What Is Reclaimed Furniture?

What Is Reclaimed Furniture?

Reclaimed furniture is produced from wood that was previously used for something else. Due to the act of repurposing and transforming it into a new object, each piece of salvaged furniture is unique and distinct from the majority of wood furniture. Learn more about the benefits of reclaimed furniture, how to choose it for your house, and how to care for it.

Unique and odd furniture is more in demand than ever, as individuals seek new ways to personalize their rooms. This growth has coincided with a surge in demand for recycled wood furniture.

Each piece of reclaimed wood furniture is unique. By purchasing a salvaged wardrobe, dresser, or table, you know that it will be one-of-a-kind and unique to your home. By taking this method, you can distinguish your home from others', making it uniquely yours and utterly unique.

How Is Reclaimed Wood Defined?

Furniture created from reclaimed wood or lumber is referred to as reclaimed furniture. This is wood that was previously used for another purpose but has been recycled or upcycled to create a piece of high-quality furniture.


Where Is Reclaimed Timber Originated?

The wood's original purpose could have been anything from floors to beams to roof timber. It is frequently rescued from abandoned factories, warehouses, and even barns that are being demolished. To minimize waste, wood is recovered after demolition.

However, there is no restriction on the source of recovered wood. Occasionally, furniture is fashioned from salvaged pallets, boats, broken doors, or wine barrels.

How Is Reclaimed Wood Made Into Furniture?

Each maker of salvaged furniture will employ their own unique and special techniques to distinguish their products. However, every salvaged wood must go through a series of preparation steps to guarantee it is of sufficient quality to be made into furniture.

  1. Quality control - Furniture manufacturers will only utilize the finest salvaged wood in their creations. Wood shall always be inspected for irreversible damage that indicates it is not fit for use.
  2. Remove nails, bolts, and screws - This must be done manually, utilizing metal detectors to ensure that everything has been removed completely before the wood can be utilized.
  3. Milling - Wood is milled. This process involves stripping the wood and cutting it into acceptable sizes for use in furniture construction.

Is Reclaimed Furniture of a Lower Standard of Quality?

Certainly not. Because reclaimed furniture is constructed exclusively from the finest cuts of wood, the furniture itself is of comparable quality to that made from brand new timber. The wood is also treated and finished in the same manner, resulting in long-lasting furniture made entirely of recycled materials.

Additionally, recycled furniture is sometimes crafted from old growth wood, which is stronger and more sturdy than new wood. Continue reading to learn more about this!

Why Should You Opt for Reclaimed Wood Furniture?

Reclaimed wood furniture provides a lot of advantages over new wood furniture.


1. Personality

To begin, consumers select salvaged furniture because it adds unmatched character to a space. While wood furniture is always attractive, reclaimed wood features natural differences, imperfections, and patterns that distinguish it.

Knots Reclaimed wood is frequently identified by distinctive knots in the wood pattern. This means that each piece is unique and results in stunning designs.

Marks left by nails

Certain items may have little holes and marks where nails formerly were. This displays the wood's history and adds interest to the furniture.

Weathering

Reclaimed pieces of furniture will weather in their own distinctive way, based on their origins and tales. This results in extremely lovely furniture.

History

Each recovered piece of furniture will have a unique narrative. Occasionally, you'll discover what this is, but much of the time, the magic is in the unknown. You can sense the history behind these kind of artifacts, which contributes significantly to the room's overall character.


2. The Natural Environment

If the uniqueness of the furniture wasn't enough of a motivation to choose it, the environmental benefits of recycled wood products are another wonderful reason to choose them.

The lumber utilized in this project is entirely recycled and repurposed. It would go to waste if it was not used in recycled furniture (or other reclaimed materials such as flooring).

Additionally, it eliminates the need for new timber to be harvested from still-growing trees, minimizing the number of trees that must be felled to build your wooden furniture.


3. Forests of Old Growth

Reclaimed wood frequently highlights a sort of wood that is nearly impossible to find in the modern market: old growth wood.

