admish18, Author at Buy Custom Amish Furniture | Amish Furniture for sale in Coates, MN

The Difference Between Laminate, Veneer, and Solid Wood

When buying Amish furniture, choosing the right type of wood is a definite challenge, so what should you be doing? It is crucial that you know the difference between the types of wood that you will encounter at an Amish furniture store, but you should also know exactly what you shouldn’t be found. With that in mind, today we are going to take a look at the difference between laminates, veneers, and solid wood.

Veneer – One Thing you Should Never Find at an Amish Furniture Store

Veneer is not a solid wood – it is a thin layer of hardwood that normally measures 1/8 of an inch thick. In most cases, it is bonded or glued to a cheaper surface, or, in many cases, a particle board. In other words, it looks good, but once you get beneath the surface, it’s a far cheaper piece of furniture. This practice allows furniture to be built at a lower cost an will still retain the beauty of the solid wood furniture.

Objectively, particle board lasts longer in humidity, which often means that it is a better choice for bathroom vanities, but if you are here, then you are looking for the real deal. It is also important to remember that unlike Amish furniture for sale, veneers cannot be sanded as you will break through the top layer and end up at the particle board.

Laminate – A Synthetic Nightmare

We introduce you to another piece that you will not be found among online Amish furniture as you shop. Laminate is made from thinly sliced pieces of wood, or synthetic materials, and it is designed to completely imitate wood grain. It has a shiny finish and is often used in low-end furniture pieces that need more durable surfaces. How durable it really is, and how long it is going to last, will depend on how often it is used.

Solid Wood – The Gold Standard in Furniture

Authentic Amish furniture will always be made from solid wood, there are no exceptions. Unlike those we mentioned above, it can be more expensive but also more durable. In addition to that, it can be easily worked on, ensuring that it can stand the test of time and be a part of your home for many years rather than being replaced at the first sign of damage.

We will always recommend solid wood over any other type of wood on the market, and now you can see why. Make sure that you find the right piece of furniture for your home and most importantly, make sure that it is constructed from the right materials.

How to Decide If your Amish Furniture Needs to Be Refinished

You hear a lot about refinishing Amish furniture, but here’s a good question: does yours really need to be done? It is undoubtedly up in the air for you, and you probably have quite a few questions that need to be answered. Before you start stripping the finish off of your furniture, you should decide, first and foremost, whether or not it should be stripped. In some cases, wood does not need the finish to be stripped away; you can instead use a clear coat. Beyond that, however, there are two different schools of thought when it comes to refinishing solid wood furniture.

Should you Refinish Amish Furniture?

As we mentioned earlier there are two different schools of thought, each one with different implications for your solid wood furniture. The first states that you shouldn’t refinish wooden furniture as it could potentially reduce the monetary value. The second, however, believes that refinishing will give the piece a longer lifespan, and is, therefore, a highly valuable asset. If you feel that monetary gain is not a factor here, then refinishing will allow you to get more out of any Amish furniture for sale.

How to Make your Decision

There are a few important questions that you will need to ask yourself before you can actually make a decision, so consider the following:

Painted Pieces from the Amish Furniture Store

While you won’t find any painted pieces at an Amish furniture store, you will find that there are pieces being resold that have been painted over rather than stained. What does this mean exactly? In most cases, it means that that the previous owner was attempting to hide some serious damage, which you will uncover if you choose to strip the paint off. In these cases, it might be best to simply leave it alone.

Is it Stable?

How stable is the piece? Will it need to be repaired before you refinish it? Most Amish furniture for sale is sturdy but if you reach a point where it needs to be refinished, then it might also be time to give it a few repairs. Test its stability by trying to sway it from side to side, wiggle the legs, and see if it is coming apart at the seams. If you find any of these imperfections, you may need to have it repaired first.

What Will it Look Like?

The final question that you need to ask yourself, is what will the furniture look like once it has been refinished? If you are refinishing an antique, it will usually turn out a shade darker, so, when you are refinishing, expect it to be a little bit different once you are done.

