Rustico furniture is a type of furniture made of unfinished and distressed pine. It is usually imported from Mexico or other parts of Latin America. In addition to that, it has increased in popularity as the Southwestern look as gained momentum. While Rustico is certainly on the rise in sales, it also has a tendency to be a high return item for stores. If you are interested in Rustico furniture, then it is important for you to understand a little more about it so that you are sure not to be one of those returns.
Benefits
The attraction to Rustico furniture generally comes from its unfinished and highly distressed looked. Because of it, the southwest look is enhanced. Additionally, the distressed nature of it makes for a piece that will always look “new” especially for homes that have pets or small children.
Additionally, Rustico is very heavy and strong. Though it may be unfinished and have that old worn look, it is made of solid pine. This makes for strong furniture that, if properly cared for, can last a long time.
Expectations
Part of what causes the high rate of returns on Rustico furniture is a lack of understanding about it. Think of the furniture this way: it is guaranteed to split, crack, squeak, and creak. If you buy Rustico, you have to know it will do these things if it doesn’t when you first get it.
To build on that, it is important to also understand the unique nature of the Rustico furniture. It is unique in that each and every piece of Rustico furniture is unique. That is because of the unfinished nature of the furniture; the cracks happen in varying places, the gaps open up between different planks, and you can bet that the piece you get will, for those reasons, be different from the one you saw on the show floor.
Keep in mind that anything with hinges will likely squeak loudly. This is due to the fact that the hinges are often intentionally rusted to create that old and distressed look to the furniture. There is really nothing you can do to prevent or fix this short of changing out the hinges. If you don’t want that effect, then Rustico might not be right for you.
Care
Once you have your Rustico furniture, it is important to care for it properly. Since it is unfinished furniture, you need to take special precautions to help it last.
For one, you need to oil the Rustico furniture frequently. Using a furniture polish or oil every two to four weeks will help prevent the existing cracks from turning into broken pieces of furniture. If you live in a drier climate, though, you may need to oil the furniture even more often.
Additionally, Rustico furniture needs to be kept clean. The enemy of nearly all furniture that you buy is any type of dust or dirt. Unclean furniture becomes weaker. Since Rustico is already cracked and split, weakening it will only cause problems with which you are not going to want to have to deal.
Rustico furniture is incredibly versatile. If you are in the market for new furniture and like the look and feel of the southwest, then it is possible that Rustico is right for you. However, if you want to avoid an unpleasant experience and the need to return your furniture just after getting it, then make sure you understand the nature of and care for Rustico furniture.
