Reclaimed Wood | A Sustainable Choice for Furniture Design
Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a way of working, creating, and making decisions. The best part? It’s transforming how we design and furnish commercial interiors, particularly in the hospitality sector. From boutique hotels to trendy restaurants, businesses are looking for materials that not only look stunning but also support a greener, more responsible future. Furniture has become a big part of this shift, and reclaimed wood is just the beginning.
Imagine furniture crafted from recycled plastics, metals with a new lease on life, or even innovative materials you might never have dreamed of, like fabric made from ocean waste or tabletops built from compressed coffee grounds. These materials not only reduce waste but also bring unique stories and aesthetics to any space.
Ready to explore the exciting possibilities? Read on, to discover the benefits of sustainable furniture, how to source these materials, and stunning examples that show how sustainability and style can come together to create truly memorable interiors.
What is Reclaimed Wood?
Reclaimed wood is like giving timber a second chance at life. It’s wood that’s been salvaged and repurposed for something new, often far removed from its original use. Think about the timber from old warehouses, factories, barns, or even sheds—when these structures are taken down, the wood doesn’t have to go to waste. Instead, it can be carefully treated, refreshed, and transformed into something entirely different.
The beauty of reclaimed wood isn’t just in its eco-friendly appeal (though that’s a big win!). It’s also about its durability—well-cared-for timber can last for decades, even centuries. By repurposing it into contemporary furniture, we’re extending its lifecycle and giving it a chance to shine in a new role.
And let’s not forget the charm of its story. Each piece of reclaimed wood carries a unique history, whether it’s from a century-old barn or an industrial factory floor. Furniture made from reclaimed wood doesn’t just furnish a space—it adds character, provenance, and a touch of timeless elegance.
What are the benefits?
There are many benefits to choosing this material for your next project.
1. Sustainability
The big benefit is sustainability – what could be more environmentally friendly than choosing furniture that’s made from reclaimed wood and other repurposed materials? With deforestation one of the big global environmental issues of our times, people are increasingly sourcing sustainable pieces and thinking more about the provenance and impact of the furniture choices they make. It’s a small but important step, and the greater choice in high-end, contemporary furniture crafted from reclaimed wood has meant that the contract interiors space is now seen as offering more options. At Inside Out, we carefully source all the reclaimed wood furniture that we stock, and we work closely with a number of UK suppliers, which means that a reduced carbon footprint is another box you can tick when you choose these particular pieces.
2. Every piece is unique
The beauty of reclaimed wood – aside from the natural beauty of this versatile material – is that every item of furniture is truly unique. Each piece of wood is marked with its own story; the grains, knots, different textures, and even the nicks and scratches that it has picked up over time. Each mark is testament to the history of the wood, and this is adopted by the furniture that is crafted from it. There is also an elegant and charming appearance that can only be achieved by wood that has naturally aged. This gives the furniture a subtle, vintage appeal that will translate over to the piece, no matter its style or design.
3. Wood with an inner strength
It might surprise some people to learn that reclaimed wood can often be more durable than new timber. Older wood has had the opportunity to completely dry out, due to the natural ageing process, and this reduces the possibility of the wood splitting or warping, which can be an issue with wooden furniture. So, it’s another reason that this material is considered a good choice for certain pieces of furniture.
4. A cost-effective solution
Reclaimed wood can require more initial crafting to create new pieces of furniture. The wood might not be uniform in structure or size, it might come from different sources, and it might need to be treated for all sections to be consistent for a batch of furniture. This all means that furniture crafted from reclaimed wood can be more expensive than other options. However, its unique character more than offsets this, and these pieces will often be more durable than their counterparts crafted from new timber, meaning fewer replacements.
Useful Product Highlights
- Reclaimed Oak Table Top
Handmade from reclaimed wood with a characterful backstory, this solid table top has an oak floorboard top with oak hardwood edges. Although uniform in dimensions and finish, each reclaimed table top is unique, given the provenance of the materials. The subtle differences in the hues, patterns and textures add a special aesthetic value once the tables are arranged in one space.
- Recycled Wood Top – Fishbone
These eye-catching table tops are made from upcycled wood, such as scaffold boards, flooring and other reclaimed timber. You would never guess at their previous incarnation when you see the stunning slatted wood that runs in opposing directions to emphasise the grain. The tops are finished with lacquer, which brings out their unique characteristics, as well as making them extremely durable – perfect for commercial environments.
- Recycled Wood Top – Diagonal Squares
This variation of the classic recycled table top features slatted wood panels that are cleverly connected to create a diagonal pattern. As with the fishbone table top, the wood for these tops is sourced from a number of places – it could have been scaffold boards or flooring in a previous life. Lacquered for a durable and aesthetically pleasing finish, these table tops are also extremely versatile in terms of interior schemes.
- Recycled Wood Top – Lattice
Another recycled wood top, this variation on the pattern is a pleasing lattice design. This is created by criss-crossing the timber slats; the different colours of the wood highlighting the pattern. The lacquer gives these tops a highly durable finish.
- Recycled Wood Top – Striped Square
In this design, the striped square visual effect is created by placing the slatted wood squares in contrasting directions. It’s a striking piece of furniture that has a lacquer finish for durability and, like other recycled table tops in the Inside Out collection, the striped square table will work in all manner of commercial environments.
Projects Showcasing Reclaimed Wood Table Tops
Tops tips for sourcing and designing with reclaimed wood
- Tried and tested: Look for suppliers who can show that they have created and supplied reclaimed wood products for others. Check out Inside Out projects such as Wahaca Paddington, Picturehouse Cinema Ealing, Ruby Zoe Hotel and Bar, 25 Hour Hotels, and Nutbutter. These showcase the stunning results of using quality reclaimed wood.
- Buy bespoke: custom designs add something extra special to a commercial project. For example, the bespoke designed pattern for the meeting table at 25 Hour Hotels demonstrates personalisation which can capture and help to enhance the interior design.
- Focus on sustainability: choose suppliers who are committed to sustainability. At Inside Out Contracts we provide detailed information on suppliers’ sustainable practices and have a commitment to using UK-sourced reclaimed wood.
Mix style with sustainability
From commercial interiors to hospitality spaces, reclaimed wood is a fantastic choice. The aesthetic value, combined with the eco credentials, give the best of both worlds and make this material an obvious choice. When you choose reclaimed wood, you’re making a positive environmental decision, while selecting beautiful furniture that is both unique and durable.
You can explore a wide range of reclaimed wood furniture on our website. You can also visit our sustainability page to find out more about our accreditations. These include the EvoVadis Silver award for sustainability which we received in 2024. The silver award is presented to the top 15% of companies that address the sustainability criteria outlined by EvoVadis.
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Inside Out Contracts
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