Office furniture was traditionally made of wood. Customers prefer wooden office furniture for its rich look and its strength.

The wood that is available is divided into two categories, namely hardwoods and softwoods. But the word doesnt really mean how hard or soft the wood is. "Hardwood" refers to trees that lose their leaves seasonally and "softwood" refers to those that keep their foliage all year. Ash, cherry, maple, oak, pecan, teak, rosewood, walnut, mahogany and poplar are some of the hardwood trees used for furniture. Among softwood trees, cedar, cypress, fir, pine and redwood are used for furniture.

Wooden office furniture consists of desks, credenzas, bookcases, file cabinets, seating, and more. The wooden furniture varies according to the type of wood used; some may be light weight for balancing light objects, and others might be heavy to balance heavy objects. The cost also varies depending on the strength and the workmanship of the furniture.

In general, more expensive furniture usually is made of fine hardwoods such as maple, cherry or oak, or selected softwoods such as pine. Medium-priced furniture may have a combination of different woods on exposed surfaces. As trees don't grow in the shapes and sizes required for making furniture, the branches or pieces of wood are bonded together in different ways to achieve the necessary sizes and shapes. Hence, wooden furniture is costly compared to other types.

Wooden furniture is more suitable for homes, hotels and small offices, but it isnt feasible to use wooden furniture for a huge office, because of the cost, availability and maintenance. They will lose their new look as days go by, so you have to repaint or varnish them for that new look. When we consider all these circumstances, cheaper materials that require less maintenance are often a better choice.

When you go to buy wooden furniture take a note of the following points. See that the doors and drawers fit well and are provided with glides and stops. Drawers should glide easily when pulled. Drawer corners must be jointed securely, and the insides of drawers should be smooth and snag-free. Doors should swing open easily without squeaking or rubbing. Hardware should be secure and strong, without rough edges. Entertainment units must have holes for electrical cords. Make sure that tables are steady, and finishes feel smooth to the touch.