Take Care

To ensure a beautiful and long-lasting life, solid wood furniture requires regular care and maintenance.

We often forget that wood is a living material, even after it is made into furniture, a living substance that continues to interact with its environment. For example, changing humidity levels have a direct impact on solid wood furniture, which swells and shrinks according to the season — in a dry winter climate wood shrinks and in a humid climate it can swell. Without careful treatment, these variations may cause permanent damage in the furniture. Likewise, patina is an essential part of the life cycle of wooden furniture, and much like our own skin, this ageing process can leave marks on the wood’s surface. However, with careful and regular maintenance, we can ensure that our wooden furniture will age gracefully, becoming even more beautiful over time.

The daily maintenance of wooden surfaces is done with a damp cloth and using organic cleaners. Especially after a spill, the surface should be wiped clean and dried immediately, ideally within 15 minutes.

Beyond daily care, solid wood furniture should also be given proper maintenance at least every two years. Nikari’s solid wood furniture is treated with natural, vegetable oil mixtures. As such, the surface should, first, be wiped lightly with a very fine, sandy cloth. Next, treat the surface with a natural matte wood oil or wax. Allow the treatment to absorb into the wood for 15-20 minutes and then wipe away any excess material. Finally, the surface should be polished with a clean cloth. Be sure to follow the instructions in the oil wax package for properly disposing of tools and waste materials.