Quality furniture may feel like a luxury to some, and hard to find by others, but it’s worth the investment of time and money. When you familiarize yourself with the longevity of hardwood furniture, the safer features, and the artistic value, you’ll be able to spot a well-priced piece of quality furniture much more quickly.
Real Wood vs. Fake Wood
There are a variety of fake wood types in the furniture industry. To the untrained eye, knowing the difference between the real stuff and the fake wood can be hard. While they are cheaper in comparison, you may discover that you don’t save that much money for the poor quality. Here are ways to identify the different faux wood:
Unlike solid wood, faux wood is lighter, lacks texture and detail, has grainy edges, and is often left unfinished on the sides or bottom of the piece.
Kinds of Fake Wood
Fiberboard (MDF) – This manufactured wood is made of wood chips, plant fibers, sawdust, softwood flakes, and other recycled materials. These are then bonded with a synthetic resin and tightly compacted into boards or sheets.
Particle Board -This is actually considered a type of fiberboard, but the pieces inside are much larger. This causes noticeable texture and lessens the durability and attractiveness.
Laminate – This is another faux wood that uses artificial materials to create a wood-like appearance. A “wood grain” is then printed onto the laminate and given a shiny finish. While the quality of laminate is better than fiberboard, it is still fake-looking and doesn’t compare to hardwood.
Veneer – This is a form of faux wood that actually incorporates a thin layer of natural hardwood. This layer covers a base that is often made of medium-density fiberboard. The veneer is soft and this is because of the lighter core and can become easily scratched and dented. Veneer is challenging to sand and re-stain.
Recognizing Good Upholstery
Quality upholstered furniture will be made of more than just high-quality solid hardwood frames. Upholstery can come in a wide range of quality based on the manufacturer.
Carefully pay attention to the stitching and material of chairs, sofas, ottomans, and recliners. The stitching of cheaper upholstery will often tend to be loose or frayed.
Genuine leather vs. Faux leather
Genuine leather is not as abundant anymore and is being replaced by cheaper bonded leather and synthetic leather made of plastics. Pleather and bonded leather often loses its luster quickly and once it begins to tear, it is a continual mess of tiny peelings. They can have a chemical smell to them as well.
You can spot Genuine leather by its natural rough edge. Synthetic leather will be extra shiny and have a smooth edge.
High-Quality Fabrics
Look for a performance fabric and upholstery that is higher on the grade system. (The lowest is A and the Highest is F) A higher-quality fabric can be more expensive and may actually not be your best option based on lifestyle and budget. Explore your options. Some synthetic fabrics are considered of higher quality. Look for trusted manufacturers who are good at their craft and not just a specific fabric type. A good tell-tale sign of cheap manufacturing is the stitching will often tend to be loose or frayed.
You’ll also find higher quality in something that has been made in America and avoid cheap labor from overseas.
Quality Furniture is Art
Quality furniture made of real wood will have ornate details and will likely feature dovetail drawers and joints. You’ll always get unique wood grains and durable products that can be made to look soft and delicate, or natural and sturdy.
Quality furniture takes time; it requires time to source the materials, create a design, craft the product, and safely ship it to customers. The evidence is clear in the final result that the time is worth it.
Find Quality Furniture At Weaver Furniture Barn
Whether you’re looking for a cozy bedroom set, an upholstered loveseat, a meaningful family dinner table, or a chic office setup, you can find quality pieces for every room of your home when you shop at Weaver Furniture Barn.