Here at Dogwood Designs we have always been strong advocates of the use of birch plywood in furniture design. We often get asked by people who are unfamiliar with the product why we choose to make our designs with plywood. Many people don’t realise that plywood has been around for a very long time. From cars to aeroplanes, furniture to skateboards, plywood has helped shape the modern world. The V&A museum in London even did an exhibition devoted to plywood and its contribution to modern design. Here’s why you should seriously consider using birch plywood in your next interiors project.
1. It looks so good
One of the main reasons we use birch plywood is because it looks amazing! Birch plywood has a beautiful finish and edging that can be shaped to create different designs and edges.
And we are not the only ones. Birch plywood has been used in architectural projects around the world for quite a while now and is becoming more and more popular in modern homes. Famous furniture designers including Alvar Alto and Charles Eames have made use of plywood in their iconic chairs.
2. Birch Plywood is Sustainable
Birch plywood is the most sustainable type of plywood. Birch trees grow relatively fast and so this makes replacement easier when used for furniture making. Because of its durability, this also makes it a good sustainable option, as it will last for such a long time. Plywood is made from thin veneers of sizeable pieces of wood glued together. The production process consumes low amounts of energy compared to other wooden materials.
3. Strength
There is a reason why plywood has been used in aeroplanes, shipbuilding and house construction. It's because it is so strong. As the layers of the grain of the wood are alternated when creating the plywood, this ensures that the plywood sheet is able to carry a heavy load. A plywood kitchen will outlast most traditional kitchen materials meaning that your kitchen is made to last the test of time. The carcasses can also be removed and reused, so that when/if comes to the time to get rid of or move the kitchen, they can be moved to a workshop or garage if required.
From a production point of view, the stability of the plywood means it is easier to work with, allowing us to cut in finer details when compared to other materials such as MDF.
Whilst many might think plywood furniture is a fad, it only takes a quick online search to realise that this is far from the truth. Plywood has had a huge influence in shaping modern design. The difference now is that people are seeing how beneficial it is to use it in the modern home. And who wouldn't want to make use of such an aesthetically pleasing and yet durable and robust material when building a home that lasts long into the future.
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