Home Theater TV Furniture - Wood types

When choosing your TV furniture to compliment your home theater look the first thing most people usually look for is something that will match their existing décor. If they have dark wood tables and chairs then many times that is their primary concern when shopping for new TV furniture. It is important to make sure when you get your new furniture home that you are satisfied with your purchase. Understanding what your existing furniture is constructed from will help you understand what your future furniture needs to be made out of to ensure maximum satisfaction.

If your TV furniture is made out of wood or looks like it is made out of wood then chances are it is made out of real wood or a laminated or veneered fiberboard. Let’s explore all three of these materials so you will have a better understanding of what to look for when shopping for your new TV furniture

Solid wood is the benchmark in furniture. If furniture is not made from solid wood then chances are it is made to look like it is made out of solid wood. Wood species vary from piece to piece but generally speaking furniture made from solid wood will be made out of oak, maple, teak, cherry or mahogany. Of course there are literally hundreds of other species and variations but these five choices make up the lions share of furniture materials.

Oak furniture is extremely common. It is characterized by heavy dark reddish grain. Woodworkers like to use wood because the grain hides imperfections in the wood and in the finish. Oak furniture is often the least expensive of solid woods.

Maple wood is the opposite of oak in that the grain is almost non apparent in darker stains. Maple wood is sometimes described as butter like in its appearance because it is so constant. Maple is also an inexpensive wood for the most part.

Teak offers a very rugged outdoorsy feel. It is often used in flooring and boat decks. Teak is furniture is getting harder and harder to come by due to over use in the 50s and 60s; Teak tends to be very expensive because of this.

Cherry and mahogany species of wood furniture tends to be the most sought after. It offers very intricate grain patterns and accepts both light and dark stains extremely well. It tends to show imperfections in finishing more than the other wood types and therefore typically will require longer labor time to get it looking right. This type of wood is typically twice as much as oak for the same amount of material. Expect to pay more when shopping for solid furniture made from these types of wood.

Veneer is real wood. Typically veneer is thin flat slices of the type of woods mentioned above. Veneer is typically applied over medium density fiber boar (MDF) or over a less expensive solid wood such as poplar. The interesting thing about veneer is that sometimes it can be cut in a circular pattern, like skinning an apple. This allows for some beautiful wood grains that are impossible to achieve in solid wood pieces.

When choosing a veneered piece of TV furniture it is important to look at the edges to make sure they are securely glued in place. Also ask if the veneer is wood back or paper back. It will make a difference over time since the paper back edges tend to look frayed after a few years.

Laminates are usually not made of real wood. Often they are either photographic representations of wood or drawings or painting of wood. Good laminates can have very interesting patterns and are often used in automotive applications. Laminates are usually applied over particle board which makes them extremely affordable. When shopping for laminated furnishings species grain is very rarely taken into consideration. The choices are usually light medium and dark.

Wood look Laminated furniture tends to not hold up well over time but is inexpensive enough to replace every few years. TV Furniture made from laminates is very common and can be found in most of your big box retailers.

Know what you are looking for and what your budget permits and you will not be surprised when you get your new TV furniture home. A TV Stand, Speaker Stand, DVD Rack, or TV Frame made out of one of these materials will add a nice touch to any home theater.