Furniture Wood Finishes
Below you'll find images of some of the more popular furniture wood finishes. These should be used as a guide only, as computer screens don't always accurately convey colour subtleties.
Also, small wood samples may not show a true representation of a larger area, knots and all.
If you'd like us to send swatch samples of furniture wood finishes, please call us now on 0800 8494 135, or click here to request a call back regarding furniture wood finishes.
Beech wood
Comments: Probably the most widespread wood used in European Furniture manufacture. Hardwearing and fairly uniform. Can be easily stained.
Cherry wood
Comments: Used fairly widely in furniture making, but less fashionable than it was, Cherry has a distinctive reddish colour.
Mahogany wood
Comments: A rich, dark red wood, very popular in Victrian times, when logging was more indiscriminate. Important to use correctly-sourced timber.
Oak wood (dark)
Comments: Oak is available in a range of finishes, and we show here a deeper colour,darker than its 'newly-cut' appearance.
Oak wood (light)
Comments: Oak is a popular and attractive furniture material. It can be fairly plain, or can be full of character. Look carefully and you should be able to see a double grain pattern.
Walnut wood
Comments: A dark, rich wood with a satisfying deep colour (as well as a less satisfying cost premium). Beech can be stained to a walnut-like appearance.
Walnut wood (dark)
Comments: Darker Walnut is gaining in popularity, although a stained beech, giving a similar appearance is a cost-effective alternative.
Wenge wood
Comments: Wenge (pronounced 'when-ghee') is a rare and expensive African hardwood. A wenge stained wood (usually beech) is an attractive, cost-effective finish, almost black, but with the grain just visible.
White wash
Comments: Wood can be white-washed with a diluted paint or lacquer. Unlike paint, a wash allows the grain to remain visible for a more natural appearance, which also tends to disguise small signs of wear and tear.
