Natural Wood: Characteristics & Types of Natural Wood Used in Interior Design

Natural wood is directly exploited from tree trunks in nature or from planted forests. After going through basic processing such as sawing, drying, and impregnation to remove moisture and increase durability, natural wood still retains its inherent natural structure.

This type of wood is popular because of its high aesthetic value, good durability and ability to increase in value over time. In interior design, natural wood stands out thanks to its diverse colors, unique wood grain, good bearing capacity, low warping and long life, easy to combine with metal, glass, etc. to make the space more modern. 

According to the Nordic Journal of Architectural Research: “Exposure to natural wood in living spaces can reduce stress levels by up to 15% and improve cognitive performance by 8% compared to synthetic materials.”

In terms of characteristics, natural wood is environmentally friendly and air-conditioned, but is expensive and easily affected by humidity. Common types of wood used in interior design include: oak, walnut, rosewood, ironwood and xoan dao. 

Each type has its own advantages, suitable for many design styles. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the purpose of use, interior style, budget as well as find a reputable supplier and check the quality carefully to ensure buying the right quality interior wood.

To learn more, please read the article below.

What is Natural Wood?

Natural wood is wood that is directly exploited from tree trunks in nature, without going through an industrial manufacturing process. 

This type of wood is popular in interior design thanks to its high aesthetic value, outstanding durability and ability to increase in value over time. With its flexibility in design, natural wood is suitable for many styles and is increasingly combined with modern materials to create luxurious and sophisticated living spaces.

1. Why is natural wood popular in interior design?

Natural wood not only brings high aesthetic value but also has outstanding durability. This is the reason why it is always loved by architects and homeowners when designing living spaces.

• Outstanding aesthetic value: Natural wood has diverse colors and beautiful wood grain, helping to create luxury and warmth for the interior space. Each wooden panel has unique grain, no duplication, increasing the aesthetic value of the product.
• Durable: Thanks to its sturdy structure, natural wood can withstand the effects of time and is less likely to warp or crack if properly treated. Some high-quality woods such as ironwood, walnut or oak are also resistant to termites.
• Long-term economic value: Although the initial cost is higher than that of industrial wood, natural wood has a long lifespan, helping to save replacement costs in the long run. In particular, furniture products made from precious wood can also increase in value over time.

2. The trend of using natural wood in interior design

Natural wood is not only suitable for traditional spaces but also widely used in modern design trends. With flexibility in fabrication, natural wood can adapt to many different styles.

• Applications in a variety of styles: Whether it is minimalist, Scandinavian, classic or industrial style, natural wood can meet all needs, creating an impressive highlight for the space.
• Trend of combining natural wood with metal and glass: To create novelty, natural wood is often combined with modern materials such as metal, glass or stone, etc. This combination not only increases aesthetics but also helps the space become more youthful and dynamic.

What Are The Characteristics Of Natural Wood?

Natural wood is durable, strong, has a variety of colors, unique wood grain, suitable for many design styles. In addition to aesthetics, wood is also environmentally friendly, air-conditioned, and easy to process. However, natural wood is often expensive, easily affected by the environment and needs to be exploited reasonably.

1. Structure and physical properties of natural wood

Natural wood has a special structure, which gives it high durability and good load-bearing capacity. These physical properties determine the quality and application of wood in interior design.

• Wood grain structure: Natural wood has vertical grain, which increases strength and limits warping during use. In particular, outdoor wood is often treated to increase termite resistance, water resistance, and ensure durability when exposed to harsh environments.
• Hardness, bearing capacity: Some types of wood such as ironwood and red wood have high hardness and good bearing capacity, suitable for heavy-duty furniture such as floors, tables and chairs. On the contrary, softer types of wood such as pine or rubber wood are suitable for light products that are easy to shape.

2. Aesthetic properties of natural wood

Besides its durability, natural wood is also loved for its unique beauty that no other material can replace. Each type of wood has its own beauty, contributing to the luxury of the interior space.

• Various colors: Natural wood comes in a wide range of colors, from warm dark brown to delicate bright yellow. Some types of wood have the ability to change color over time, making the interior more unique.
• Unique wood grain according to each type of wood: No two pieces of wood have the same grain, which makes each piece of furniture unique. Precious woods such as walnut, oak, or rosewood, etc. have beautiful grain, giving a luxurious feel.

