture for kitchen decoration can be any. You can choose light shades to make your small kitchen look no worse than the model in the photo from a glossy magazine. Dark shades look stylish, but are only suitable for spacious rooms - they will make a small kitchen gloomy.
For bathroom
High hygroscopicity and susceptibility to increased dampness are the reasons why solid beech furniture is rarely found in bathrooms. However, dedicated fans of beech can also order sets for the bathroom. But in this case, it is important to organize proper care: regularly impregnate the surfaces with antiseptic compounds, make sure that the furniture is always dry. If it gets splashed with water, wipe it dry immediately.
To decorate your bathroom, you can choose compact but roomy shelves, cabinets, cabinets for linen, bath accessories, and beech-framed mirrors. The corner space will help organize a stylish pencil case.
For office
Beech office furniture is the choice of those managers who care about the reputation of their company. Comfortable tables, cabinets, racks for documentation, and wardrobes for employee clothing will help give the premises respectability and solidity and create comfortable workplaces for employees.
Of course, you can choose light-colored furniture for your office, but beech furniture in the dark color Bavaria looks most advantageous. It will maintain the working mood, as well as create a positive image of the organization in the eyes of visitors and business partners.
Furniture in beige or cream tones looks no less interesting.
Pros and cons of beech furniture
To choose a material for a headset, you need to study its pros and cons. Let's look at what features beech furniture has.
Advantages of beech furniture
In terms of its merits, beech does not lag behind its main competitor, oak. Advantages:
- Strength and wear resistance - provided that the furniture is manufactured by reliable manufacturers using European equipment in compliance with technology.
- Drying the material does not take long, during which the wood does not become covered with cracks.
- High density.
- The natural pattern of tree rings is an interior decoration.
- Variety of processing methods. Wood retains its attractiveness when varnished, bleached, or stained. Due to its high flexibility, beech can be cut well, and decor from it can be given any shape.
Such furniture will always be in trend. If you want to update your decor, buy several new modules.
Disadvantages of beech furniture
The main disadvantage of solid beech is its high susceptibility to changes in humidity, so you need to create comfortable conditions for the furniture. The array does not tolerate dry air well, so furniture made from it cannot be placed next to the radiator. Owners should develop a good habit of monitoring the humidity in the room.
Other cons:
- The massiveness of the products makes it impossible to rearrange furniture without an assistant or move it away during general cleaning. It is unacceptable to install solid wood headsets on dilapidated floor coverings.
- Over time, furniture loses its attractiveness: it becomes covered with cracks, colors fade in the sun.
- At high humidity it begins to rot and mold. Therefore, surfaces are treated with impregnations with antiseptic properties.
