You have entered into... the case goods section (twilight zone voice and music here); here you will find information about dressers, desks, tables, cabinets, etc. All furniture made of wood and not upholstered (dining room chairs, even though they may have fabric on the seats are still considered case goods). This page is here for both the experienced, and the first time furniture shopper and those that have furnished several homes.

THE BASICS “Case Goods” is furniture industry “lingo” that means wooden furniture that is not upholstered. Items that fall into this category include everything from the nightstand by your bed to the huge entertainment center in your living room.

COLLECTIONS Collections are sets or groups of furniture that were designed and built to go together. In a “deep” collection you will have several pieces of the same style with coordinating finishes to give you more choice when designing your room. It is a good idea to buy several pieces from the same collection when you are furnishing your home to give your room balance*. Most collections are made only for a certain length of time, then the makers will discontinue that collection and begin a new one, be aware of the collection you are buying, it is very disheartening to end up missing a piece that you waited too long for...

*This does not mean you should not mix items from other collections; in fact this is exactly what we recommend most. Provide a base of several pieces from a collection, and salt and pepper accent pieces into the room to taste.

WHAT TO CONSIDER When you start the shopping process you will want to identify what kind of look you are going for and how to best achieve that look. This is a good time to talk to someone that can help you discover and achieve that look. You will need to think about the style, the type of wood, the finish, and what pieces you want to have as well as how much room you have to place them in. Arden’s can help you from getting started, through completing your project, and every step of the way.

MAINTAINING YOUR FURNITURE Most case goods will have some kind of protective coating, however it’s not impervious. You will want to be careful about scratching the surface by moving things across the surface such as lamps or dishes. Water or any number of other liquids may damage surfaces if not tended to promptly, however some finishes will protect against this. Remember even hard wood can and will dent if it comes in direct forceful contact with something.

To clean case good products it is recommended that you use a cleaner and or polish that is specifically designed for wood. Guardsman and Weimans cream polishes are both generally good products you should be able to find at your local grocery, or hardware store.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS … Rub in the same direction as the grain of your wood, even everyday dusting can leave fine scratches in the finish.

REPAIR Hopefully you never have to repair your furniture but if something does happen, we have professionals who can fix it. Arden’s has a wonderful touch up department and can help with many of the everyday effects of living. Alternatively you may try to “do it yourself”, if something is loose, a screw or two placed in the right spot and some wood glue may do the trick.

On occasion you may need to resurface a piece of furniture. To do this, depending on the level of damage done to the surface, you can use some 0000 (four zero) steel wool, and a lubricating furniture oil (Old English works well) to get out light scratches. If you use sandpaper, plan on getting involved in a major project, you will probably take off the finish and some stain, so you will need to re-stain it and refinish it. Ask the people at your local supply store for help with the items necessary to accomplish your task.