A chair is an equal piece of furniture and can either bring it to perfection or completely deprive it of harmony. And a whole set of chairs is already a design decision, because it is so difficult to make a choice in the abundance of furniture stores. This piece of furniture is required to please the owners not only with its appearance, but also with its quality - reliability of assembly, high-quality and environmentally friendly materials.
Wooden chairs meet all these requirements - like good old friends that will never let you down, but sometimes can show themselves from an unexpected angle.
What types of wooden chairs are there?
With all the variety of materials, it is wooden chairs with a back - soft or hard - that create a special coziness in the room. Metal, chipboard, and especially plastic cannot achieve the soul-warming effect of natural wood combined with its high strength.
According to the method of assembly, chairs are divided into several main categories:
- carpentry, in which frame elements are glued together;
- flat-bonded, the design of which consists of strips of veneer;
- turned, where the body is assembled from parts with a round cross-section;
- soft, with an upholstery thickness of more than 4 cm and semi-soft, where the upholstery is thinner;
- wicker - from grapevine, rattan, bird cherry twigs, willow, willow, etc.;
- folding wooden chairs, compact, easy to transport and in many cases simply irreplaceable;
- and, of course, the famous “Viennese” or bent ones, which trace their history back to the 19th century.
Actually, from there the most valuable specimens made of beech have survived to this day. They are still successfully reanimated by experienced restorers. Modern craftsmen also make bent furniture from specially processed wood that gives it flexibility.
There are also combined models, the elements of which are made in different techniques. But classic soft wooden chairs are closer and dearer to most of us. The upholstery for them is fabrics of different textures - smooth, velvety, wicker, etc., as well as leather - natural, artificial and the increasingly popular eco-leather.
A wooden structure expands the scope of design ideas, because it can be decorated with carvings, paintings or fancy coloring.
How to choose a reliable wooden chair
The main condition for the durability of a chair is that it must be made from solid natural wood. This piece of furniture experiences serious systematic loads that fiber and particle board materials cannot cope with for a long time.
At least 40 types of trees are used in furniture production. Of these, oak, apple, cedar, beech, yew, elm, and dogwood are considered optimal for chairs. Wooden elements should ideally be varnished.
When choosing, special attention should be paid to the strength and parameters of the frame. Its components must be fastened with bolts or other reliable fasteners, and the cross-sectional dimensions of the legs must not be less than 2.5 x 2.5 cm.
Furniture salon consultants advise, as a rule, to pay attention to wooden chairs made in Europe or Russia. They are traditionally characterized by high strength.
The upholstery material must be solid, dense and uniform. In order for the chair to serve for a long time and at the same time not lose its aesthetic qualities, the upholstery must correspond to its purpose.
If, for example, wooden chairs are purchased for the kitchen, the optimal material for soft surfaces would be easy-to-care faux leather.
Features of solid wood
The main difference between making furniture from solid wood and making it from other materials is the absence of additional impurities that affect the quality of the raw materials. Chairs made from solid wood complement the interior favorably, giving it elements of luxury. Wooden furniture, including solid wood chairs, is valued for its energy, which has a positive effect on people's health and emotional state.
What else to consider when buying a wooden chair
Wooden chairs will not fit into every room - this must be taken into account when planning the interior. They may not like both high humidity and heated floors - the impact of it can cause the wood to become brittle.
Finished chairs do not tolerate direct sunlight well, especially outdoors - colored paints fade, and the varnish can crack.
In addition to durability and functionality, when purchasing, you must also evaluate the convenience of chairs for future owners. The dimensions of the seat should suit them both in width and depth, if it is a model with armrests.
The optimal distance from the seat to the working surface of the table for the eyes and spine is 30 cm, while the knees should be bent at a right angle. In an upholstered chair, out of two types of seats - frame and panel - for greater comfort, choose the frame one.
And, of course, an indispensable condition for choice is appearance. Stylistics, colors, decoration - all this should evoke a feeling of comfort in the owner and correspond to the overall picture of the home. Before purchasing, you should take your time shopping, look at numerous photos of wooden chairs on the Internet, and evaluate your capabilities and needs.
