According to recent research, £40,000 can be added to the value of a UK home if it undergoes some basic remodelling and renovations. That's a lot of money, and if you do invest in renovations, it proves that you'll have a significantly nicer place to live even if you never plan to sell your home.
A big part of renovations involves things you can create with wood. If you're looking for the perfect hardwood for your home renovation projects, Iroko wood is sure to do the trick.
Read on to learn more about this magnificent type of wood and all that you can do with it!
Where Does Iroko Wood Come From?
Iroko wood comes from the Iroko tree, native to West Africa. It can be found in nations like Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and Mali, just to name a few, but it can generally be found anywhere in that geographic region. It's most common in Nigeria, where it is sometimes referred to as Nigerian Teak. If you've heard of this tree, an Iroko tree is the same thing. However, it's unrelated to the teak family of trees.
In many places, the Iroko tree is feared and revered as having supernatural properties. For example, the Yoruba people in Nigeria and Benin believe it to be inhabited by the spirit of the 'Iroko-man,' who is a Medusa-like creature that those who gaze upon will perish. Many African cultures believe that those who cut down an Iroko tree will be plagued with terrible luck, but that they can say a prayer afterward and protect themselves against this.
We're not trying to scare you- that's just an interesting fact before we talk about how Iroko wood can be transferred from Africa to your living room!
The wood is cut down at various stages of its growth (the colour changes over time). It's then imported into the UK and sold on our site. You can become a part of the rich history of the Iroko hardwood cuts you choose to buy! Plus, in the UK, there are no restrictions on imports of Iroko. That means that you can get it incredibly easily!
What Is Iroko Wood Like?
Iroko wood can come in a variety of colours since it changes hues over time. In the beginning, because it comes from a West African tree with pale wood, Iroko wood is yellow or a very light golden-brown colour. However, over time, it changes into a darker shade of brown. No matter the stage of colouring that your Iroko wood is in, it will have coarse wood and interlocking grains, making it look quite lovely no matter what the rest of your interior decor is like.
Iroko hardwood is also incredibly durable. It lives up to its 'hardwood' status and is incredibly stiff. It also is rot-resistant and can't be eaten by pests like insects.
Despite its durability, Iroko wood is actually quite easy to work with. So long as you have the right tools, it's simple enough to cut and sand down if you're trying to make cabinetry or furniture. While you may encounter some difficulty with the interlocking grain, you can get around any issues here with patience, research, and appropriate woodworking tools.
What Can You Do with Iroko Wood?
Now that you know how amazing Iroko wood is on a general level, it's time to discuss some of the projects that Iroko wood can be used for rounding your home. Read on for some innovative ways to use this stunningly gorgeous material.
Flooring
Iroko wood makes an awesome material for home flooring. Resistant to normal wear and tear, it's a flooring that's certain to last you for years to come. Not only that, but Iroko wood's light colour goes very well with white or light brown mouldings, so you can have a simple time creating the perfect colour scheme.
Cabinetry
Because it's easy to manipulate as well as attractive to look at, Iroko wood is a common material for creating cabinetry. There are a lot of cabinet styles that you can create out of this lovely wood. If you're renovating a kitchen, it's a good idea to match a lighter hue of Iroko cabinet with the darker, more aged Iroko colour as a flooring. This creates a sort of theme in your room, which is always appealing to the eye.
Furniture
Cabinets are by no means the only furniture that you can make from Iroko wood, though. It's also ideal for chairs and tables because it's so hard and durable. There are very few ways that you could destroy these pieces, meaning that they'll be about our home for years to come. This is especially cool since they'll be a DIY form of self-expression!
Get Building
Now that you know all about Iroko wood and why it's a top option for flooring, furniture, projects, and more, it's time to get some. Click here to get African Iroko wood at an affordable price. Then and only then can you begin to craft in efficiently, effectively, and excitedly. Our wood is durable, of the highest quality, and looks amazing in a variety of locations.
Have fun creating!