Make your Decision

These factors should help you to come to a decision – just remember that once you refinish a piece you are committing to keeping it rather than selling it. At the end of the day, it’s going to be worth it, especially if you plan to pass a piece down to the next generation.

If you do choose to refinish your furniture, you will undoubtedly find yourself with a beautiful piece, even if it is a little bit darker. Make your decision and get started!

How to Choose the Perfect Dining Room Table

While the living room might be the center of your home, the dining room is a close second and you need to make sure that you have a good table. As you are browsing the Amish furniture store you will rather quickly find that there are a lot of different and outstanding options out here and choosing between them can be quite the challenge. So, how do you go about it? How do you choose the perfect Amish dining room table? It’s not as hard as you might think, and we’re going to go ahead and cover it right now.

Amish Furniture is All About Size

When you look at Amish furniture for sale, tables especially, you will want to make sure that you are taking a long, hard look at the size of the furniture. When it comes to a kitchen table this is especially important, as you need room to walk through your space. We would strongly recommend that you measure your kitchen before you start looking for the best Amish furniture out there. This, however, is only the start of the equation.

Make Sure it is tall Enough

This goes right along with the overall size – you want to make sure that any table you choose is going to be tall enough, and this goes hand in hand with the chairs that you want to pick for your table. Remember, the chairs need to be high enough to meet the surface of the table and allow for you and your guests to sit comfortably.

Get the Right Style

We can’t say it enough: when you shop for Amish furniture online or in a store, you absolutely need to make sure that you are getting the right style. We don’t advocate for either Mission or Shaker; we leave that choice up to you. We will say that most typically you would want to choose something that goes with the rest of your décor, so keep that in mind as you are shopping.

Right along with getting something that matches the rest of your décor, we would strongly recommend checking the wood stain of the furniture that you are getting. There are both dark stains and light stains for you to consider, either of which can be a welcome addition to your dining room. If you don’t want to stick with either one, you can create a contrasting theme throughout your dining room, using your table as a piece of anchor furniture. You will find that there is quite a bit to take into consideration when you are choosing a table, so don’t do it haphazardly! Choose the right table and enjoy it for many years to come.

Your Guide to Caring for Solid Wood Furniture

You already know that Amish furniture is made of solid wood, but you might not be entirely sure what that means or what it entails. In today’s article, we are going to talk a bit about what solid wood furniture is, what it mails, and how you can properly take care of it.

Amish Furniture Brings Back and Old Tradition

If you have been around for some time then you’ve probably notice that plastic is doing an outstanding job of replacing wood as one of the primary building materials. We are seeing an increasing demand for cheaper furniture but as you probably already know, cheaper furniture is lower quality furniture. As of right now, many consumers are using plastic particle board furniture over real wood but there are still those who are more comfortable with hardwood. At the end of the day, solid wood has a finish that you just cannot argue with, and many of the materials used are environmentally friendly.

A Word on Food

The urge to eat food while sitting in your recliner or sitting in your favorite chair is going to be pretty strong, but remember that you should avoid placing hot dishes on the arms, or even on end tables. Remember: the maximum temperature of anything placed on the solid wood finish, even with the best Amish furniture for sale, should never exceed one hundred and forty degrees Fahrenheit.

Environmental Considerations

When we say environment considerations we are not speaking of the world outside, but rather the environment in which you keep your furniture. Any Amish furniture for sale you find will have one thing in common: it will respond to changes in both temperature and humidity in the room. It will either expand or contract depending on the scenario, and for that reason, try to keep the environment tuned as follows:

Indoor Humidity: 30-45%

Indoor Temperature: 60-80 degrees

It is advised that you maintain these temperatures in this manner at all times of the year and that you continue to follow other important routine maintenance procedures.

