subject: Finishing Your Cedar Furniture [print this page] Finishing Your Cedar Furniture Finishing Your Cedar Furniture
Today we will be considering some of the many different ways that you can finish your unfinished wood furniture. One of the first things you should consider is where the piece will be placed? What are the surroundings like in this area? After all, I can't imagine you would want a chest with a decoupage finish in a room full of modern contemporary furniture. A chest with a decoupage finish (a collage of images or designs glued or lacquered to cover the surface), after all, would be much more appropriate in a collage dorm room or trendy hang out.
Another very important element you must take into consideration is the necessity of how important the properties of the wood are to you. For example, if you have a unfinished cedar chest and the interior of the chest is not cedar. One of the beautiful natural characteristics of a cedar chest is to protect its contents from moisture, insects, and rot with its natural oils. If you wanted to preserve those properties you would not want to finish the outside of the chest, however if the items in your chest are not that susceptible to moisture or insects than if you feel that a finish would enhance the image of the furnishing then by all mean go ahead.
Another more creative option similar to decoupage for your unfinished wood furniture could be a Faux finish. This type of finish is only limited by your creativity. From using stains, paint, or wax as your finish and using anything you can get your hands on for an applicator such as sponges, rags, or any textured material along with the flexibility to dab, brush, or roll it on.
I would say, the next most traditional way to finish your piece of unfinished wood furniture would be to simply paint or varnish it. In my opinion this is the most versatile choice, however, not necessarily my favorite. The benefit is that it could be moved from room to room or building to building and fit into a large variety of surroundings. If you are looking for something just a little less flashy or a bit more simple, you could simply stain or wax it. This option allows the true beauty of the wood to shine through, if that is more your thing.
If your surroundings are more of a rustic genre such as cabin dcor, you may consider leaving the chest completely unfinished altogether. Leaving the chest in a rugged state can actually prove to be warm and inviting.
No matter what options you choose, it is wonderful to have the benefit of having the choice to finish or not finish your furnishing to fit perfectly into your room, and if you do decide to finish it, to have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself.
If you do decide to finish your piece of cedar furniture please share it with us at info@americancedarchest.com, we would love to share your work with others on our blog to help encourage others in this type of project.
