Wax, oil or varnish: choosing the right finish

A finish is not just about looks: it protects the wood and shapes how it ages. Here is how I choose.

Wax

Soft, satiny, warm. Wax offers an incomparable feel and is easy to touch up. Ideal for lightly-used pieces — a sideboard, a bedroom chest.

Oil

Oil penetrates the wood and nourishes it from within. It resists water better than wax and develops a lovely patina. Perfect for a table or worktop.

Varnish

Varnish forms a tough protective film. Trickier to apply, it suits heavily-used surfaces. I keep it for the cases that truly require it.

When in doubt, I favour natural finishes: they respect the material and can be repaired over time.