Oak has many uses and the wood is well known for its strength, hardness and attractive grain patterns. Wide boards of oak are often used for interior panelling and the production of fine furniture.
Oak furniture has become one of the most popular choices in the modern home. Quite often suppliers will mix solid cuts of wood with veneer to bring the price down to an affordable level. If looking for a completely solid or bespoke piece of oak furniture prices will be higher but will also reflect the quality of the item that has been designed.
Solid Hardwood Bookcases
Many homes will now feature oak kitchens, work tops or panelling as well as standard pieces for the home including chests, sideboards, beds, and wardrobes. The saying 'buy cheap, buy twice' springs to mind when thinking about purchasing an oak piece of furniture. Oak goods can lead to choosing a piece of furniture for life as the durability of the wood will often mean only having to change the piece for design purposes rather than due to breakages.
Its resistance to insect and fungal attacks is another factor in the selection of oak wood for interior design including its very popular use for solid wood flooring.
Barrels used for the aging of spirits and wines are often made from oak, the use of oak with wine can add to various attributes of the drink. Depending on the type and style of oak it can contribute to the taste, colour and scent of the drink. Oak bark can also be used for the production of the corks for the wine.
Oak wood chips are often used for smoking (the process of flavouring, cooking or preserving) food. The food is exposed to smoke from the burning of wooden materials, mostly with fish, meat and cheeses to add to the flavour.
Oak can also be used in the making of drums. The solidity of the oak can give drums a louder tone giving them a capacity for volume that will impress many musicians. Although mainly available in stains that allow the natural tones and grain of the wood to show through some suppliers are now introducing oak drum sets that have been lacquered in more desirable, stage ready finishes such as 'Silver Sparkle'.
Oak has been a popular material in the past and still is during the present for many purposes. From use in prestigious buildings to the humble oak furniture dining chair sat in the kitchen the popularity and ideas for uses of oak wood does not appear to be diminishing.