The sheen of the gloss, the unique execution - it’s already interesting! Furniture made of epoxy resin combines these qualities. If you look at tables, chairs and other such furniture, you will not find two identical pieces, they are all unique. One secret lies in the author’s imagination, the other in the use of unusual materials and wood. The latter is generally unique from nature.
Epoxy resin blurs the boundaries of wood use. Thanks to it, the widest slabs are often used to make countertops. A slab is a longitudinal section across the entire width of the trunk, often reflecting the profile of the tree.
Harmony of wood and glass
Furniture made of wood and epoxy resin is a composition in which the creations of nature and man are harmoniously intertwined. The unique wood pattern in combination with colored or transparent resin, polished by human hands to a perfect shine, more reminiscent of new glass, will not leave anyone indifferent.
The noble mahogany wood and blue epoxy glass on this table model create a unique design.
Material properties: how to choose a resin
Epoxy resin is an artificial oligomeric compound that cannot be used in its pure form. To make any product, it is mixed with a hardener. The characteristics of the interior item depend on the type of epoxy and the type of hardener.
Resin selection criteria:
- degree of transparency (important if visual effects are created);
- ability to maintain volume;
- low viscosity level (minimizes the risk of bubble formation);
- a relatively long hardening period (important if patterns are created);
- type of hardening.
There are two types of epoxy compounds: cold-curing and hot-curing. For household use, only the first option is suitable.
Cutting epoxy resin furniture
Sometimes, according to the author's idea, epoxy furniture looks like jewelry. Some of them were not only ground and polished, but also cut.
A stump enclosed in a glass cube, as in the photo, has wide capabilities and can perform several functions at once:
- You can admire such beauty, in which the author managed to combine the ideal with the imperfect, for hours
- you can sit on it or use it as a coffee table,
- and of course, they can decorate the interior of the living room to the delight of all guests.
Furniture reconciling opposing styles
Furniture made of epoxy in the interior looks unusual and you still have to get used to it. It often resembles preserved wood. This applies to products in which the wood is completely embedded in resin.
This approach is associated with know-how, which is suitable both for modern interior styles and, for example, for chalet or country style. Furniture made of resin and wood is a consensus in the battle between opposing styles.
Decoration
The unique characteristics and impeccable appearance of the material inspire craftsmen to create exclusive furniture. There are grades of material that have a reddish, brown, yellowish or whitish color, and the color is maintained throughout the depth of the consistency. There are also absolutely transparent compositions that are also used for decorating furniture. By adding various components to the composition, experts strive to improve the properties of the material and maintain an absolutely flat surface, which is why the resin is very popular in the creation of furniture decorative elements.
The shape of furniture attributes with epoxy resin can be very different. Resin filling follows the curves of objects, covering them with a thin transparent layer without bulges or other flaws. This allows you to create unique furniture of any configuration.
A layer of filling can be used to cover surfaces on which interesting designs and ornaments are applied. The coating perfectly fixes other decorative elements: shells, pebbles, pine cones, dried flowers, coins and even buttons. At the same time, the surface looks three-dimensional.
Lovers of all things beautiful will definitely appreciate furniture made using dilapidated, bark beetle-eaten pieces of wood or branches with natural flaws. Unreal special effects are obtained if coarse sand mixed with sawdust is placed inside the composition. Original furniture is created using a variety of investments: cutting boards, round cuts of various diameters, split logs, old wood or beautiful wood chips. Immersed in the pouring, they put on an incredibly beautiful “robe”, which, moreover, can glow. Marble chips, foil, glitter, beads, and semi-precious stones are used as attachments. By creating such a masterpiece with your own hands, you can even use memorable souvenirs as decoration.
No interior designer loses sight of such a decorative and functional element of furniture as legs. They are of no small importance in the design of furniture items. Their shape, type and material determine whether they belong to a particular style and the compatibility of furniture with other interior items. So, the legs can be wooden, stone or carved stone. They are decorated with carvings or forged elements; their number also varies: there are interesting specimens with one, two, three, four legs.
