Why Choose Pine?
Thanks in no small part to the abundance of pine, and a huge increase in commercial forestry, pine furniture is now the most popular and common place type of furniture in the world. Thanks to ease of production and availability pine furniture is very reasonably priced, and this of course has played a big part in its popularity. The difference in price between pine furniture and other hardwood furniture like oak or mahogany is marked and this has led, rather undeservedly in my opinion, to some people viewing pine furniture as a poor man’s solution to interior design.
Some people look down their noses at furniture made of pine or believe it is inferior in some way. While there is a lot to be said for oak furniture, to suggest that it is far superior to pine would be a mistake. It is true that pine is a softwood, rather than a hardwood, like oak, but pine furniture made from a good-quality pine and crafted with care can be just as attractive and very hard wearing. There is often no need to go to the added expense of an oak kitchen table or bookcase, unless you feel the need to impress your neighbours.
It is undoubtedly true that as pine is a softwood it will be prone to picking up damage more easily than a hardwood. It is far easier to dent or scratch a piece of pine than a piece of mahogany. It is also true that pine furniture has a lighter tone than some of the other hardwoods. And this can be a consideration when making decisions about your interior decoration. There are two things worth pointing out about these negative features, firstly on this website we are stressing the importance of buying solid pine furniture, this high-quality pine will certainly stand up to bumps and knocks very well. Secondly, there is so much pine furniture out there that finding an item that is stained to the colour you desire is really not a problem.
At the end of the day the price savings more than make up for any noticeable difference between pine and another type of wood.
The key to finding high-quality pine furniture is to look for manufacturers with a reputation for design. If they are using a high quality solid pine for production then you can feel safe that you are buying a piece of furniture with longevity. Try to avoid pine bookcases from cheap sources and don’t be afraid to ask if the wood comes from eco friendly sources. A well made solid pine bookcase will serve you well.
Filed Under: About Pine
