How can wood be incorporated in homes, Wood has gained popularity as a building material owing to its versatility and sustainability. With the focus shifting towards green living and reducing carbon footprint, philosophies naturally gravitate towards using wood extensively for doing up home interiors. The elegance of wood, whether in its crude natural form, or in a refined polished form is rarely paralleled by any other building material. An advantage of wood is that it insulates better than metal or concrete. So indoors, summers would be cooler and winters, warmer with the use of wood. Wood can also be reclaimed and refinished from older buildings.
In home Interiors wood finds usage in luxuriant flooring, sturdy doors and windows, paneled walls, beamed ceilings, modular furnishings such as kitchens and wardrobes and movables such as independent furniture and shelves. Wood also finds ample usage in home accents such as table lamps, table runners and so on.
New trends in wood decor for homes?- Theme based décor is in vogue for homes and could range from rustic to colonial to contemporary to industrial. Eclectic styles combine elements from all other styles. Wood is widely used in all these styles. While rustic exteriors bring the outdoors in and colonial themes are characterized by usage of heavy timber and curved lines characteristic of the provincial era, contemporary trends in wood décor are characterized by minimalistic straight lines which are also reflected in the sleek headboards for beds and kitchen and wardrobe designs with flushed shutters and handle-less concepts . Wood as a material for extended bar counters and breakfast bars have found acceptance in modern homes. In Industrial Décor, there is a symbiosis between the classic grains and knots of unpolished wood and the robustness of metal. Wooden flooring and wall paneling are popular as accents to add interest to a room.
Challenges in maintaining wood?-Moisture and changes in relative humidity are the biggest challenges in maintenance of wood and may result in moisture and temperature blisters on the wooden furniture. Wood being a living material absorbs and releases water with changes in humidity and in the process, it swells and shrinks. Wooden furniture is sensitive to bright lights, which induce bleaching and discoloration. It is advisable to paint and polish wood at regular intervals which also help to keep it pest proof.
Use of wood derivatives MDF, Engineered wood-With concerns of deforestation and environmental awareness kicking in, wood in its natural form is now a precious commodity. Needless to say, it is expensive compared to other building materials. Wood derivatives are a popular substitute to natural wood. Engineered wood, chipboard, hardboard, medium density fibers (MDF) and ply-boards are the popular wood derivatives. These wood derivatives are lighter in weight and are more easily curved than natural wood. Wood derivatives are a crucial component in the modular kitchen and wardrobe industry.
With the evolution of wood derivatives, unusable timber can be put to good use by breaking it down into chips or fibers, which are then glued together to form a sturdy composite structure.