Basic Maintenance for Amish Furniture

It all starts with the basics, so keep this in mind:

Clean and Polish – You need to make sure that you’re cleaning and polishing the furniture regularly. You don’t need to do it every single day, but you do need to work cleaning into your regular schedule.

Cover Used Surfaces – Any surface that you eat on, or do any sort of work on should remain covered when you are doing so.

Watch for Infestations – You won’t see any bugs infesting your plastic furniture but solid wood can attract termites. If you see any signs of infestation, address it immediately.

When you buy Amish furniture online you are buying more than just a chair to sit in or a table to eat at; you are making a serious investment and one that you will need to make sure you are protecting. The best Amish furniture will last a lifetime as long s you take care of it!

Amish Furniture Woods – Oak vs Pine

Choosing the best type of wood for your new furniture collection is tough, and today we are going to spend some time talking about the difference between oak and pine. Both of these are a great option for Amish furniture but what are the differences and which one should you really choose if any?

A Word about Pine and Oak in Amish Furniture

The first thing that you need to know, is that these are two very different types of woods. One is a softwood, the other a hardwood. They do however share some similarities:

Durability – Both types of woods are very durable. You probably already know that oak has the upper hand when it comes to strength, but pine isn’t too bad either.

Resistant to Moisture Damage – While excessive moisture exposure can damage any type of wood, these two are particularly resistant to it. Naturally, you will want to avoid placing them in situations where they might become wet, but at the end of the day, you don’t have too much to worry about.

Aesthetics – Oak, and pine are both very beautiful kinds of wood. They look different but they both have their own beautiful style that will add its own impressive touch to your room.

Which One Should You Invest In?

As we said, they both have their merits but when you’re looking at Amish furniture for sale you want to make sure that you have the best. After all, you’re investing a lot of money into this. If you still aren’t able to figure out, then consider the following:

Budget – How much money do you have to spend? If you’re on a shoestring budget then pine is probably a better idea. If you have more wiggle room, however, the beauty of oak is hard to deny.

Furniture Life – Oak will last much longer than pine, so how long do you expect to keep the furniture? If you aren’t planning to keep it for a lifetime then pine is probably a good choice but if you want something that you can pass down to your children, you know which way to go.

Furniture Use – How often will you be using your furniture? For what purpose? Oak withstands wear and tear a little better, so it is a better material for Amish furniture that will be used heavily.

Maintenance Considerations – A huge consideration when choosing the wood type at the Amish furniture store is the amount of maintenance you want to put into it. Oak will always be lower maintenance than pine as it is more resistant to wear and tear. Pine is softer, so it will become damaged more easily.

In the end, it will be up to you, but as you browse through Amish furniture online you might consider choosing both, as pine is good for low-traffic rooms, and oak is better for main rooms. Check over our pros and cons and make your decision!

Little Known Facts About Amish Furniture Building Technique

You already know that Amish furniture is a great investment and you are probably looking through several Amish furniture stores for the right type of furniture, but what don’t you know about it? Today we’re going to go over a few little-known facts that will most definitely increase your appreciation of any Amish furniture online that you browse or even choose to buy. Let’s go ahead and take a look at these fun facts that will really bring your furniture to life.

Amish Furniture is Made from 100% Wood

Even with the more expensive furniture retailers, you will often find furniture that is NOT made from 100% wood and this tends to be disappointing to say the least. Many of the more modern furniture designers will use high-end MDF board to simulate real wood, but if it’s not the real deal, then you don’t want it in your house. The Amish are accustomed to using oak, maple, cedar, and even mahogany to create some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture on the market.

All Amish Furniture for Sale is Handcrafted

Amish furniture for sale is handcrafted; there are no exceptions to the rule. Each piece of material used is chosen specifically, and your furniture will not come off of an assembly line. You can rest assured that your new chair, table, or coffee table was a labor of love.

Built Without Electricity

Have you ever wondered why Amish furniture is so expensive? Each and every piece is handcrafted without the aid of electricity which easily sets it apart from nearly every other type of furniture on the market today.

