Press Release | December 2017
A brief guide to wood
A versatile material with special properties
Wood remains probably the most popular material for interior furnishings. Its warm, natural look adds life to any room and creates a cosy atmosphere. And wood has many other positive characteristics too: when naturally treated, it is free from harmful substances; some types of wood give off a pleasant fragrance; it regulates the indoor climate by absorbing and emitting moisture; and studies have even shown that a room furnished mainly with wood can bring your heart rate down. This beautiful material is also incredibly versatile from a visual perspective. Different woods vary in colour from pale, almost white hues to reddish tones to dark, almost black shades. This wide range of colours, together with the variety of grains found in different woods, gives every piece of wooden furniture a unique character. "Wooden furniture is very versatile from a design point of view, and blends in beautifully with any style of décor," explains Dr Georg Emprechtinger, Chairman of the Austrian Furniture Industry. "Whether the décor is rustic or modern, wood always brings a certain elegance to a space."
There are over 40,000 different types of wood worldwide and they come in colours and grains to suit every taste. Certain types of dark wood, like walnut, and light wood, like oak, are very fashionable at the moment. The high-quality wood of deciduous trees lends itself particularly well to furniture production. The following summary of widely used types of wood, which are very popular thanks to their structural and visual properties, gives a brief overview of the many facets of this versatile material.
Maple is recognisable by its strikingly pale colour, ranging from almost white to yellowish-white to light brown to a pale reddish grey. Its subtle grain of light brown stripes makes for particularly refined and elegant furniture. Its strength and elasticity mean this wood is easy to work with and very durable.
Birch is another pale wood. With hues ranging from yellowish-white to reddish-yellow, it looks similar to maple, but its grain of barely visible pale lines is even more minimalist. Birch cannot bear a huge amount of weight, but it is very elastic, lightweight and tough, which means there are lots of options when it comes to working with it.
Beech is extremely strong and very tough, as well as being elastic and capable of bearing heavy loads. It is characterised by an even grain with broad stripes, and colouring ranging from light yellow to pinkish-brown. Its structure makes it particularly easy to work with.
Oak is prized mainly for its strength and durability. The surface of this robust type of wood can be treated with oil, stain or varnish, offering a variety of design options. Oak is usually yellowish-grey to yellowish-brown, while white oiled oak has a sophisticated pale hue that is almost white. Oak has a striking clear grain which has a very natural appearance and makes for unique-looking furniture.
Ash is extremely strong and hard, but also elastic and robust. It is one of the most difficult woods to work with, due to its toughness and coarse structure. Its appearance makes it very popular, however, with its vibrant grain and pale grey to yellowish or reddish-white colour.
Spruce is inexpensive and grows quickly. It is increasingly sought-after due to its low price. And since it is soft, light, elastic and capable of bearing a lot of weight, it is also highly versatile. Its pale colour, from yellowish to reddish-white, and its clear knotty grain are often found in Scandinavian décor.
Cherry wood is hard, strong and tough. It is also elastic, with a uniform, finely textured structure. The colour spectrum of cherry wood is striking and unusual, ranging from yellowish or reddish brown to a vibrant red-brown. Its surface also has a silky sheen, which gives furniture made from cherry wood a particularly sophisticated look.
Walnut is a type of hardwood. The exceptional durability of this fine-grained, hard and rigid wood makes it extremely sought-after. Furthermore, its vibrant grain and beautiful colour, with shades ranging from light brown to blackish-brown, make it very attractive too.
Stone pine is a coniferous wood which is soft, durable and easy to work with. It is visually very appealing, with its reddish-yellow colour and pretty grain. One of its main attractions, however, is its pleasant smell. The essential oils it contains have a soothing effect and are good for the circulation. They have also been proven to have an antibacterial effect.
This small selection alone shows just how versatile wood is. There is a type of wood to suit every space, every style and every piece of furniture. Austrian manufacturers carefully select their woods according to colour, structure and properties in order to deliver a perfect result of the highest quality. They also ensure that their woods are sourced from sustainably managed European forests. "Wood is a fascinating material, whose properties are constantly presenting us with new possibilities," sums up Dr Emprechtinger. "The refined yet natural character of wood creates a warm, stylish ambience in any space."
Walnut panelling (Photo: TEAM7)
Oak sofa (Photo: ADA)
Stone pine bed (Photo: JOKA)
Beech heartwood kitchen (Photo: TEAM 7)Chair in black lacquered beech
(Photo: Wittmann)
Oak sofa (Photo: Haapo)
Oiled wild oak kitchen (FM Küchen)
Stone pine bed with spruce frame, tinted (Photo: Karnische Massiv Möbel)
Die Österreichische Möbelindustrie ist eine Berufsgruppe des Fachverbandes der Holzindustrie und somit eine Teilorganisation der Wirtschaftskammer Österreich. Zu ihr zählen 50 Betriebe mit rund 6.000 Mitarbeitern. Die überwiegende Anzahl dieser Unternehmen sind mittelständische Betriebe, die sich in privater Hand befinden. Österreichische Möbelhersteller stehen mit ihren Produkten für hohe Qualität, traditionelles Handwerk, modernste Präzisionstechnik, ökologische Verantwortung und ein Möbeldesign, das durch künstlerische Strömungen im ureigenen Land entstanden ist.
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