How to care for antique furniture

A well-made antique has already survived a century or more — with a little care, it will happily outlast us all. None of it is complicated. Antique furniture mostly wants to be left alone in a stable, comfortable room, much like the rest of us. Here is what we tell customers when a piece leaves the showroom.

Keep it out of direct sunlight

Strong sunlight is the great fader. It bleaches timber unevenly, dries out finishes and can lift veneers over time. Try not to stand a good piece in a sunny bay window, and turn table lamps and objects occasionally so everything ages together.

Mind the central heating

Old wood spent its early life in cool, damp houses, and modern central heating is the biggest change it has to cope with. Dry, fluctuating heat makes timber shrink and swell, which is what opens up joints and cracks panels. Keep pieces away from radiators where you can, and a bowl of water or a room humidifier in winter does more good than any polish.

Dust often, wax rarely

Regular dusting with a soft, dry cloth is 90% of the job. Resist the urge to reach for spray polish — most contain silicones that build up and dull the surface. A good natural beeswax, applied sparingly perhaps twice a year and buffed well, is all a waxed finish needs to keep its glow. Less is always more.

Lift, don’t drag

Always lift a chair by its seat rail rather than its arms or back, and a chest by its carcass rather than the top. Dragging puts strain on the joints and handles that were never meant to take it. If in doubt, get a second pair of hands.

Keep an eye out for woodworm

Small round holes with a little fine dust beneath them can mean active woodworm. It’s common and very treatable if caught early — a proprietary treatment usually does the trick, and it’s worth checking a new piece isn’t sitting against untreated timber.

When to call a restorer

A loose joint, a lifting veneer or a tired finish is almost always worth mending properly rather than living with — and it’s rarely as costly as people fear. What you should not do is over-restore: that mellow surface and gentle wear, the patina, is much of what makes an antique lovely and valuable. When in doubt, do less, and ask.

We’re always happy to advise on a piece, whether you bought it from us or not — and if you’re looking to add something, do browse the collectionor come and see us.