3. Highlights of natural wood in interior design

Not only beautiful and durable, natural wood also has many advantages that make it the top choice in many interior designs:

• Adaptability to many design styles: Whether it is modern, classic or minimalist style, natural wood can meet all needs. With the variety of colors and wood grain, natural wood furniture is always suitable for many different design trends.
• Environmental friendliness: Natural wood is derived from nature, does not contain toxic chemicals, and is safe for human health. If exploited and used properly, natural wood also contributes to environmental protection.
• Air conditioning capacity: Natural wood has the ability to absorb and release moisture, helping to regulate humidity in the living space. This creates a comfortable, pleasant and healthy living environment.
• Easy to process and shape as required: Thanks to its flexibility, natural wood can be crafted into many different shapes and designs, meeting all user needs from natural wood wall cladding to natural wood flooring,...

4. Limitations of natural wood in interior design

Although there are many advantages, natural wood in interior design also has some limitations that users need to consider before choosing.

• High price: Compared to industrial wood, natural wood has a higher price due to scarce raw materials and high processing costs. Rare woods such as rosewood, ebony, etc. have very high value. For example: A living room table and chair set made from rosewood costs about 150-200 million VND, while a similar product made from industrial wood only costs 30-50 million VND.
• Vulnerable to environmental influences: If not treated properly, natural wood can warp and crack due to changes in humidity and temperature. This requires careful maintenance to maintain its long-term durability.
• Need to exploit reasonably to protect resources: The exploitation of natural timber needs to be strictly controlled to avoid depleting forest resources and affecting the ecological environment.

The Best Natural Wood Types Used in Furniture

Popular natural woods in interiors include durable oak, luxurious walnut, light aromatic wood, sturdy ironwood and reasonably priced mahogany. Each type of wood has its own characteristics in color, grain, durability and application, suitable for many design styles.

1. Oak

Oak is one of the most widely used woods in furniture due to its strength and beautiful color. There are two main types of oak: white oak and red oak, each with its own distinct characteristics.

• Highlights: Oak wood has high hardness and good termite resistance thanks to its natural tannin content. The color ranges from light yellow to dark brown, with beautiful and clear wood grain.
• Interior applications: Oak wood is often used to make tables, chairs, beds, kitchen cabinets and wooden floors. Thanks to its high durability, oak wood is also popular in modern residential projects.

2. Walnut

Natural walnut wood is a high-class wood with luxurious dark brown color, used in many high-class interior designs.

• Highlights: Walnut wood has good resistance to warping, soft wood grain with beautiful wavy lines. This type of wood is also highly durable and less affected by environmental impacts.
• Interior applications: Often used to make tables, chairs, beds, wardrobes and wall panels. In particular, walnut wood is very suitable for modern and luxurious design styles.

3. Padauk

Rosewood is famous for its characteristic light fragrance and outstanding durability, and is one of the precious woods favored in interior design.

• Highlights: The color of rosewood ranges from orange-red to dark brown, the longer it is used, the more beautiful the color becomes. The wood is very hard, and is not susceptible to warping or termites.
• Interior applications: Used to make tables, chairs, beds, cabinets, wooden beds and high-class furniture. Thanks to its pleasant fragrance, rosewood is also used to make decorative products such as wooden statues.

4. Ironwood

Lim wood is a type of wood with high hardness and good bearing capacity, often used in traditional interior and architectural works.

• Highlights: Lim wood has a dark brown color, straight and clear wood grain. The wood is highly durable, termite-resistant and resistant to external environmental impacts.
• Interior applications: Often used to make doors, stairs, floors and pillars in large constructions. Lim wood is also used to make tables, chairs, beds and cabinets thanks to its strength and natural beauty.

5. Mahogany-like wood

Peach wood is a type of wood with light pink to reddish brown color, beautiful wood grain and good bearing capacity, suitable for many interior applications.

• Highlights: Peach wood is lighter in weight than other hardwoods, but still ensures high durability. The wood has good termite resistance after being carefully treated.
• Interior applications: Used to make beds, cabinets, tables, chairs, wooden doors and wooden floors. With reasonable price, xoan dao wood is a popular choice in many families.

What to Note When Choosing Natural Wood for Furniture?

When choosing natural wood for interior, it is necessary to determine the purpose of use, suit the design style, consider the budget, choose a reputable supplier and carefully check the wood quality to ensure durability, aesthetics and economic efficiency.

1. Determining the purpose of use

Before choosing a wood type, you need to consider the intended use to ensure the product has the appropriate durability and aesthetics.