Old growth wood is made up of trees that have been allowed to reach full maturity and development before being harvested for timber. Due to the length of time required for a tree to reach full maturity, the majority of timber produced today is not from mature trees but from still growing trees, ensuring that demand for real wood is supplied and mature forests are safeguarded.

Old growth wood, on the other hand, is substantially more stable and durable than fresh growth wood. This is because it has had additional time to become compact and tight, hence boosting the material's strength. It makes it more difficult to transform into furniture, yet this hardness results in highly durable pieces of furniture.


How to Choose Reclaimed Furniture

If you're sold on the concept of recycled furniture, how can you select the appropriate pieces for your home?

There are several critical factors to consider when purchasing furniture to ensure that it fits your space and will continue to look beautiful years from now.

The Appropriate Style

Not all recovered furniture is identical — and that is part of the appeal! However, it implies that you need to carefully consider which style would complement your interior, complement your existing furnishings, and enhance the beauty of your area, rather than detract from it.

Aesthetics and utility

Due to the character and beauty of salvaged furniture, it's easy to fall in love with it. However, it is critical to keep in mind the practicality!

Size

While this may seem self-evident, ensure that the furniture is the appropriate size for your space. As lovely as a reclaimed oak table may appear online or in a showroom, if it is too large for your dining room — or, conversely, if it is too tiny for your needs — you cannot purchase it.

Avoid falling in love with an object unless you're certain it's the proper size and won't overwhelm your room or make it feel too small. It makes no difference how wonderful a piece is; if you get it home and it does not work in your room, you will never truly adore it.

Placement

Before you purchase a piece of salvaged furniture, consider the ideal placement for it in the room. You don't want the furniture's charm to be lost in a corner or hidden behind a door!

A Reliable Vendor

When investing in salvaged furniture, it is critical to work with a reputable and trustworthy provider. This enables you to inquire about the lumber and the item before you purchase it.

We'd love to speak with you over the phone or in person about any of our items!


How to Take Care of Reclaimed Wood Furniture

If you've invested in a lovely piece of reclaimed wood furniture, the last thing you want is for it to deteriorate, even years later. Reclaimed furniture, when properly cared for, can last a very long time.


General Suggestions

Elevate, not drag

When relocating furniture, whether it's a salvaged table or a bed frame, raise the item rather than dragging it. Not only will this preserve your floors, but pulling or pushing on the joints might cause strain. On the other hand, lifting may require some cooperation but will assist safeguard your furniture.


Scratching

Certain types of wood furniture are susceptible to scratching from anything with a point or sharp edge. From belt buckles to keys, avoid exposing your reclaimed wood furniture to items that could scratch it.


Consider a tablecloth for a recycled table. This can be added if the table will be used for a craft activity or something that could damage the wood, and removed at other times to show off the table's wonderful material.


Sunlight and Heat

Direct sunlight has the potential to stain and affect the color of wood over time. To prevent your item from discoloring, keep it out of direct sunlight.


Radiators

It has been known for intense heat, such as that generated by radiators, to shatter wood. This is because heat expands wood. While wood expands and contracts slightly naturally, extreme heat, especially if it occurs frequently, can generate excessive strain, resulting in cracking. Keep your reclaimed wood object away from direct heat sources such as radiators.


Moisture Discoloration

Moisture may create traces on real wood furniture in a variety of ways, from coffee mug rings to larger stains. The best course of action is to keep dampness away from your salvaged item. This includes the use of coasters on tables, for instance.


However, accidents do occur. For more information on how to remove heat stains from wood, read our tutorial!


Cleaning

To preserve the durability of reclaimed furniture, it is critical to keep it clean. Dust it often with a dry cloth to keep it looking good, and instantly mop up any spills. If your furniture begins to lose its luster, you can restore it using a beeswax polish.


Reclaimed furniture

Reclaimed furniture is an excellent addition to any home. You may get reclaimed wood furniture ranging from tables and chairs to dressers and closets. 

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