Choosing the right wood or wooden materials for your home interiors can be daunting which confuses more than it explains. In this article, we have tried to explain in details the various kinds of solid wood and wood alternatives that are widely available in the market.
Wood Vs Engineered Wood
Woods are broadly classified into two categories – hardwoods and softwoods. The different varieties of common hardwoods are Teak, Sheesham, Oak and Mahogany and softwoods like Himalayan Cedar and Pinewood. Hardwoods take longer time to grow, rough in texture and usually comes with a prominent natural grain than softwoods. Engineered wood uses materials such as a mixture of wood fibre, sawdust, glues, resin and chemicals. The popular varieties of engineered wood are plywood, medium density fibre board, and particleboard/low-density fibre board. What you need to choose depends on a variety of factors – usage, weather conditions, budget etc. And, all these materials require finishing.
PU paints for solid/Engineered Wood
If you are planning for painting engineered/solid wood surfaces for your home interiors, you should opt for PU paints. For a long-lasting finish, the dents need to be filled and the surface needs to be lightly sanded and primed with an appropriate primer. A primer also reduces the absorption of paint in engineered wood.
Solid Wood with Clear Finish
Clear finishes are useful for solid wood, as you normally do not want to cover up its natural beauty with an opaque layer. The coating highlights the grain, giving a layer of wood protection.
Solid Wood with Stains/Dyes
Instead of applying a coat of colour on the wood surface, stains/dyes work by saturating the wood with a translucent shade. With this, you can alter the shade of the wood but still retain the natural texture of the grain.
Engineered Wood with Decorative Coating
With an unfinished look, engineered wood needs a decorative coating. Using thin sheets of natural solid wood, wood veneer sheets can be made and then pasted on to the underlying engineered wood substrate. With this, you can get a look and feel of natural wood at a fraction of its cost. Veneers are used on almost everything – from flooring to wardrobes, cabinets to desks and stand-alone furnitures.
Engineered Wood with Laminates
Laminates are artificial materials made out of paper and plastic resins, pasted and hard-pressed into thin sheets. They come in a variety of colours and textures and are good replications of wood, stone, metals, leather, etc. They are easy to maintain besides being heat, scratch and water-resistant. The sheets come in a wide range of thicknesses with matte and gloss finishes.
Engineered Wood with Acrylics
If you are game for an expensive finish in a 3bhk Flat in Gurgaon, then acrylics can be a nice option to look for. They give a luxurious, reflective high-gloss finish, strong, long-lasting and are available in a wide range of colours. They are a great option for kitchens and bathrooms but they need regular cleaning. You can also think of using them in the top line of cabinets that are not likely to be used frequently.
Wood is an essential part of home décor. It can be for your furniture, your doors, the window frames – everything has wood as a major component. So, it is extremely important to select the right kind of wood for your interiors. Wood or wooden material literally is the backbone of a construction, which is why choosing the right kind of wood becomes crucial. Buying a home in Krisumi Apartments in Gurgaon will help you in choosing the right ambience to do the perfect home interiors.
