How wooden furniture can add class to your home

Wood is a unique natural material; so flexible, durable, warm and beautiful – there really is no wonder we love to use it in our homes. Whether it’s the scarred antique oak of a dining table, the blonde pine of modern shelving, the simple, yet elegant curves of a modern dining chair (you can look here to see the sort of thing that’s available right now), or the rustic texture of sea-roughened driftwood, they all work their magic in contemporary interiors.

Panel games

So how can you welcome some woody-wonder into your home? Why not start with wall panelling? Go for the Swiss Chalet look with floor to ceiling pine, with it’s warm hues and unique knotty grain, it offers a cosy and timeless look. Alternatively, you could opt for a historical mood and fit classic period style wooden panelling – painted in heritage shades for maximum impact, this type of approach is frequently used to mask plaster that is in poor shape or for a quick fix in older homes.

Floor flavours

Wooden flooring keeps bare feet happy, as it is warm and smooth to the touch. Modern engineered flooring or cheaper laminate alternatives come in a range of finishes. Whether it’s teak, mahogany, walnut, cherry or maple that gets your vote, you can source flooring that enhances any room in your home. Wanting to make the room feel even cosier? Rugs are a great way to add some warmth and can complement any type of wooden flooring. If you’re looking for some inspiration, have a look at these beautiful shaggy rugs.

Window wise

Using wood as an interior design material lends harmony to a room. On the floor and on the walls, you can even use wooden window treatments to create a streamlined and sleek effect. Try cafe style shutters as an elegant and relaxed alternative to fussy, dust-trap curtains – you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Feature furnishings

If you want to add a classy twist to the furnishings in your home, take a trip to your local auction house to check out what is on offer. Older tables, chairs or wardrobes are invariably of a better build-quality than modern equivalents so opting to browse antique chairs UK wide and snapping up pre-loved items can be a shrewd move. Mid century modern sideboards and shelving built along Scandinavian design principles are particularly sought after for their exquisite credentials as well as their dashing good looks. Also keep your eyes open for statement wooden furniture that has been painted – such items are often overlooked at auction. Returning a fine, paint-plastered refectory table, desk or dresser to its original glory would make a satisfying and rewarding DIY project.

Wood everywhere

Any room can benefit from the positive wood-effect. Kitchens light up when they are fitted with worktops in glowing walnut or cherry. Bathrooms shift into another gear when hardwood surrounds are fitted around the bath or sleek mahogany floors are put down. Boudoirs purr with class when a carved wooden bedhead, ebony four-poster or a pine platform bed is put in place, or a touch of cedar chest furniture, too. In short, if it’s wood, it works.

If you need any more convincing about the joys of wood as your interior friend, consider the practical side. For family homes, wood is a near perfect ingredient due to its easy clean, long lasting and practically maintenance free temperament.

Does your home need a little class action? For inspiration, start researching the many stylish interiors that exploit the beauty of wood– you may be surprised at what you find…