Furniture Unfinished

Unfinished/unvarnished/unwaxed/ unpainted Furniture
People look for unfinished pine furniture or furniture in the bare wood for various reasons. Right Price Furniture advises those without specialist furniture knowledge to carry out plenty of research before embarking on their own furniture finishing projects.    

Why buy unfinished?
Reasons behind a desire to buy furniture in the bare wood can range from the practical, such as the management of allergies, to the creative aspirations of those wanting a unique piece.  
As tastes in interior décor have fragmented there is no longer a single ‘fashionable’ look and more people are now seeking furniture to suit their own individual preferences.    
In most cases the wide selections of Indian, Mexican, Dark Wood, Rustic, Contemporary and so on are satisfactory but sometimes, particularly if matching an existing piece, the only option is to apply a custom finish.    
Do NOT bother buying unfinished furniture if the sole reason for doing so is the hope that it might save money.  A quick check of sites such as Right Price Furniture will show there is usually little or no difference in price and any modest savings achieved will be negated by the time and expense devoted to applying an acceptable finish at home.   

Difficulties in sourcing unfinished furniture
Furniture (or any wooden product) used outdoors must be finished to protect it against the weather and from insect or fungal attack.  This does not generally apply to furniture used indoors.  Here finishing is used to make furniture easier to keep clean and to provide some degree of protection against normal wear and tear.   
Furniture that is unfinished or poorly finished attracts dirt as easily as iron filings to a magnet and soon looks shabby.  Consequently many retailers, particularly on the local high street, will avoid selling unfinished furniture in order to protect their reputation and that of their products.   

Research, research, research
Admittedly the desired final effect may be fixed clearly in the mind, but achieving that result is often more complex than first realised.  Does the end result need a stain or a dye? Should it be followed by a lacquer or a wax? Or would coloured varnish be better? Can one process be used after another without an adverse reaction? Is it better to use water based or oil based products? Would it be possible to repaint or re-varnish the end results? Errors in the processes involved can easily catch out the unwary and can sometimes be difficult, if not impossible, to rectify.    
The answer is either to employ the services of a professional cabinet maker or furniture restorer or carry out as much research as possible through books, educational courses and the internet.  
Check the correct way to achieve the desired finish and verify this from different places.  Don’t be tempted to rely on the advice of just one source – particularly if that source has a vested interest in selling the recommended product.   
If done properly, finishing furniture yourself can produce extremely pleasing results that are perfectly matched to the chosen surroundings offer the added satisfaction of being a unique item.    

You are able to get Oak Furniture here, with a wide selection of furniture from bedroom furniture to living room furniture.

Some Information if you do plan on going ahead with treating/painting unfinished furniture

The most common mistakes when people finish their own wood furniture can easily be avoided. Generally most of the common mistakes are as a result of people jumping into the furniture refinishing project too in haste and visualizing the finished project, without paying any actual proper attention to the steps.
Always remember that safety is paramount! To protect your skin and eyes, wear proper gloves when handling paint strippers and refinishing products. Make sure there are no open flames, and have plenty of ventilation, work outdoors if possible (but out of direct sunlight). Failing to read (and follow) manufacturers' instructions for paints, waxes, varnishes or strippers is without a doubt one of the most common mistakes people make.. These compounds can vary enormously in their chemical makeup and can be very hazardous if used incorrectly, besides giving you undesired results. Before refinishing the first thing you need to do is clean the surface thoroughly. That simple process could save you hours of work, as sometimes after cleaning you might find that all a piece needs is just a bit of a simple touch up.

Always make sure you thoroughly clean the surface with a wood cleaner or wax remover to see if you can save the present finish. When you have determined that you do need to strip down a piece, always remove all the old finish or paint thoroughly. Leaving spots will fruit an uneven finish when you finally start finishing it.

Apply enough stripper to keep the surface wet, and never work in direct sunlight because you can dry out the wood. When you don’t wait long enough for the stripper to work, you will have to scrape the wood to get the old finish off. Check to see if it comes off easily before removing it. If you spread the stripper and let it sit for days, the paint can become hard again. Plan to complete the stripping in one day so you can remove the paint while it is still soft.

Before you begin the refinishing, and right after stripping; check for any fixes that need to be made to the surface. Do this before sanding and staining. This will assure a better finish. Before you apply your stain, the surface should be perfectly smooth. Use the right grit of sandpaper for the job. When you are applying a stain or paint, resist the inclination to slop on too much. It will only create an uneven and unattractive finish. Apply coats, and wait for the first coat to dry before applying the next one.

Please note if you follow any of the above information we cannot be held liable for loss, damage or anything as a result of providing advice. If you are unsure to anything, please consult a professional.