Q: I just had my furniture done in wood veneer. The wood is matte and grainy, which my designer says is how it should be. But the carpenter says a coat of varnish will keep away dirt, prevent stains and waterproof it. Who is right?

A: Both are correct. The designer is speaking from an aesthetic point of view when he says wood ought to be left raw so it will look natural. The carpenter is being practical when he recommends that you protect the raw surfaces with a varnish. If left unsealed, raw wood surfaces will discolour over time with wear and tear.

You can choose to protect only those that will see the most wear – like tables and chairs – with a matte polyurethane varnish, but you will lose the texture of the wood by doing so. A more natural way to protect wood is with a coat of beeswax polish, which you can find at DIY shops. Hand-rubbing a layer of wax into wood brings out the grain and does not change its character. Wax your furniture pieces every two months to maintain their beauty.

If you choose to leave them totally raw, there is another option. Wood veneers are thin, so you can just laminate a new layer of veneer over one that is damaged.

Credits

Design: Soho Interiors + Studio A.R.C