What Is Live Edge Wood, and How Do I Use It?

Live edge furniture has been growing in popularity in recent years to the point where it’s nearly become an entire industry of its own. In fact, there are now woodworkers who specialize almost solely in live edge woodworking. But what exactly is live edge wood in Franklin County, MA?

Live edge is a descriptor for the shape of the edge of a piece of wood used for creating the furniture in question. Its natural edge is retained, rather than the piece of lumber being a straight milled board on all four sides. In many cases, the bark will be carefully removed from the lumber, but the natural appearance of the edge remains intact.

This style is more rustic, as it seeks to maintain the natural characteristics of the wood. While knots will be filled up to avoid uneven surfaces, they still remain visible, and finishing of the wood is performed with the intent to make the raw, natural beauty of the hardwood shine through as much as possible.

The rise of live edge furniture

Live edge furniture has become greatly popular thanks in large part to its originality. There are no two pieces of live edge furniture that will ever be exactly alike, because of the way the natural appearance of the wood is retained in developing the wood slabs. At the same time, live edge furniture isn’t completely rustic and unrefined—it blends some professional, upmarket woodworking characteristics into the style, as well, so you can enjoy some of the best of both worlds. A piece of live edge furniture would not appear out of place in an urban environment.

Some places around the home where you might find live edge wood include coffee tables, mantels over fireplaces, floating shelves, countertops, desks, dining room or patio tables and bars.

Here are just a few of the reasons why so many people have been embracing the live edge trend:

• Customization: The fact that every single piece is unique allows for even more customization of the pieces you bring to your home, because you don’t have to worry about it looking “right.” You can customize your piece based on the curves and shape of the wood, where it will be placed in your home and your own personal tastes.
• Affordability: Live edge wood is often salvaged, or taken from trees that are harvested in an environmentally responsible manner. This means the person who makes the wood is generally able to get it at an affordable price. If you’re purchasing a finished piece of live edge furniture, those savings will often be passed down to you.
• High quality: Most live edge furniture is made from pieces of very strong wood that have been dried out before use. If there are cracks in the wood, they’ll be filled with epoxy to ensure the furniture remains smooth and durable.

For more information about live edge wood in Franklin County, MA, contact the team at Forest Products Associates today. We look forward to helping you explore the possibilities of live edge wood for your next project!