A well-made piece of live edge furniture is a beautiful addition to any room, and it will certainly spark a few conversations with your visitors. But, many people avoid purchasing a live edge dining table because they don’t really understand how to go about buying one. This type of furniture is an opportunity to show off your own sense of style, and this can be daunting for people that may be used to buying mass-produced furniture. In this article, we will show you how to shop for the ideal live edge table for your home.
Do I Have to Choose Custom Live Edge Furniture?
The short answer is no. Many furniture companies that sell live edge furniture do offer a design service, but they often have live edge coffee tables and other pieces available for immediate purchase. It’s true that custom furniture is more expensive, but it’s a great deal of fun to help in designing your own table, and you get exactly what you asked for. Your living edge table will be a genuine one-off piece of custom furniture that will look amazing and last for years to come.
How Do I Choose the Best Live Edge Furniture?
There are many great wood choices available for a live edge table, but oak and walnut are especially popular due to their beautiful grain structures. If you enjoy having natural shapes, textures and colours in your home, then living edge furniture will certainly fit the bill. Many craftsmen deliberately choose a gnarled piece of wood to build living edge tables to emphasise the rustic nature of the furniture. The creative process needs to showcase the character of the tree that the wood was sourced from. A living edge table can be a wonderful conversation piece, but don’t expect a tabletop that’s uniform and exact. Remember that a living edge table has imperfections, and these are what make it a special surface in your home.
What Finish Should I Choose?
Although living edge furniture is a natural and durable product, it still needs a finish to protect the wood from moisture and bring out its true beauty. There are a wide variety of finishes that can ensure that your living edge dining table doesn’t peel or crack over time. These finishes are important, and they may need to be applied periodically to ensure protection depending upon your initial choices. There are five common finish options; they are natural wax, mineral oil, tung oil, lacquer, and poly gel. The exact properties of each finish are beyond the scope of this article, and it’s advisable to get expert advice before you make a final choice.
Is a Live Edge Table Durable?
Yes, a live edge table could be made from a number of solid woods, but if you want a hard-wearing table that will last for years, make sure you tell the furniture designer upfront. This can be a green choice; many Australian hardwoods are sustainably and locally sourced to give you the table you’ve always dreamt about. Choosing the right living edge furniture is a significant investment, but it will be a practical piece that’s a focal point in your home for years to come.
If you are looking for other common quality types of woods you might want to check out: Marri Furniture, Jarrah Furniture, Tasmanian Blackwood Furniture, Tasmanian Oak Furniture, Blackbutt Furniture and Victorian Ash Furniture.
