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The Soho Home guide to timber

A natural and durable material, timber brings warmth and character to a space with no two finishes the same. You can see plenty of reclaimed wood panelling and flooring across our Houses, with many of our wood furniture pieces serving to enhance these original features, from oak and walnut to ash and beech.

Our wood types

Oak

Hard, heavy and dense, oak is less affected by moisture and temperature changes than softer woods, making it a durable choice for our tables and dressers

A wooden cabinet with twin lamps, books, and decor is set against a wall beneath a large arched window. Nearby, blue chairs surround a wooden table. Abstract art decorates the adjacent wall.

Walnut

Walnut is a heavy wood, and is fairly resilient to warping and moving with moisture and temperature changes. We use it across many of our dining tables and chairs

A neatly made bed with a woven headboard, checkered blanket, and pillows sits between two bedside tables holding lamps; wicker lampshade overhead; framed artwork decorates the beige wall.

Ash

Ash shares oak’s hard quality and durability making it a great alternative that's naturally lighter in colour. We often use this particular wood across our bed styles

A wooden armchair with a tan cushion stands next to a round dining table. In the background, a sideboard with decorative items, including a white vase with green leaves, is visible.

Beech

Beech has good strength and high abrasion resistance, and is therefore suitable for the construction of chairs

A beige, cushioned wooden armchair with brass accents is situated in a softly lit room, standing on a patterned rug. A blurred abstract wall art provides a minimalist backdrop.

Birch

Birch is a medium weight wood and has good strength properties. You’ll find it across a range of our seating styles

What is veneer?

Veneer is a sheet of wood that is always applied to a substrate - this could be over solid wood of the same type, or more durable materials such as MDF or ply. As veneer is made from real wood, each product will be one of a kind.

Why we use it

All of the veneer we use at Soho Home is real wood, as opposed to laminates made from plastic, paper or foil. We use veneer to strengthen the product, and prevent movement and warping, which can alter the overall shape of the unit. We also use it to control the grain and colour of a piece so that it has an even overall finish.

Burl veneer

Burl veneer has many different variations depending on the tree it comes from, displaying a range of beautiful knots and swirls in the wood. We recently introduced this finish to our interiors collection, as well as Pippy Oak Burl as seen in our Noelle range. Other finishes we've launched include Oak Burl, Pippy Oak Burl, Mappa Burl, Olive Ash Burl and Walnut Burl.

Shop our range of burl furniture

Wood finishes

In our Houses, we use a mix of different wood finishes for a classic Soho House feel with each finish unique to the next.
A wooden surface shows detailed grain patterns and natural imperfections, including knots and lines. The wood appears polished and smooth, covering the entire frame without any additional objects present.

Natural

Naturally a light wood with a warm, yellow tinge and a close grain

Shop furniture in a natural finish

A rectangular wooden tabletop with a smooth, light brown surface partially extends over a white background, showing part of a leg in the bottom left corner.

Mid tone

Adds warmth and character to a room with a mid-brown finish

Shop furniture in a mid tone finish

A wooden table features a natural, live-edge design with visible wood grains and knots, blending into a rustic, minimalist environment. The table has a finely sanded and polished surface.

Dark

A rich colour that has a mid-century finish, as seen with the Belsa bed and Aldo desk

Shop furniture in a dark finish

The rectangular wooden board features alternating diagonal stripes of light and dark wood, set against a plain white background. No text is present.

Marquetry

This refers to intricate veneer layering and woodwork. Our Anuel and Duetoni ranges showcase marquetry techniques, as they have used a more complex veneer lay-up than standard. Starburst veneer lay-ups can also be seen with our limited-edition Bistro Table for Soho House Bangkok

Shop furniture in marquetry finish

General timber care

How to care for different wood finishes in the home

Cleaning

  • For daily cleaning, wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Buff with a dry, lint-free cloth to remove any moisture.
  • Avoid furniture sprays that contain silicon and always wipe in the direction of the grain. Clean up any spillages immediately with a damp cloth.
  • Do not clean with abrasive or aggressive products, acidic detergents, bleach, or abrasive paper or steel wool.
  • If your furniture becomes scratched, stained or chipped, or suffers other damage, we recommend professional help to restore it.

Caring for oil finishes

  • Our oiled wood finishes, such as those used on ourCalneandMatis ranges, require a different method of cleaning.
  • Oil your table three to four times a year or when needed.
  • If you're uncertain of when to use oil, put a drop of water on the table top. If it penetrates the surface within a couple of minutes, it's time to oil your table.
  • Always sand the table and apply the oil in the direction of the grain. Use a fine-grain sanding sponge and dry lint-free cloth to apply the oil. Dry the table with another cloth within 15 to 20 minutes to remove any excess oil. ATTENTION: If you use linseed oil, do not throw the cloth in the bin, as it can self-ignite. Instead, soak it in water before throwing it away.
  • Oiled tables with pigment, such as blonde oil, white oil, grey oil, black-brown oil or smoked oil, should be oiled in the direction of the grain and by pouring oil onto the cloth rather than the table top. You should dry the table within a few minutes of oiling it in the direction of the grain. The longer you wait, the more pigment will penetrate the wood.
  • In case the surface becomes rough or any stains or watermarks need to be removed, use a fine-grade sandpaper (grade 240-320) and sand slightly in the direction of the grain. Re-oil as instructed above.

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