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White Ideas > How to Care for Your New England Oak Furniture

How to Care for Your New England Oak Furniture

Date published: 04 July 2011

Our New England Style Oak Furniture is finished with an acrylic varnish which has a satin finish. We use an acrylic varnish for the simple reason that it does not alter the natural colour of the wood whereas if we were to apply a polyurethane varnish (and even some water based varnishes) the lovely light oak can turn into something that looks like dark oak, or even orangey oak. The New England Dining Table is a stunning light oak and it is amazing how our varnish keeps the beautiful light oak colour true. We use Polyvine Decorators Varnish, mixing together the Dead Flat and Satin Finish to obtain the sheen that we require. Polyvine products are available through Brewers Decorators Centres which can be found nationwide.

Our oak furniture is incredibly easy to clean! Due to the water based varnish, we advise cleaning with just a damp cloth plus a small amount of washing up liquid if needed to remove any difficult marks, and be sure to dry the furniture thoroughly as you go. We do not recommend the use of any other cleaning agents including kitchen cleaners, antibacterial sprays nor furniture polish on any of our furniture as these products gradually disintegrate the varnish causing the table to feel sticky.

As with our white furniture, if over time you feel your oak furniture is beginning to look a little worn, it can very easily be given a new lease of life. To revive a well used New England Dining Table, simply sand down the top and apply three coats of the Polyvine Decorators Varnish and it will once again look brand new.

The one thing that the varnish doesn’t like is alcohol, and the easiest way to avoid any mishaps is to use coasters. If you spill any wine or spirits on your table and just wipe it off it will be fine, but if you leave your glasses on the table overnight and they have alcohol around the bottom, then you will find that by the morning the alcohol will have eaten into the varnish and you will be left with rings on your table.