Care and Feeding of Wood Furniture

Unfinished wood furniture is organic, just like you. And like you, it only grows more beautiful and strong with age, which is why antiques are so much more expensive than new. But if you don't take care of it, wood will dry up, crack, then rot, just like... well, you get the idea. Start to finish The fun of unfinished wood furniture (besides getting a great price) is that you get to choose how it looks finished. (See our Wood Staining and Unfinished Furniture 101 articles for tips.) Do finish your wood. Bare wood breathes with the weather. It expands and contracts, popping joints and losing fasteners until nothing fits right. Stains and finishes stabilize unfinished wood, give it a gorgeous polish, and minimize deterioration.

Outdoor furniture needs a lot more protection and attention. Choose finishes designed for outdoor use, and stay on top of scratches that might let moisture in. Relentless weather breaks down any natural surface, leaving it porous. Keep an eye out, and give tired finishes a light sanding and recoating when needed. Your outdoor furniture will last for ages.

Any finish needs a while to harden, and it continues to cure over time. Wood itself hardens with age too, and you'll be amazed by how tough and durable your furniture becomes when well cared for over time. Since you finished it in the first place, you know what you used. Keep your leftover stain and varnish, or at least product info, for when you need to repair scratches and dings. If you used a penetrating oil finish, re-apply it every year or so to build a layered seal that's spill-proof and rock hard.

Nothing looks more elegant and pleasing than old, well-loved antiques. (Or old, well-loved people.) With just a little care, your unfinished furniture< will age gracefully into a precious family heirloom.