Guide: Carings of solid natural wood furniture

Solid natural wood is a high quality material with its own personality, with its characteristic natural touch, unique, warm and smooth grain.

How to protect natural wood furniture?

In this guide, we want to show you a series of practices that we can implement in order to prolong the life of our natural pine wood furniture.

Three methods: varnish, oil and wax that will protect your furniture and that you can easily apply at home. The choice between varnish, oil and wax will depend on your personal preferences, the look you want for your furniture and the level of protection you need.

Important: Our recommendations are for treating indoor natural wood furniture only, and these three methods are best practices for preserving the beauty and integrity of your furniture. In addition, by following these tips, we contribute to sustainability by reducing the need for frequent furniture replacement.

1. How to varnish your furniture:

While we at Naan appreciate the beauty of untreated wood, applying varnish to your furniture will help preserve its appearance and protect it from the passage of time. Our recommendation is to opt for a colorless matte finish varnish designed for interior use, as this will preserve the natural appearance of the wood. Varnishing untreated wood is an excellent way to enhance its beauty. However, there are many different types and shades of varnish depending on your taste and style.

Tip: Varnish the pieces separately and assemble the furniture once the varnishing process is complete.

Advantages:

  • Durable protection: Resistant to daily wear and tear, stains and damage caused by moisture, heat and scratches. Its effect lasts longer than that of wax, for example.
  • Shine and uniform finish to the wood.
  • Glossy, satin or matte finish according to preference.
  • Easy to apply and clean.

Disadvantages:

  • Requires maintenance over time.
  • Less natural oil or wax finish.
  • Complicated repair in case of damage.

Materials and tools required:

  • Colorless matte varnish
  • Sandpaper (120, 180 and 220 grit)
  • Brush
  • Clean rag
  • Mask
  • Protective goggles
  • Rubber gloves

Step by step to varnish natural wood:

Preparation:

First, place the furniture in a well-ventilated area or outdoors. Next, sand the surface of the furniture with 120-grit sandpaper to remove imperfections, chips and unevenness. If the furniture is in poor condition, you can use an electric sander.Then, sand again with 180-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Finish by sanding with 220-grit sandpaper to obtain a surface that is smooth to the touch.

Cleaning:

Second, clean the furniture thoroughly to remove dust and any sanding residue. Use a clean, damp cloth.

Varnish application:

Thirdly, to varnish wood, it is advisable to wear a mask, goggles and rubber gloves. Shake the colorless varnish well before use. Use a quality paint brush and apply it in thin, even layers following the grain of the wood. Make sure not to leave excessive brush marks and that the varnish is level. Then allow each coat to dry completely according to the manufacturer's instructions before applying the next coat. For a smooth and durable finish, at least 2 - 3 coats of clear varnish are usually applied.

Optional: If you want an ultra smooth finish, you can lightly sand the surface between coats of varnish with 220 grit sandpaper. This will remove any imperfections.

Once all the varnish coats are dry and you are satisfied with the look, you can proceed to assemble the furniture. Varnishing wood has never been easier!

Always remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the products you are using and take proper safety precautions during the process.

To maintain the appearance of the furniture, wipe it regularly with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and excessive moisture to prevent damage to the varnish.

2. How to apply oil to your furniture:

Although at Naan we like the untreated finish of wood, applying oil to your furniture will help preserve its appearance and protect it from the passage of time. We recommend using colorless matte interior oil to preserve its natural look, but you can use oil with stains if you prefer.

Tip: apply the oil to the pieces separately and assemble the furniture once the process is finished.

Advantages:

  • Natural look: enhances the natural beauty of wood and gives it a warm look.
  • Easy to apply.
  • It absorbs and integrates very well into the material, allowing the wood to breathe and not suffer major changes over time.

Disadvantages:

  • Slow drying process.
  • Not as resistant as varnish to water, humidity and wear.
  • Requires regular maintenance.

