Solid and engineered wood can be used in many different applications and have a variety of benefits. From hardwood flooring, solid furniture, to storage pieces, the applications for wood are truly endless. Choosing between engineered wood and solid wood depends on where it is being used, the surrounding climate, and how much maintenance you want to have to keep it aesthetically pleasing. This blog will share different aspects of each wood type and how it can be used in a home, business, or other setting.

Design Flexibility

Using solid wood for tables, chairs, dressers, flooring, and construction will allow you to have higher design flexibility because it can be easily cut, stained, painted, or carved to your preferences. Engineered wood can be stained or painted, but it often doesn’t hold the pigment as well as solid wood. Solid wood ranges in durability and hardness, making it common in many applications. The objects that can be made from wood are truly endless, especially when you choose the right wood type. 

Price

One of the biggest differences between solid and engineered wood is the price per square foot. The price can also depend on whether it is being used for flooring or if you are buying raw lumber. For flooring, engineered hardwood can range from $5 to $15 per square foot. Solid food without a finish can range from $5 to $28 per square foot. Solid wood will typically have a higher price point because of its higher durability. Wood types or colors that are in high demand may have a higher cost per square foot. 

Expected Lifespan

Solid natural wood can last through weather and environmental factors, so it has a longer lifespan than engineered or composite options. Proper cutting and staining of the wood can also impact its lifespan, as well as how it is maintained over time. Flooring made of engineered wood can last up the 30 years, but solid wood floors can last for double that. Engineered wood used for furniture can last for 40 years, while solid wood can last for 50 years or more. 

Installation

The process for installing hardwood or engineered wood flooring can look different depending on where it is being placed in a home or business. Solid hardwood flooring will also have different installation methods than engineered wood because of the cuts and finishes. Solid wood is cut from a single piece of wood and can be sanded or refinished before or after installation. These flooring options often need a type of heavy-duty glue, flooring nails, or an additional moisture barrier.

Engineered wood can often be installed with either glue or nails, not both, and comes in smaller pieces. Engineered wood often comes in interlocking pieces that make installation much quicker. If you have an uneven subfloor, engineered wood often won’t adhere well to the surface, making it difficult to install without leveling or a self-leveling product.

Common Applications For Engineered Wood

Using different types of wood across your home or business can help protect the space from damage and make life easier. This wood consists of a hardwood veneer bonded to multiple layers of fiberboard, making it good for basements or entryways that are prone to moisture.

Other applications for engineered wood include:

• Support beams
• Construction framing
• Flooring in humid areas
• Outdoor furniture
• Decking
• Wall paneling
• Exterior doors

Common Applications For Solid Wood

Using solid wood will help give your furniture or home a timeless look, but it isn’t the best for all applications. Solid wood is often much harder to keep clean and maintained, especially if you have kids or pets. 

Some common applications for solid wood include:

• Tables, chairs, desks, and bookcases
• Cabinetry
• Beams or rafters
• Fencing
• Pergolas
• Ships
• Toys
• Musical instruments
• Picture frames

Mission Style Furniture From Sugar House Furniture

Sugar House Furniture offers many different types of furniture that can serve your home or business for years to come. Our team has been crafting solid wood furniture since 1985, helping people of all backgrounds have the style and finish of furniture that suits them. 

Our team uses solid wood because of its durability, design flexibility, and visual appeal. Mission furniture is built to last for many years, even with ornate or decorative elements. We have a furniture solution to fit your needs and be passed down through generations. Visit our furniture store in Salt Lake City to see all of our pieces in person.

Having a cozy reading nook in your home is the ultimate dream for book lovers, but finding the right furniture can make or break the feeling of the reading nook. If you want the reading nook to feel cozy and inviting, finding the right furniture, fabrics, and accessories is crucial. This blog will share some furniture options, color schemes, fabric ideas, and personal touches that can bring the nook together. 