It’s an Old Tradition

Amish furniture uses old techniques because it IS old. The building methods that are being sued to create your house full of furniture are passed down from generation to generation, and the techniques don’t change much over time. You’re buying something that is tried and true, and it is something that could sit in your living room for the rest of your life.

These are just a few great facts about Amish furniture and as you research it for yourself you are bound to come up with many more. Keep reading our blog to learn more about Amish furniture, and don’t forget to check out the offerings over in our Amish furniture store. You’re bound to find something you like before you know it!

Essential Tips for Decorating with Amish Furniture

Before you head out to the Amish furniture store you need to figure out just where you’re going with your interior decorating, and it’s not always the easiest thing in the world. We have to face it, decorating with solid wood is always going to be a lot harder than decorating with MDF or anything that you might have purchased from a typical retail store. We’re going to go over a few essential tips you need to know before you start decorating your room with Amish furniture.

Amish Furniture Tip 1: Contrast your Colors

We’ve said in other blogs that it is important to stick with a similar color scheme when you are setting up your furniture, but sometimes it is okay to move away from that, especially if you want a more interesting experience. For example, you could use a darker color wood as your anchor and then move outward, adding lighter color furniture. Creating a contrast can help to lighten the mood and make sure that the room doesn’t look dull.

Amish Furniture Tip 2: Keep the Same Style

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of sticking with the same style, especially in the same room. One of the biggest mistakes people tend to make when setting up their living rooms, especially with the best Amish furniture, is mixing Mission and Shaker styles together. While this might okay for an interior decorator, it probably isn’t something you want to try if you are a beginner.

Amish Furniture Tip 3: Make use of Lighting

Do you know why Amish furniture for sale looks so great in the store? It’s because of the lighting. Pieces on display tend to be better lit than pieces in your living room, so if you can, try to add some better lighting and make your living room pieces look absolutely amazing.

Amish Furniture Tip 4: Use Accents to Bring out the Best in your Furniture

Once you learn where to buy Amish furniture, start looking for accents to outfit your room with. Area rugs are a great start, but you can also try adding some end tables, among other things to really make your room look amazing.

These four great tips will help you to get your space where you need it to be, and it will help to make sure you don’t commit any rookie mistakes, so to speak. Amish furniture can be a bit more difficult to arrange, but it is well worth it in the end! Head over to our Amish furniture store and start picking out the best pieces for your renovation project.

Create a Warm, Welcoming Living Room Environment

The living room is without a doubt one of the most important parts of your home and with good reason. To be quite honest it’s one of the first rooms that people are going to see when they enter your domicile and if you’re looking to impress, then it would be a good idea for you to look into warm, welcoming Amish furniture. We’re going to cover a few tips that you need to follow when you buy Amish furniture if you wish to create a living room that people are comfortable with, and one that both you and your guests can stand using for many years to come.

Amish Furniture is All About Color

The first thing that you need to concentrate on when you are working on filling your living room with Amish furniture for sale is color. You need to take into account the color of the wood, but you also need to make sure that you are looking at the stain. If you want to create a warmer environment you will want to go for a slightly darted wood but you don’t want to go too overboard. Remember, too dark can be too cold. If you want to add to the warmth, then you might try going with rustic furniture instead.

The Rustic Choice

While rustic Amish furniture prices can be a bit higher they tend to be well worth it for a few reasons. The biggest reason is that they really bring that frontier hunting lodge feel to your home. If you want to add to it, try adding a roaring fire and some ornate looking scenery. You’re going find that the rustic choice is one of the best that you can make if you want to create that beautiful, warm environment.

Choose the Right Upholstery

The last point we’re going to bring up is the upholstery that you use with your furniture. For more formal settings it’s not necessarily the warmest choice that you can make, but you do have the option of going with fabric upholstery which tends to look better. The fabric is much warmer and it tends to retain heat better, so you get both the physician and aesthetic aspects o the equation.