Material required:

  • Colorless indoor furniture oil.
  • Sandpaper (grit 120, 180 and 220)
  • Brush
  • Clean rag
  • Mask
  • Protective goggles
  • Rubber gloves

Step by step to apply oil to your furniture:

Preparation and cleaning:

First, place the furniture in a well-ventilated area or outdoors. If the furniture has imperfections, chips or unevenness, sand the surface with 120 grit sandpaper to remove them. You can use 180 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Finish by sanding with 220-grit sandpaper to obtain a surface that is smooth to the touch. Second, clean the furniture thoroughly to remove dust and any sanding residue. Use a clean, damp cloth.

Apply protective oil and allow to dry:

Third, shake the protective oil well before use. Use a brush, paintbrush or a clean, soft cloth to apply an even coat of protective oil to the surface of the furniture. Be sure to follow the grain of the wood and apply a thin, even coat, avoiding excess oil, which can create stains. Let the oil sit for a few minutes to penetrate the wood. Fourth, allow the protective oil to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. This may take several hours or even days, depending on the type of oil and environmental conditions.

Additional layers:

Fifth, if you want added protection or additional gloss, you can apply additional coats of protective oil following the same steps, making sure to sand lightly between each coat.If you want a particularly smooth finish, you can lightly sand the surface between coats of oil with 220 grit sandpaper. This will help remove any imperfections.

Once the protective oil is completely dry and you are satisfied with the appearance you can proceed to assemble your furniture.

Remember to always follow the manufacturer's instructions for the oil you are using and take proper safety precautions during the process.

To maintain the appearance of the furniture, you can wipe it occasionally with a soft, damp cloth. If you notice that the furniture loses its shine or protection over time, you can reapply the protective oil by following these steps.

3. How to wax your furniture:

Although at Naan we like the untreated finish of the wood, applying wax to your furniture will help preserve its appearance and protect it from the passage of time. We recommend using colorless matte solid wax to preserve its natural look, but you can use the wax that best suits your taste.

Tip: apply the oil to the pieces separately and assemble the furniture once the process is finished.

Advantages:

  • Easy to apply.
  • Provides an elegant, smooth and matte finish. Enhances wood texture without adding gloss.
  • Offers some protection against moisture and minor stains.

Disadvantages:

  • Less durable than varnish for example.
  • Wax offers limited protection against stains and damage.
  • Requires regular maintenance to maintain its appearance and protection.

Material needed:

  • Solid colorless wax
  • Sandpaper (120, 180 and 220 grit)
  • Clean rag

Step by step to apply wax to your furniture:

Preparation and cleaning:

First, place the furniture in a well-ventilated area or outdoors. If the furniture has imperfections, chips or unevenness, sand the surface with 120 grit sandpaper to remove them. You can use power sandpaper if necessary.Then sand again with 180 grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Finish by sanding with 220 grit sandpaper to obtain a surface that is smooth to the touch. Second, clean the furniture thoroughly to remove dust and any sanding residue. Use a clean, damp cloth.

Wax application:

Third, make sure the solid wax is at room temperature. Using a clean, soft cloth or sponge, apply a thin, even coat of colorless solid wax to the surface of the furniture. Work in small sections at a time so that the wax does not dry out before buffing.Let the wax sit for a few minutes to penetrate the wood.

Polished:

Fourth, with a clean, dry cloth, begin buffing the wax in circular motions. Apply firm but even pressure to help the wax melt and adhere to the wood. Continue buffing until the surface of the furniture is shiny and smooth to the touch.If desired, you can apply a second coat of wax following the same steps for added protection and shine.

Once you have finished waxing and polishing the entire piece of furniture, let it sit for a while to allow the wax to set and dry completely.

Always remember to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the wax you are using and take proper safety precautions during the process.

To maintain the appearance of the furniture, you can periodically wipe it with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust. As time passes, you can reinforce the wax coating by applying more wax to maintain its beauty and protection.

In summary, if you are looking for the most natural finish possible, we recommend that you always use colorless products. Both wax and oil have almost transparent tones and these will better preserve the "original" color of the natural solid pine.

We hope this guide will help you to take care of your Naan furniture :)