Sturdy Bookshelves

The most important part of a book nook is the books. Having proper storage for all of your volumes helps to show off your collector’s edition books, your favorite novels, and other decor that fills the shelves. Sturdy and durable bookshelves are also important when you have multiple heavy books. Bookshelves come in a variety of sizes and colors, so you can truly find an option that fits your personality and the aesthetics of the space. Finding bookshelves that you love is the first step in building a space that you want to spend time in.

Warm Wood Accents

When you want to have a cozy and warm space, it is important to utilize warm-toned colors and natural woods. Using cherry or walnut wood in the space can help it feel more cozy. You can incorporate natural wood in multiple ways, without the need to remodel the space. Try implementing wood-framed artwork, chairs made of a warm or dark wood, or plants. If your home already has warm wood accents like window frames or flooring, try building your reading nook around this area. 

Cozy Fabrics

Curling up on your couch with a thick blanket is one of the best ways to read a book. Your reading nook should feature a variety of soft fabrics, textiles, blankets, and pillows. The more fabric, the more our brains will associate softness with the area. Similar to a fluffy bed and soft blanket will coax you to want to take a nap, more fabrics in your reading nook will encourage you to slow down and relax. 

Incorporate Storage Pieces

In addition to bookshelves, a reading nook will need storage for other items like bookmarks, annotation supplies, snacks, or linens. These items can fit inside small dressers, a rolling cart, or an ottoman that has multiple functions. The biggest thing to remember in your home is to have sufficient storage and organization in order to keep the space from feeling cluttered.

Have Multiple Seating Options

Reading in a variety of locations can be an exciting way to finish a book, so if you want to spend more time in a reading nook, include multiple seating options. A high-backed chair, a loveseat, or a sofa are great options for reading, but you could also include a beanbag or floor seating when you want to switch it up. Even if you are building a reading nook on a budget, finding multiple seating options will make the space feel lived in. 

String Fairy Lights

Proper lighting helps to make a nook cozy without causing strain on your eyes while reading. Fairy lights can be a great way to keep the space bright, without needing a harsh overhead light. String lights come in many different colors and settings to allow you to change the vibe of the space at any time. If you are not into string lights, there are other low-lighting options that can help you see your reading material while maintaining a cozy vibe that doesn’t feel industrial.

Add Plenty Of Greenery

Decorating your reading space with plants and greenery helps the space feel lively and inviting. Plants, fake greenery, or natural tones will help bring the space together while also helping to keep it fresh. Incorporate potted or hanging plants across the shelves and floor to tie all other interior design elements together, as well as provide health benefits for the future. 

Furniture Pieces From Sugar House Furniture

The furniture pieces you choose for your home can impact the entire vibe of your home. Our solid wood furniture helps to provide organization, functionality, and aesthetics for multiple rooms in a home. Sugar House Furniture offers dressers, tables, chairs, bed frames, desks, and much more to help serve your home and last through years of use. Our pieces are made to be passed down through generations and require minimal maintenance. 

Sugar House Furniture is locally owned and operated in Utah and works hard to provide pieces that truly benefit our clients. All of our furniture is made from durable wood in multiple colors and grain patterns. Mission furniture has clean edges and timeless lines that will look good in any room in your home. View our pieces in our showroom or check out our gallery based on each room to find the best piece for your family.

Choosing the best furniture pieces for your home can help the space feel cohesive and avoid overwhelm. While a coffee table may not seem like an essential furniture item, it can help a living room, dining room, or study feel complete. There are many coffee table shapes, heights, lengths, and styles to choose from, which can help any home aesthetic come together. With the right coffee table, proper styling, and keeping up on maintenance, this small piece of furniture can truly shine. This blog will share some considerations you should have when choosing a coffee table and how other furniture pieces can impact the look of a coffee table. 

Determine The Size Of Your Room

Similar to dining tables, couches, or beds, large furniture pieces need to be the right size to provide enough space to walk around and maneuver through the house. Especially if it is not the only piece in the room, looking at the size of the room and other large pieces will help you choose the right-sized coffee table. A smaller living room may not be able to accommodate a large couch, coffee table, and entertainment center. Some furniture experts suggest that your coffee table be two-thirds the width of your sofa in order for it to look proportional. 

