A solid oak chest of drawers has many advantages for being a long-term piece of furniture. For example, solid oak is durable, heavy and hard-wearing. These features make it exceptionally popular for dining rooms, especially antique pieces.
The quality of oak chests of drawers is reflected in its price. A good solid oak chest of drawers can cost you over £500, while materials such as pine, fir or cedar can cost you considerably less. This is due to a few reasons. Firstly, it is a hard wood and one of the hardest available (even more so than mahogany). It stains well, and has open pores, which means that it has tiny holes which give it a textural feel and rustic appearance. This also means that when stained, it is more intense and vibrant. Lastly, it’s high price shows that its high worth because it is also heavily water-resistant.
When choosing your solid oak chest of drawers, you should consider its height, size, shape and what it will bring to your room. An antique oak chest of drawers which is stained in deep colours can create mystery and intrigue, which is a great talking point of the room. A heavily textured, rustic oak chest of drawers can complement a country cottage with tiled floors, and a tall, wide polished chest of drawers under a mirror can make a striking entrance to a large hallway. For simple modern themes, or a hint of oriental decor, a simplistic but deep brown/black colour scheme will work to your advantage.
In contrast, a light coloured solid oak chest of drawers will be able to make a small or medium sized room seem more spacious by bringing light into the room. Chests of drawers like this tend to be used in bedrooms teamed up with a mirror for additional spaciousness. For more oak chest of drawers see our main category or cheap oak chest of drawers.