Finally, though it has little to do with the furniture itself, try choosing softer lighting as it will bring out the best features of your furniture. Once you get the right environment, you will find that the furniture does a great job of adding to it. Use the tips that we mentioned above and make sure that you have the right environment set up to bring out the best in your furniture piece selection.

How to Create your Furniture Buying Timeline

When you’re getting ready to renovate your home you have a lot to do and most importantly, you have a lot of money to spend. If you’re hoping to buy Amish furniture then you’ve probably already priced it and you know that it’s going to be hard on the wallet. That said, we’re going to take some time to help you build a buying timeline. Before you visit the Amish furniture store, make sure that you have a plan.

Amish Furniture Store Guidelines – Get the Essentials First

It all starts with making sure that you have the essentials before you go for anything else at our Amish furniture store. We’ll start with the most obvious spot: the bedroom.

The Bedroom

Starting in the bedroom you should first make sure that you have a bed or at least a bedframe. This is without a doubt the most expensive part of your renovation and it is crucial that you choose one that suits your immediate needs. When we say this, we’re talking about both the bed size and the bed style. Remember, if this is the first piece of furniture that you purchase for your bedroom, it will set the style for the rest of your décor, so make sure that you choose wisely.

The second piece in the bedroom to focus on will be the dresser. While you can technically get by without one for a time, you will want to get one in as soon as possible. Once again, make sure that it matches the rest of the décor.

The Living Room

While you are busy equipping the bedroom, you should make sure to purchase a sofa and an entertainment center for your living room. These are two priority pieces that will make the room functional, but later on, you should definitely consider investing in a coffee table.

The Dining Room

This one is much more obvious: in the dining room, you’re going to need a table and chairs. As always, make sure that the set you choose has the appropriately sized chairs and that it is the style you want. There are numerous other pieces that you’re going to need to make your dining room complete, but start with the table and work your way up looking for Amish furniture for sale online.

Make it Perfect

We have the best Amish furniture to help you complete your renovation, and it won’t break the bank on the first run if you follow the outline that we have suggested. Now would be a great time to start searching for the best Amish furniture whether you’re doing a renovation, or you’re buying a new home.

Four Furniture Pieces that Every Family Needs

If you’re in the midst of building a family home then you already know that there are certain furniture pieces that you absolutely, positively need in your home. Today we’re going to go ahead and give you a brief checklist that you’ll want to follow if you plan on finding great Amish furniture pieces.

Amish Furniture Living Room Essentials – Don’t Forget the Couch

For a family room, you’re going to want to make sure you have a great couch and we have plenty of them for you to choose from. If you’re outfitting a family room, however, it would be a good idea to go for fabric upholstery rather than leather upholstery. We’re not simply saying this due to the overall expense, but rather for the sake of atmosphere. When you’re installing a couch in a family room you want it to be warm and welcoming – something that leather upholstery just doesn’t do. Check into our range of great couches for the family room from our Amish furniture store.

Everyone Needs an Entertainment Center

You need an entertainment center, there’s just no way around it. The entertainment center is a perfect addition to any living room and will quickly become the center of attention. As you look at our online Amish furniture you will find several different pieces, from traditional stands, all the way to cabinet style entertainment centers. Take a look around and find the right piece for your living room!

The Kitchen Table is Critical

You know that you need a kitchen table when you are looking into Amish furniture for sale, but what type do you need exactly? There are plenty of great pieces out there, as you already know, and when it comes right down to it you’ll want to choose between pedestal tables and leg tables. We wrote a comparison on these two styles recently, so make sure you check it out!

Occasional Tables to use Occasionally

Occasional tables can be defined as end tables or coffee tables and when you are trying to find the best Amish furniture online, make sure you get every table to need of your come. You’ll use them as conversation pieces, a space for your lamps, and much, much more.

These are four of the most important pieces of furniture that your family home is going to need, and as you browse our store you will find that while Amish furniture prices are high, the pieces will last a lifetime.