What’s The Difference Between Outdoor & Indoor Wood Furniture

Furniture Warehouse • May 29, 2020

Wood furniture is always a nice accessory to include in a home. Aside from the aesthetic appeal, they exude certain warmth and comfort that make any house truly feel home. What makes it better is the materials’ flexibility. You can use wood furniture as either an indoor or outdoor display. You only need to know which wooden material you can use outside and which you should only use indoor.

To give you an idea, here are the main differences between outdoor wood furniture and indoor wood furniture:

1. Outdoor furniture can withstand most weather conditions

Outdoor furniture is made with specific consideration to the weather and other elements it will experience outside. Indoor furniture, on the other hand, tends to fade and discolor faster depending on the type of wood used and how much exposure it gets to sunlight.

If you’re thinking of which wood material to use outdoor, consider getting furniture made from teak wood. Teak wood requires less care and maintenance, making it an excellent material to use for outdoor furniture. They always look good, and they can also provide comfort.

2. You can use outdoor wooden furniture indoor, but you can never use indoor furniture outdoor

The real difference between the two is observed through the material used to create them. Because of outdoor furniture’s durability, it is also more flexible to use.

3. Woods used in outdoor furniture has natural oil while indoor wooden furniture needs varnish to last long

To prolong its life, people apply oil to their outdoor wooden furniture. They don’t know that it only makes the wood dependent on the oil. Naturally, teak wood has enough oil to keep it protected throughout its lifetime, but if an oil is applied to it, the solvent will degrade the wood’s capacity to create its protection.

The same thing happens to indoor furniture made of wood. The varnish, however, is stronger and long-lasting. Making it an effective way to strengthen and keep indoor wood furniture from drying out.

4. Outdoor furniture is weather-resistant compared to indoor furniture

As previously mentioned, woods like teak produce its natural oil. It acts as their natural resistance against damages caused by moisture, insects, or decay. While this is true for some wood, not all woods are the same. Other woods don’t have the natural resistance against potential damages, and these woods are often used in creating indoor furniture.

To make them more durable, they are usually coated with varnish protecting them from damages caused by wiping or spills. Varnish, however, is not sufficient to make the indoor furniture strong enough to endure outdoor weather.

Conclusion

Just because a piece of furniture is made out of wood doesn’t mean you can leave it outside as outdoor furniture. Their durability and maintenance still depend on what materials they are made from. Before buying wooden furniture, decide on which part of the house you’ll be putting it. Also, ask the furniture experts what wood was used or ask them for their recommendations.

Looking for living room furniture in Owensboro, KY ? We might have the wooden furniture you’re looking for. Contact Furniture Warehouse in Owensboro today to find out more!

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