Interior designers offer a lot of options where different types of chairs with a wooden frame will fit well: a rustic hut and an American ranch, an African bungalow and a Venetian living room - and that’s not all! Perhaps an original wooden chair will give you an unexpected idea for your ideal interior...
Materials for solid wood chairs
Products made from any type of wood bring a piece of nature into the interior. Wooden chairs get along well with furniture made from other materials (glass, stone, plastic).
Oak
It is an excellent wood for creating durable, representative chairs. The natural shade of oak can vary from white to brown. Such furniture will elegantly decorate living rooms in a classic style. High cost and heavy weight are the main disadvantages.
Oak furniture is resistant to high humidity, so you can choose it for the kitchen.
Beech
The quality of the wood is not inferior to oak. Since the density of beech is higher, the objects are heavier. This is especially important to consider when choosing furniture for different purposes. It is not recommended to select such wooden models for the dining room (if there are children or elderly people in the family, it will be difficult for them to move beech furniture). Since the material is sensitive to moisture, it is not advisable to install beech chairs in the kitchen.
Elegant beech dining chairs
Chairs with a pale yellow-pink texture fit perfectly into various interiors (classic, Scandinavian), but you must keep in mind that the wood may darken over time.
Birch
Exquisite wood textures make birch one of the most expensive species. Moreover, the best tree species is considered to be from Karelia. Advantages: ease of processing, durability. When choosing chairs, you need to take into account that birch deteriorates in damp conditions. Therefore, such furniture is not suitable for the kitchen.
Pine
Elegant, laconic models are created from solid wood. The chairs fit perfectly into the interiors of Scandinavian, minimalist styles. When purchasing such products, one must take into account that the wood retains a light pine aroma. Pine items last a long time and can be easily restored if cracks or chips appear.
Laconic pine furniture sets
Since pine is resistant to high humidity, the products can be selected for the kitchen and dining room. Regular maintenance consists of cleaning and polishing the surface. An important point is that you can buy chairs at a low price or find expensive ones made from white Karelian pine.
Cedar
The wood is easy to process and is highly durable. Designers appreciate cedar texture for its pleasant light shade and beautiful pattern. The main disadvantage of the material is the release of resinous substances into the air, which can cause a negative reaction in people with allergies.
Larch
Wood lends itself well to processing, so it is often used to create unusual designer chairs. Due to the low density of the material, the weight of the products is low. Larch is not afraid of fluctuations in humidity. A natural antiseptic (gum) provides protection against fungi and mold. The products last a long time in areas with high humidity. Chairs can be safely purchased for the kitchen.
Original textures of larch furniture
Due to its frost resistance, it is recommended to install larch furniture in country houses and dachas. Since the production technology has its own peculiarities, larch products are not cheap.
Teak
The unpretentiousness, durability and reliability of teak furniture is beyond doubt. The natural color of wood darkens over time (light beige slowly turns into dark brown).
Products made from teak can easily be considered universal. They are suitable for both indoor spaces and terraces and verandas. Wood is not affected by changes in humidity and temperature changes, and teak does not require special treatment. A pleasant subtle aroma is a distinctive feature.
The material is suitable for creating chairs of various styles. Models with armrests and soft seats will fit perfectly into Provence or classic style. For country houses decorated in modern, laconic styles, it will not be difficult to choose models of simple, straight shapes.
Wenge
The wood is brought from Africa. The density of the materials is higher than that of oak. The exotic brown texture with chocolate veins is highly valued by designers. Depending on the place of growth, the shade of the wood changes (from pale brown to almost black). Spectacular contrasting combinations are obtained by combining furnishings from other tree species.
Exquisite furniture in black tones
Due to their increased wear resistance, wenge chairs can be selected for the kitchen. The wood is resistant to fungi and mold. Care consists of wiping the furniture with a damp sponge.
Ash
Manufacturers actively use a rich natural color palette (a common shade is yellowish-gray). Items are created with different shades (both light and dark). The wood gets an interesting grayish tone when bleached. When making furniture yourself, you must take into account that ash is poorly polished.
