Why Does Pine Furniture Go Orange?

Why Does Pine Furniture Go Orange?

Have you ever bought a beautiful pine hutch or table, only to see it gradually turn orange as the years pass? Why does pine furniture turn orange?

When pine is exposed to sunlight it causes a chemical change in the wood that results in the wood taking on a golden or orange tint. This is a natural part of the aging process for pine. When pine is stained, it can make the orange effect even more pronounced.

If you were to take an old piece of pine that had been exposed to a lot of sunlight, you would see an extreme example of this phenomenon. This color change is also seen in pine wood paneling in older lake cabin homes....which gives the wood a warm and romantic look.

However, this aging process is not considered a defect..in fact, this is the beauty of solid pine.  Pine and all solid wood furniture changes over time.  Natural cherry will age to a much darker, redder color over many years.

So, when you have pine furniture, do not be concerned about it aging to a darker, richer golden or orange color.  This is the natural process and enjoy the beauty of solid wood furniture.