• Heavy duty interior: For items that require durability such as dining tables, beds, and wardrobes, choose hardwoods such as teak, walnut, or oak.
• Interior decoration: If you want to create a highlight for the space, wood with beautiful grain such as rosewood or xoan dao wood will be the ideal choice.
• Outdoor space: If using wood for outdoor spaces, you should choose wood that is termite-resistant and water-resistant such as teak (Indian oak) or rosewood (same type as green Lim).

2. Choose the type of wood that suits the design style

Each interior style will be suitable for certain types of wood, helping the space become more harmonious and impressive.

• Modern style: Neutral-toned woods like walnut or white oak are suitable for modern, sophisticated interiors.
• Classic style: Rosewood and mahogany with warm colors and luxurious wood grain are very popular in classic design.
• Rustic, natural style: Pine or mahogany with warm tones will help the space become closer and more friendly.

3. Consider investment budget

The price of natural wood varies greatly depending on the type of wood, quality and origin. Therefore, determining your budget from the beginning will help you make the right choice.

• High budget: Walnut, ironwood, and rosewood belong to the high-end segment, suitable for luxury projects.
• Average budget: Oak and mahogany are popular choices thanks to their reasonable price but still ensure quality.
• Budget savings: Pine and rubber wood are cheaper types of wood, suitable for those who want to save money but still have beautiful furniture.

4. Learn carefully about reputable suppliers

Choosing the right reputable wood supplier will help you avoid buying poor quality or adulterated wood.

• Clear origin: Choose units with documents proving legal wood origin and meeting quality standards.
• Warranty Policy: Reputable units often have good warranty policies, ensuring customer rights.
• Reviews from customers: You should consult with previous buyers to get a more realistic view of product quality.

5. Check the quality of wood before buying

Before deciding to buy wood, you should check carefully to ensure the wood meets standards and is suitable for your needs.

• Check wood grain: Natural wood grain often has clear lines, not blurred or broken.
• Color check: Quality wood is usually uniform in color, without patches or signs of rot.
• Check humidity: Standard wood usually has a moisture content of 8-12%, helping to limit warping during use.
• Knock on wooden surface: Good wood usually has a solid sound, not hollow or creaky.

Frequently Asked Questions When Choosing Natural Wood

1. Does natural wood have good heat and sound insulation?

Natural wood has an average thermal conductivity of 0.12 – 0.16 W/mK, lower than metal (~50 W/mK) and concrete (~1.7 W/mK), helping to effectively reduce heat loss. Depending on the type of wood, the sound absorption will also be different, with softwoods such as pine and oak having better sound insulation than hardwoods.

If you want to use good soundproof wooden floors, see more articles https://smartdecor.vn/san-go-cach-am/ 

2. Which types of wood have the longest lifespan?

Types of natural wood with outstanding longevity include:

• Lim wood, red wood, rosewood: Durability up to 80 - 100 years if well preserved.
• Walnut wood, rosewood: Lifespan 40 - 70 years, good moisture resistance.
• Oak, mahogany: Lifespan 20 - 40 years, suitable for indoor furniture.

3. Is natural wood affected by humidity?

Natural wood has a shrinkage rate of 3-8% when humidity changes. The types of wood with the best moisture resistance include teak, rosewood, and ironwood; while pine and xoan dao wood are prone to expansion when exposed to high humidity. Drying to a humidity level below 12% helps reduce shrinkage.

Find out more details in the article: Should You Choose Natural Wood Or Industrial Wood For Furniture??

4. What types of natural wood are suitable for kitchen cabinets?

For Kitchen Cabinets, should prioritize natural wood types that are moisture-resistant, heat-resistant, and easy to clean. Some suitable wood types include oak, teak, ash, and walnut. If you are wondering about other materials for kitchen cabinets, you can refer to the article Should You Choose Kitchen Cabinets Made of Plastic or Industrial Wood??

5. Where should I buy natural wood furniture to ensure quality and durability?

If you are looking for high-quality, durable and modern design-oriented natural wood furniture, SmartDecor is a choice worth considering!

Reasons to choose SmartDecor:

• Selected natural wood: Using high quality wood such as walnut, oak, red wood, ironwood, etc. with professional processing, ensuring long-term durability.
• Professional construction: SmartDecor's construction team is highly skilled, ensuring the product is completed perfectly.
• Dedicated service: SmartDecor always listens and meets all customer requirements. Good warranty and after-sales service helps customers feel secure when using the product.
• Full construction service: From design, manufacturing to installation, SmartDecor Providing synchronous interior solutions, optimizing space.

Do you need advice on interior design from natural wood? Please contact us immediately. SmartDecor to receive dedicated support and own classy - sustainable - sophisticated products!