Danish oil is a popular finish for wooden garden furniture, thanks to its ability to enhance the natural grain of the wood, while offering a degree of protection against moisture and general wear.
It is a blend of oil (often linseed or tung oil) and varnish, which allows it to penetrate deeply into the wooden furniture and harden to create a tough, durable, low-sheen finish.
What is Danish oil?
Danish oil is a sort of best-of-both finish that combines a degree of the protective qualities of varnish with the penetrative and enhancing qualities of furniture oil.
When applied to outdoor furniture, it will soak into the wood fibres, hardening to create a water-resistant layer without forming a thick surface film like a traditional varnish or lacquer.
At Lazy Susan we are big fans of it as it is relatively quick and easy to apply and it gives the wood a durable finish that is we-suited to the UK climate, whilst retaining that all-important natural look, especially on premium timbers such as teak, oak, and mahogany.
What are the advantages of using Danish oil on wooden garden furniture?
While it’s not 100% waterproof, we have found that Danish oil offers enough water resistance to make it a good choice for woods that will be exposed to the UK summer and early autumn/late spring.
However, what we like about it is the way it enhances the wood’s natural grain, giving it a warm, rich appearance. It will add a slight amber lustre to lighter woods but not so much that it looks unnatural.
The finish will dull over time, but reapplication is quick and easy and best done after you’ve washed it down.
What types of wooden garden furniture sets is Danish oil well-suited for?
Danish oil is not suitable for all types of wooden garden furniture on sale in the UK, however, we find it works best on many of the more premium-end hardwoods as well as some softwoods.
1. Teak
Danish oil can be used on teak garden furniture, but because teak naturally contains high levels of oils, it might not penetrate as deeply as it does in the other woods on this list.
What it does do well is enhance the colour of teak, and because it will naturally resist moisture, we use it more to give it a nice lustre than any additional protection.
2. Oak
Oak is highly compatible with Danish oil, as it readily absorbs the oil into its open grain. It provides a warm, attractive finish to the garden furniture and gives it a good level of moisture protection.
You will need to apply it fairly regularly to maintain the protection and help prevent the wood from cracking or splitting.
In the winter or during bad weather, we would still advise you to cover your oak garden furniture with breathable covers.
3. Mahogany
Danish oil also works very well on mahogany outdoor furniture, enhancing its deep, rich tones.
Mahogany is moderately resistant to moisture on its own, but Danish oil just helps to improve durability, add a nice lustre, and protect the wood from outdoor exposure.
4. Acacia
Acacia is another dense hardwood that takes Danish oil well. It will help protect it from cracking and colour fade during the summer.
In the winter or during bad weather, we would again still advise you to cover your acacia garden furniture with breathable covers too.
5. Ash
Ash and walnut are not commonly used for outdoor furniture in the UK (ash more so but walnut is generally an indoor furniture wood), however, Danish oil is suitable for both.
It will deepen the walnut's colour and give ash a beautiful lustre.
It’s also worth noting that neither wood is highly resistant to moisture anyway, so Danish oil helps only to a degree outdoors, so keep it covered when not using it if you have it.
Which woods are not suited for Danish oil?
Softwood garden furniture is generally not the best match for Danish oil, as it tends to be more porous, so it will need additional layers and frequent reapplication for adequate protection.
They do give a nice finish but you will be better off using something more durable such as a varnish or protective stain.
Whilst OK on teak outdoor furniture, we have found that some exotic oily woods are not as compatible.
Ipe and rosewood, for example, have a high natural oil content like teak, but the Danish oil does not penetrate them very well, so it provides very little in the way of additional benefit.
How do you apply Danish oil on outdoor furniture?
If you have oak or acacia wooden garden furniture, then we would recommend Danish oil for some instant rustic charm and a natural appearance. The way we would apply it is as follows:
1. Prep
Sand the wood lightly to open up the grain, which will help the oil penetrate. Clean the wood surface thoroughly to remove any dust.
2. Apply
With a lint-free cloth or brush, work with the grain and apply a light even coat. Let it soak in for approx. 15 to 20 minutes, then wipe off any excess to avoid a sticky finish.
3. Cure
Allow the oil to cure for 24-48 hours before you use it. For a richer finish, you can apply additional coats to your wooden garden furniture, but allow each layer to dry in between.
4. Maintain
If left outside, then your wooden furniture may need a reapplication once or twice a year, depending on the level of exposure to the elements.
Our final thoughts on Danish oil…
Danish oil is a great choice for enhancing the natural beauty of hardwood furniture such as oak and acacia. It gives it a lovely lustre and brings the grain up without altering the natural colours of the wood.
However, while it provides a degree of moisture resistance, it is not fully waterproof, so it’s best for wooden garden furniture pieces that are partially sheltered or used in the summer but covered in bad weather.
A more heavy-duty sealer or varnish might be preferable for long-term protection for wooden outdoor furniture in a very wet or harsh environment.
If you have our garden furniture in your outdoor space, then we would love to see a few photos for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or Upload Here.
