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Your trusted decorating and home furnishings shopping advisor. Free expert design advice, tools and inspiration galleries; plus how and where to buy furniture.

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sit & store
  • sit & store

    Maple Sit & Store: Before

    Buying unfinished furniture allows you to see the construction and craftsmanship of a piece unimpeded by layers of paint, stain or lacquer. Photo courtesy of Arthur W. Brown Mfg. Co., Inc.

  • sit & store

    Maple Sit & Store: After 

    If you choose to finish your own piece, don't limit yourself to traditional stains. Two-toning, distressing, glazing and faux-finishing options will set your creativity in motion. Photo courtesy of Arthur W. Brown Mfg. Co., Inc.

  • oak console

    Oak Console: Before 

    When selecting unfinished furniture, you can view the natural beauty of the wood grain and choose how best to bring it out in your application. Photo courtesy of Arthur W. Brown Mfg. Co., Inc.

  • oak console

    Oak Console: After

    Custom finishing is often more thorough than what can be accomplished in a factory production-line operation. Photo courtesy of Arthur W. Brown Mfg. Co., Inc.

  • whitewood island

    Whitewood Island: Before

    Much like antique furnishings that have stood the test of time, the unfinished piece you purchase today is built to last. Photo courtesy of Unfinished Furniture Association

  • whitewood island

    Whitewood Island: After 

    If you’re looking to save money, consider finishing the piece yourself. Photo courtesy of Unfinished Furniture Association


whitewood island
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Whitewood Island: After 

If you’re looking to save money, consider finishing the piece yourself. Photo courtesy of Unfinished Furniture Association

 

How to Buy

  • Don’t feel limited by what you see. Learn about construction, different wood types and styles, and then discuss your likes and dislikes with the salesperson. They may point you in a direction you haven’t considered.
  • Take a sketch of the space you're furnishing, marking the dimensions of the room, doorways and windows, or draw your space in the HomeFurnishings.com Room Planner.
  • Come armed with paint samples from the room, a swatch of cloth from the pieces you want to match and wallpaper clippings so you can make informed decisions.
  • Be patient: "It generally takes two to three visits before all of the details of a major purchase are finalized," says Fred Moriarty, owner of Creative Woods furniture store and executive director of the Unfinished Furniture Association. "Sales transactions involve a lot of discussion about finishing options, and therefore, we have more opportunity to provide one-on-one service. That helps us develop an intimate relationship with customers."

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  • Make it Your Own

    Getting started with unfinished furniture.

    by Tracy A. Mozingo

    An ‘unfinished project’ carries many connotations. Is it one that is dragging along? Or does it hold many possibilities for greatness to emerge? In the case of unfinished furniture, it's the latter. Whether you decide to finish the furniture yourself or have the manufacturer or retailer finish it for you, buying "unfinished" lets you create a customized piece.

     

    Beautiful Benefits

    Much like antique furnishings that have stood the test of time, the unfinished piece you purchase today is built to last. That's because it's made of solid wood and/or furniture-grade plywood veneer panels—no particleboard, except in inconsequential places like drawer bottoms.

    "Real wood can be compared to snowflakes. No two are the same, and all are beautiful, says Fred Moriarty, executive director of the Unfinished Furniture Association and owner of Creative Woods, a furniture store in Spofford, N.H. "But unlike snowflakes, which survive only briefly, wood can endure for centuries."

    Buying unfinished furniture allows you to see the construction and craftsmanship of a piece unimpeded by layers of paint, stain or lacquer. You can also view the natural beauty of the wood grain and choose how best to bring it out in your application.

    Although many wood types are used in unfinished furniture, the most popular include maple, oak, pine, birch, parawood (similar to mahogany), alder, cherry, ash, aspen and beech.

     

    Methods of Customization

    Anytime you hear the word "custom" you might imagine a little "cha-ching!" in the background; but that doesn't have to be the case. "Custom finishing by or through the retailer can add 50 percent to the unfinished price, but the consumer gets the look they want," Moriarty explains. "Custom finishing is often more thorough than what can be accomplished in a factory production-line operation as well.”

    If you’re looking to save money, consider finishing it yourself. "Customer finishing or painting is a way to get value and save at the same time," says Moriarty. "Most people do not think twice about using paint to decorate the interior of their houses or apartments. Painting furniture is a logical extension of this practice."

     

    Creative Options

    If you choose to finish your own piece, don't limit yourself to traditional stains. Think color as well! Two-toning, distressing, glazing and faux-finishing options will set your creativity in motion. Vibrant colors can bring attention to the piece, whereas a muted one can make it blend in discreetly.

    However, the finish is not the only customizable portion. You can take a few inches off the legs, choose your own hardware, reverse a door, etc., to make the piece fit in your home comfortably. "Many unfinished [furniture] retailers have software to prepare complete design layouts of wall systems or individual pieces to help consumers visualize the finished product and to facilitate processing of orders by the manufacturer," explains Moriarty.

    And just like finished furniture, today’s unfinished furnishings are designed with the evolving functional needs of consumers—addressing technology (wide-screen televisions), social trends (a desire for more casual pieces and home office space), and larger rooms in new home designs, adds Moriarty.