or Sustainability
or Aesthetics
oHistory
Price
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, there are currently twelve species of trees on the endangered species list. Many of these have been popular choices for making furniture, cabinets, musical instruments, and other products used by humans. Approximately 40 million acres of Earth’s forests are cleared each year for this purpose. As our limited resources are quickly depleted, businesses and consumers alike are looking for ways to incorporate more environmental responsibility into their way of life.
We all know about recycling, reducing energy consumption and going paperless. Another great way to go green is to furnish your home with reclaimed wood furniture. Instead of being thrown away, old wood from dismantled houses and buildings is harvested, restored, and given a second life as a coffee table or dresser.
The use of reclaimed wood can have additional environmental advantages beyond the preservation of virgin trees. Many builders also use non-toxic glues and paints, as well as all natural oil finishes. The main goal is to produce a beautiful, high-quality product with the least possible impact on the environment.
Reclaimed wood produces elegant yet rustic furniture. In some cases, it is almost impossible to tell that the part is not new. Other times, evidence, such as old nail holes or saw blade marks, is purposefully retained, providing a worn, old charm. It can be designed to suit a wide variety of homeowners’ tastes and fits well with contemporary or traditional motifs.
There’s also a sense of intrigue surrounding a reclaimed wood piece of furniture; your nightstand might as well have come from a turn-of-the-century barn or historic schoolhouse. Perhaps it was simply taken from the neighbor’s unused terrace; either way, it has a story and a history of its own.
If nothing else, the often lower cost of this type of furniture is very attractive to buyers. Although handmade furniture can be expensive, reclaimed materials are often cheaper than new. Reclaimed wood is usually already cut and treated, further reducing expenses.
Any homeowner who appreciates nostalgia, has an eye for stylish detail, and wants to protect our natural resources would be wise to consider purchasing reclaimed wood furniture.