Furniture decorated with epoxy resin will fit perfectly into the interior of residential premises and offices. It will complement the loft style, which is characterized by a predominance of rough textures, metal, glass and wood. Such products look great in the decoration of restaurants, hotels and hotels.
Width doesn't matter
Preserving wood in resin allows you to use slabs of even the widest trunks without any consequences during further use, since the access of air and moisture to the wood is closed. Therefore, even the widest tabletop will not dry out over time, will not crack, and will not be driven by a screw. Tables with such a tabletop often compete with classic furniture made of expensive wood.
With your own hands
For creative people, this furniture manufacturing technology incredibly expands the boundaries. In addition, making your own furniture from epoxy resin is not that difficult.
And in the next photo there is another creative model. A chessboard and a photo inside (possibly from travel) make the table playful and emotionally memorable. If you value your photos, then this is a great opportunity to ensure their safety for many years. In the same way, you can create a wall panel with valuable moments.
This material is used to make not only tables, but also other furniture. For example, an epoxy resin chair can easily be turned into a herbarium, as in the photo below. Bright summer wildflowers and green grass will diversify the interior and will be pleasing to the eye. Such furniture, made by creative people, can even have a therapeutic effect. It will undeniably improve your mood and bring joy during the autumn and winter blues.
Useful tips
To make a high quality epoxy table, it is recommended to follow some rules:
- The resin hardens poorly in high humidity. Condensation may penetrate from the air. To prevent this unpleasant phenomenon, you can hang a film over the tabletop.
- The mixture will harden faster if the tabletop is placed on the radiator. You cannot heat from above, as the surface may become uneven.
- You need to prepare personal protective equipment - a respirator, goggles and gloves.
- Exposure to ultraviolet rays may cause the countertop to turn yellow.
- All horizontal surfaces in the “resin affected” area must be covered with polyethylene.
- If the bubbles do not come out well, it is recommended to warm the surface with a hair dryer or inject acetone from a spray bottle. These manipulations will reduce surface tension.
If you follow all the recommendations and follow the technology, you can quickly master the manufacture of original tables. At the same time, your favorite business can begin to generate income.
Designer's fantasies
Designers do not stand aside, but quite the opposite - they try to make their subtle, aesthetic contribution in this direction. And the result is these fancy wooden chairs. It’s more likely not even furniture, but exhibits in which the emphasis was placed on unusualness - the way wood supposedly smoothly flows into glass. Such ideas are more suitable for decorating an interior in the avant-garde style. Well, they would even be very suitable as a work of art.
The photo below shows another work - a table made of epoxy resin combined with a material somewhat similar to white beach sand. Excellent art option. No one will refuse to have a piece of paradise island with the ocean at home.
Designers also use improvised materials for their products. So, for example, why not make an epoxy table with old vinyl discs as a decorative part. An unusual and stylish solution, and music lovers will certainly rate it 5 points.
Polishing/sanding of the finished product
The product is considered finished after post-curing is completed; you can read more about this in the instructions for your resin. Post-curing allows your product to achieve its maximum properties. If post-curing is not possible or the instructions do not require it (not required), allow your product to gain strength. At a temperature of 22 -25°C this takes 5-7 days. Well, now you can start grinding and polishing work.
Attention! Wet the surface with water to avoid overheating your product, otherwise the resin will begin to melt and clog the abrasive paper. Well, or choose a speed mode that does not lead to overheating.
The final touch is to coat the product with UV-resistant polyurethane varnish in several layers, with intermediate sanding. This will save your masterpiece from yellowing due to exposure to sunlight and will give the piece a much brighter shine than polishing.
Furniture made from balls
And finally the most extraordinary thing. Sometimes completely unprecedented things are born experimentally. Solid furniture made from balloons is evidence of this. The idea will probably appeal to many who are involved in Hand-Mad.
But it is still not worth using such furniture for its intended purpose; its strength still does not inspire confidence. But it is quite suitable for the role of an art object.
