HAWKERIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwire) -- 02/21/13 -- The practice of decorating homes with wooden furniture is as old as Ancient Greece, but it is undergoing a modern renaissance as more and more people appreciate its benefits.

Many centuries have passed since wooden furniture was first used by householders in ancient times, with beds, tables, chairs, storage chests and many more items all made of wood.

During the Industrial Revolution, however, more modern materials like glass, plastic and steel were introduced into the furniture industry and rapidly became widely popular.

But while the popularity of wooden furniture has never truly diminished, there has definitely been a recent revival. Some attribute it to a growing appreciation of the advantages of wooden furniture. High quality wood is a natural and renewable material when ethically sourced, for instance, and its natural beauty conveys a warmth and style that cannot be duplicated by any man-made material.

A spokesperson for Casa Bella, a family run importer of high quality wooden furniture, said: "There is no doubt that wooden furniture is as popular as it ever was and it's not hard to see why.

"There is something particularly special about a quality piece of wooden furniture - our customers are drawn to its strength, warmth and beauty, and often it will improve with age. In fact, certain high quality wood furniture pieces are often regarded as family heirlooms."

Solid wood furniture can also represent a very environmentally friendly choice of furniture. At Casa Bella, all of its Indonesian and Indian furniture is ethically sourced direct from government-managed, renewable plantations.

This knowledge only deepens the owner's appreciation of the piece, and Casa Bella Dakota Furniture, a range of Indian Mango furniture finished in a rich honey stain, is a classic example.

There are many other advantages of wooden furniture. It requires very little maintenance or upkeep, with regular dusting and a twice-yearly polish often all it needs. Also, if a piece of wooden furniture is damaged, a skilled carpenter can often restore it to like-new condition.

Solid wooden furniture is available in all price ranges and many different styles to match any decorating scheme. Pine furniture is often on the low end of the budget scale with more exotic species of woods such as Brazilian Rosewood carrying a higher price tag.

To see the full range of wood furniture on offer at Casa Bella, visit www.casabellafurniture.co.uk.