North Carolina Discount Furniture
Finishes
A finish can add protection and beauty to a piece of furniture. Common finishes are oil, wax, lacquer and paint. The oils and waxes are used for protection, while lacquer and paints are used to add beauty. Regardless of the finish, several applications are usually required to achieve a uniform look.
For beautiful natural wood, clear finishes like lacquers are used to allow the wood grain variations and markings to show through. If the wood is not especially pretty, paint is sometimes used to mask the natural tones. Paint is also good for helping different types of wood used in the same piece look more uniform.
Distressing furniture is a way to make new pieces look old and rustic. There are many different ways to distress furniture. Wood is sometimes beaten with textured objects to produce a pattern. Another distressing technique is to use paint, either in random markings or even splatters to create different effects on the wood. All of these techniques are performed pre-finish. Once the finish has been applied, the distressing techniques become permanent.
