Teak furniture can be divided into indoor teak furniture and outdoor teak furniture. Both types are constructed from wood originating from the teak tree. The key difference between the two types comes down to the characteristics of the teak tree used and how the wood is finished.
Teak for Indoor Furniture
Interior teak furniture is made from the best quality teak, known as grade A teak. It comes from the center of the log (heartwood) found in fully mature teak trees and is very high in natural oils and shine.
Grade A teak has a beautiful deep golden color and an even grain, features which make it naturally aesthetic without the need for stains or varnishes. The most beautiful teak is often used to make teak veneers which are layered over a less expensive substrate. This technique is often used to produce most teak furniture for indoor use, especially in modern times.
Indoor teak furniture is very easy to care for and will look great for decades if maintained with the right teak oil. It is important to oil teak furniture the right way and to do so regularly to avoid water marks, stains and cracking.
Furniture of this type is commonly referred to as Danish teak, mid-century modern teak or vintage teak. It was incredibly popular from the 1950s to 1980s and made a resurgence in the mid 2000s. Indoor teak furniture continues to be manufactured today, however, due to modern forestry regulations and less supply, it is far less common than it used to be.
Teak for Outdoor Furniture
Teak wood is a great choice for outdoor furniture because it is naturally insect and mold resistant.
While some exterior teak furniture is also made from grade A teak, the fact that it must be solid wood makes it very expensive. The vast majority of exterior teak furniture is made from grade B or grade C teak. This type of teak is harvested from the outer layers (sapwood) of younger growth trees.
Grade B and C teak are lighter in color, have an uneven grain and must be chemically treated to resemble higher quality grade A teak. Despite regularly coating this type of furniture in chemicals, it will not last as long as furniture made of grade A teak.