Common Coffee Table Shapes

If you want the look of your sitting room or living room to feel complete, choosing the right coffee table shape is also crucial. There are a variety of shapes and abstract options that can serve your home with more storage, decor space, and a place for your favorite drinks. While the shape of the table is more of a cosmetic aspect to your coffee table, it can impact how you and your guests navigate the space.

Rectangular

If you have a long sofa, you will need to have a longer coffee table to achieve balance. Smaller rooms also work well with rectangular tables because of their ability to split the room, making it appear larger. Rectangular tables are versatile and work best in traditional layouts.  

Square

Square coffee tables are best for sectional sofas or L-shaped seating arrangements. They help a home achieve a symmetrical look, but could be overwhelming in narrow living rooms. Choosing two square end tables or small coffee tables can give you more surface area to store items while allowing you to more easily navigate the living space. Paying attention to your seating arrangement and the other usable space in your room is a good rule of thumb when determining a coffee table shape. 

Round

Family homes with small living spaces are great spaces for round tables. Avoiding sharp edges will help protect children, pets, and even adults from unnecessary injuries. They work well with group seating and sectionals, but if your room is too large, a round table may look out of place. 

Oval

Using an oval coffee table gives you a larger space for decor and drink glasses with the sleek and safe look of a round table. Oval coffee tables are best for high-traffic areas and living rooms with different types of seating (loveseats, chaise, and chairs). 

Nesting

Two nesting tables, like one larger round table with a smaller table underneath, can provide a modern feel for your living room. Nesting tables allow you to have more space to work with and mimic a larger table without purchasing an unwanted coffee table shape.

Abstract

If none of the traditional shapes are appealing to you or don’t look right in your home, abstract shapes may be a better option. Jagged edges, different surface areas, and seemingly disproportionate tables can still be functional and serve the design of a living room. Artistic tables can help improve your eclectic interior.

Consider The Layout Of Your Other Furniture Pieces

The space around your coffee table and between sofas or TV stands and the coffee table plays a role in determining which one option will work best for your home. Choosing the right coffee table means the piece needs to be in scale with the other furniture pieces in the room to achieve a cohesive look. Place the coffee table at least 12-17 inches away from a sofa or chair to allow people to easily stand up or walk around the table. 

Tables should also be placed in the center of your seating or other living room furniture to look cohesive. The furniture should also be balanced on each side, not necessarily even, but balanced by weights, sizes, or shape. If the long sectional is on one side of the coffee table, there should be a chair and a basket or ottoman on the other side. 

Achieving balance may also mean that your coffee table isn’t placed in the center of the living room. If your living room space is oblong, or the table won’t fit directly in the center of an area rug, you should place the coffee table in the center of the conversation area. Placing the coffee table away from everything else makes it difficult to use, but having it too close restricts movement. 

Choosing Materials For A Table

One other aspect of coffee table design you should consider is the material and coloring of the piece. Choosing the size and shape of your table is important for function, but the material and color help with visual appeal. The type of material can also impact how long your table lasts and what maintenance needs to be done to keep it looking pristine. 

Metal, concrete, natural stone, or composite materials are best for contemporary homes that want to convey a modern aesthetic. Artistic tables that feature epoxy, natural stone tops, or abstract pieces can also fit a more contemporary home.

Wood, glass, and some stone options are best for more traditional or farmhouse-style living rooms. These materials feel warmer and natural, which helps create a cozy atmosphere where families want to gather.

Wood Pieces From Sugar House Furniture

Sugar House Furniture creates mission-style furniture that is built to last through years of use. Coffee tables may not be the centerpiece of your home, but they can provide the necessary surface area and visual appeal that every home needs. Our team offers a variety of coffee table shapes, sizes, and designs so you can find the best fit for your home. Check out our online gallery or visit our warehouse to see our quality craftsmanship in person.