All of our oak furniture has a protective lacquered finish so its maintenance free. However if you would like to periodically polish you oak furniture then we would advise you to use a general household furniture spray. Please read the instructions on the back of your chosen furniture spray polish for instructions on how to apply and polish your oak furniture. This is a very easy way of polishing your oak furniture and making it shine should you wish to do so.

If you would like to clean your painted furniture then we would advise you to use a lightly damp micro-fibre cloth to remove any marks etc. Be mindful to never rub too hard on a single area as you could rub through the painted finish to expose the undercoat or wood beneath. If your painted furniture has an oak top then it is likely to have a protective lacquered finish on the oak that is maintenance free. You can clean your oak top with a cloth as described above or if you would like to polish it we would advise you to use a household furniture spray. Please read the instructions on the back of your chosen furniture spray polish for instructions on how to apply and polish your oak furniture.

Yes you are able to order free wood samples on our website. To order a sample please select the ‘Order Free Sample’ button on any product page for the range you want the sample for. You will then be directed to an order form to complete your details. Your sample will be posted out free of charge using Royal Mail - Please allow 3 - 5 working days to receive it.

Yes you are able to order free fabric samples for our dining chairs on our website. To order a sample please select the ‘Order Free Sample’ button on any product page for the dining chair you want the sample for. You will then be directed to an order form to complete your details. Your sample will be posted out free of charge using Royal Mail - Please allow 3 - 5 working days to receive it.

Yes we do and any care guides and instructions should have been provided on your delivery. If these are missing then please check the product listing on our website as we do try to provide as much information as possible here. Alternatively please contact us by emailing info@thefurnituremarket.co.uk.

As our commitment to the environment and to keep our use of paper to a minimum we do not produce a catalogue. Instead our website is our catalogue and displays all the products we have for sale. If you would like to stay in touch with us please scroll down to the bottom of our website and subscribe your email address in the bottom right corner. We will then be able to keep you up to date with new products, exciting news and competitions we are running.

We sell many different products which are made from different materials. Please read the full product description on the product detail page as this is where we explain what each item of furniture is made from. Please be rest assured that we only sell quality products that are designed and built to last.

High quality oak veneers are good. Do Not believe it when furniture retailers state that oak veneers are bad.

A high quality oak veneer when used in the right application is beneficial to the strength and quality of the furniture. Most high quality furniture and kitchen manufacturers use veneers in their panels for the below reasons.

The benefits of using a veneered panel are increased stability (it does not move like solid wood does) and it will resist warping and cracking over time. This gives the panel incredible strength (basically a solid wood panel will expand and contract over time causing small splits and cracks in the wood). Veneered panels do not move, they are very stable so are the best suited for top panels, door panels, side panels, etc.

An oak veneered panel is made from a slice of high quality solid oak that is glued to an MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) panel. This gives the visual effect of a solid oak panel but with the added benefits of a veneered panel.

The way we make our furniture is the tried and tested way that any experienced and knowledgeable cabinet maker/ joiner would advise. By using a combination of solid wood and veneered panels we can produce high quality furniture that is structurally strong and visibly attractive.

An oak veneered panel is made from a slice of high quality solid oak that is glued to an MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) panel. This gives the visual effect of a solid oak panel but with the added benefits of a veneered panel.

The benefits of using a veneered panel are increased stability (it does not move like solid wood does) and it will resist warping and cracking over time. This gives the panel incredible strength (basically a solid wood panel will expand and contract over time causing small splits and cracks in the wood). Veneered panels do not move, they are very stable so are the best suited for top panels, door panels, side panels, etc.

The way we make our furniture is the tried and tested way that any experienced and knowledgeable cabinet maker / joiner would advise. By using a combination of solid wood and veneered panels we can produce high quality furniture that is structurally strong and visibly attractive.

Do not believe furniture retailers who say that oak veneers are bad. When a good quality veneer is used in the right application it is beneficial to the quality of the furniture. Most high quality furniture and kitchen manufacturers use veneers in their panels for the above reasons.

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) is an engineered wood-based sheet material made by bonding together wood fibres with a synthetic resin adhesive. MDF is extremely versatile, very strong and can be machined and finished to a high standard. As a result, MDF is a suitable material to use in the production of quality painted and veneered furniture. The benefits of using MDF for the base of painted furniture is that it is very smooth and gives a great painted finish. It does not have knots or grain in the wood which like solid timbers can show through the painted finish. Therefore it is better suited to painted ranges of furniture and also to be used underneath veneered panels due to its strength and stability.

We do not paint oak as the natural grain of oak would be visible under the painted surface. Instead of painting over oak we use pine for the frames and MDF for the panels as this has a much smoother finish when painted.

These marks that look like tiger stripes are naturally occurring in oak grain and are called "Medullary Rays" and are something which add a rich character and beauty to all of our oak furniture items. These rays are caused by plant cells which extend vertically at an angle that is perpendicular to the tree's vertical cells or growth rings as they are more commonly known. These ribbon-like cells allow the conveyance of sap through the trunk, making them an essential part of the growing process of the tree. When the trunk is cut, the cells produce silvery slithers and markings across the sawn area that become particularly prominent when the oak is polished, varnished or oiled. The presence of these markings are actually prized by many carpenters and customers for their traditional, high-end appearance and because they are an indication of the finest oak from the prized part of the tree. Oak timbers with medullary rays are most prominent in oak which has been quarter sawn which reduces expanding, twisting and warping. These are not defects are part of the natural beauty of solid oak.

We appreciate that buying online you can’t get a true feel for the size of the item. This is why we list all our dimensions including a detailed dimension image for each product on our website. The overall dimensions are listed in the dimensions tab located underneath the product images. Please note the overall dimensions are taken from the widest point on the item. If you require more detailed dimensions then please scroll through the product images and the last image on every product will show a more detailed dimensions image. All the information you should need should be on our website but if you can’t find what you need then please contact us via phone, email or live chat.

We work hard with our manufacturers to ensure the finish across items within the same range is as consistent as possible. While it is very rare for us to have inconsistencies across batches with the nature of wood and it being a natural product small variations in colour and finish can happen. This is nothing to worry about and many of our customers see this as character and part of the beauty of owning an item made from natural wood. However if you do have any concerns with the furniture you have received then please contact us as soon as possible by emailing returns@thefurnituremarket.co.uk.