How to Clean and Maintain a Rosewood Eames Style Lounge Chair

Dust weekly with a dry microfibre cloth, and apply a thin coat of silicone-free beeswax polish no more than once every 6–12 months. Never use silicone sprays or wet cloths, as they cloud the dark, figured grain of the rosewood veneer.

Why rosewood needs a lighter touch

Every shell on our rosewood Eames style lounge chair is a 7-layer laminated hardwood veneer, pressure-formed into the 1956 curves. The rosewood face is the darkest and most heavily figured finish we sell, and that is exactly why it shows care mistakes first. A smear of silicone or a water ring that would vanish into pale ashwood sits on top of rosewood's near-black streaks like a fingerprint on a phone screen.

The supplier's own care instruction for the veneer is short: dust regularly with a soft dry cloth and keep it out of direct sunlight. Everything below builds on that, not around it.

The care routine, part by part

The leather and base figures come straight from the care section of the product listing. The polish interval is our guidance, and it is a ceiling, not a target.

How to polish without clouding the grain

1. Dust first. Wax over grit is how you scratch a veneer.
2. Test a coin-sized patch on the underside of the seat shell. Some finishes take wax badly; better to find out where nobody looks.
3. Apply the thinnest coat you can manage on a soft cloth, working along the grain.
4. Let it dry to a haze, then buff hard with a clean cloth until the haze is gone.

Honestly, most chairs need this less than people think. If the shell still has a soft sheen after dusting, leave it alone. Conservators make the same point: waxing should be infrequent, and a thorough coat lasts years with only an occasional buff.

What to avoid

• Silicone sprays. They leave a film that smears and builds up, and attracts dust.
• Wet cloths on the shell. Water left on the veneer can mark it; the damp cloth is for the leather and the aluminium only.
• Radiators and sunny bay windows. The listing warns against direct sunlight and direct heat. Rosewood can fade unevenly where one side of the shell gets the sun.

Still choosing a finish? Our wood and leather decision guide compares rosewood with walnut and ashwood in UK light.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I dust a rosewood Eames style lounge chair?

Once a week with a dry microfibre cloth, working along the grain. It takes about a minute and does more for the finish than any polish.

Can I use furniture spray on the rosewood shell?

Avoid anything containing silicone. It leaves a film that smears and attracts dust, and on a dark, figured veneer that cloudiness shows more than on pale wood.

How often should I wax the shell?

No more than once every 6–12 months, and only if the finish looks dull after dusting. Many chairs go much longer without needing it.

How do I clean the leather on the same chair?

Wipe it with a damp, not wet, cloth and condition it with a leather balm every 6 months, as the product listing advises. Our aniline leather care guide covers the detail.

Does sunlight damage rosewood veneer?

It can fade it, and unevenly if only one side of the chair faces the window. The supplier's care notes say to avoid direct sunlight.

How do I clean the aluminium base?

Use a soft damp cloth and dry it straight away. Skip abrasive cleaners, which can dull the finish.

Sources

Canadian Conservation Institute, Care of Furniture Finishes (CCI Notes), on waxing frequency and why silicone-containing polishes are not recommended.

Written by Kamil, Product Curator at Habitat Furnishes. Kamil checks every supplier listing against its spec sheet and answers customer questions about materials and dimensions personally. Last reviewed: 1 October 2026.

Habitat Furnishes sells Eames style, inspired-by furniture and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Herman Miller, Vitra or the Eames Office.