by Brooke Shambley

Created on: October 06, 2010

Displaying furniture with different finishes within your home creates variety, and variety is the spice of life.  When so many types of finishes and shades of finishes exist for your home, why select just one?  The reasons to use multiple finishes are many, and after understanding your options you may see the need to diversify the furniture finishes in your home.

In the furniture world, finishes are often the completing factor to furniture production.  When the piece has been assembled, sanded, and the furniture item is looked over to be sure the wood is ready for the final step, the finish is selected that will make or break the piece.  Many times the finish will either display the grains and beauty of the wood underneath or attempt to hide it.  Finishes can be broken into two types,clear and opaque.  The clear finishes tend to reveal the wood and the opaque cover the wood.  Clear finishes are products such as stains, lacquer, varnish, and linseed oil.  Finishes that cover the wood are paint and some lacquers. Knowing your finish lets you know about the furniture underneath, and what to expect about the integrity of the piece.

Understanding that finishes serve different purposes allows you to choose your wood finish more decidedly.  If you want a piece of furniture that meets a need but does not need to show a wood grain, then choosing a painted piece of furniture is an excellent option.  However, if you are decidingon a coffee table as a decorative piece then it would be an excellent place to show the beautiful grain of the wood and a clear finish would be a great choice. When considering between opaque and clear, both are very viable options and serve different purposes within your home.

When considering finishes the color is the utmost concern.  While at times it is easier to select the exact same finishes from the exact same showroom, your room will have more character if you mixed it up a bit.  If you have a table that has an oak finish, chairs that have an oak finish, a buffet that has an oak finish, and even a china cabinet that has an oak finish, your room is dull with consistency.  However, when your dining room table is made of oak and has a rich mahogany finish, you can add a buffet that is made of walnut and has a cherry finished veneer.  The colors can be an accent to the room and reveal the unique woods underneath, acting in harmony while contrasting.  Each new finish can add a new dynamic to the room.

When considering finishes, think diversity.  No piece of furniture is quite alike, and neither should any room.  Utilize the genius of furniture artisans and seek unique finishes and items of furniture for your home.  Create a masterpiece out of your room and keep your furniture finish palette open.

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