Solid Wood Furniture for Hotels and Restaurants: What It Does Better, and Where It Doesn't
Written by Andrius Misiunas, Founder & Commercial Director, WOODAIM.
Furniture in a hotel, restaurant or care home lives a different life from furniture at home. This is a plain look at where solid wood earns its place in that setting, and where something else is the better choice.
What does furniture go through in a hotel or restaurant?
Daily, heavy use. Chairs are dragged across floors, stacked and unstacked, leaned back on. Tables get knocked by trolleys, luggage and vacuum cleaners.
Then there is cleaning. Surfaces are wiped down many times a day, often with strong products. Home furniture is simply not built for this.
Care homes put similar or heavier demands on furniture. Chairs are used to stand up and sit down with support, and pieces are cleaned even more often.
Why does solid wood hold up in commercial use?
Scratches and dents can be sanded out, and the surface can be refinished several times over the piece's life.
Oil and hardwax finishes can be touched up locally, without stripping the whole piece.
Joints can be repaired or tightened when they loosen with use.
And the wood you see is the wood all the way through. There is no thin top layer to wear through.
When is veneer or a pressed component the better choice?
Solid wood is not always the answer, and we would rather say so.
We also work with veneer for specific requests, and we make curved or moulded parts in-house by pressing over an MDF/MDP core. These can suit lighter pieces, certain shapes, or tighter budgets.
Solid oak and ash remain our core specialisation. The right choice depends on the piece and how hard it will be used.
Oak or ash for a hospitality project?
Both are hard, durable hardwoods that handle commercial use well. Oak is the classic, heavier choice with a warmer tone; ash is lighter in colour and weight, and usually costs a little less. We have compared them in detail elsewhere.
What should you ask a manufacturer before specifying solid wood?
Which finish is used, and can it be maintained on site by your own team?
Can damaged pieces be repaired, rather than replaced?
Can repeat or replacement pieces be made later to match the original order?
Is the timber FSC certified, and can they show you the certificate?
Frequently asked questions
Is solid wood furniture worth it for a hotel?
For the pieces that take the hardest daily use, usually yes. Solid wood costs more upfront, but it can be repaired and refinished instead of replaced. For lighter or decorative pieces, veneer can be a sensible alternative.
Can solid wood furniture be repaired?
Yes. Scratches and dents can be sanded out, oil and hardwax finishes can be touched up, and loose joints can be tightened or repaired. That is one of the main reasons it suits commercial use.
Is oak or ash better for restaurant chairs?
Both work well. Oak is heavier with a warmer tone, while ash is lighter in weight and colour and usually a little less expensive. Our materials guide compares them in detail.
Do you only work in solid wood?
No. Solid oak and ash are our focus, but we also work in walnut, pine and veneer for specific requests. We also press curved parts in-house over an MDF/MDP core.
If you are specifying furniture for a hotel, restaurant or care home, we are happy to talk through which pieces should be solid wood and which do not need to be.