Comparison of oiled and varnished furniture.

What are the available types of finish for furniture?

The coatings used for wooden elements affect how they look, so it’s a rather important issue. That’s why we recommend making a good comparison between the two most common solutions – oiling and varnishing furniture. What are the merits and demerits of these methods and which one should you choose? The text below will help you learn all about it – we encourage you to read!

What type of finish is the best?

The selection of coating depends on the expected appearance and where you will be using your furniture. A common pick is varnishing, which makes wooden elements resistant to damage. Varnished furniture also acquires a pleasant shine and smoothness while gently dampening the grain, which is something that characterises wood. That said, it is worth knowing that renovation can be more difficult. Another common solution is oiling. Its advantage lies in the fact that it protects your cabinet, chest of drawers, shelf or table, preserves its natural beauty, penetrates deeply into the structure and emphasizes the grain. And because this method is based on natural oils, it is more environmentally friendly. However, it may protect the finished surfaces to a slightly lesser extent than varnishing. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly remove dirt with a damp cloth to avoid permanent marks.

Varnished vs oiled furniture

An important feature is also the possibility of renovation, particularly when it comes to local mechanical damage. Renovation won’t be too much of a problem in the case of oiled furniture. Just a little bit of oil is enough; you can spread it evenly over the surface and wait for it to dry. The process can be repeated several times without special preparation or equipment. But varnish, which will slightly darken and yellow over time, may be more of a challenge, since we will have to renew the entire piece rather than just a single element.

Both methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately, we can say that oiled furniture is the best choice. It retains the natural beauty of wood, making it the perfect fit for Scandinavian interiors and more. An indisputable advantage is that the oils are ecological – they do not contain biocides and preservatives – which makes them safe for use.