Choosing solid wood furniture or veneer furniture?

When looking at furniture for their home, many people arrive at one key decision: whether or not to purchase solid wood furniture. With many lower-end, veneer, metal or plastic options available, many customers are left evaluating if the extra cost of solid wood is worth it.

Solid Wood Furniture

Few can deny the fact that solid wood furniture looks beautiful. It can bring a feel of classic and quality décor to your home. However, it is also a more costly initial investment.

Well-built, solid wood furniture is incredibly durable and designed to last for generations. It can withstand the wear and tear that comes from daily use and often requires minimal maintenance. However, with durability comes weight. For those who may move often, solid wood furniture can be far more difficult to maneuver.

Throughout the generations, if a solid wood piece does start to show its’ age, it can be beautifully restored. Due to the durability, solid wood can be refinished. The same can’t often be said for other furniture choices.

There is also a major benefit in the sustainability factor of buying furniture from a company who uses ethical sources for their building materials. While plastics and veneers can be heavily processed and filled with chemicals, solid wood can be sourced from replenishing North American forests and manufactured in a way that is much more natural.

Veneer Furniture

An alternative to solid wood furniture is veneer furniture. Veneer furniture often a much lower investment to purchase. It is more readily available in the budgets of many people, specifically first time homeowners.

Due to the fact that it is manufactured instead of harvested, veneers can be designed to give the appearance of a wider variety of wood finishes. You can often find pieces that have been made to look like a more exotic species of wood that may not be available in many solid wood collections. Veneer also can provide a more uniform finish and be easier to match to when adding pieces to a previously decorated room.

That being said, the problem lies with what is underneath the veneer. Many manufacturers use a combination of MDF, particleboard and other materials as the core of their furniture. These materials are mixed with chemicals and glues to be formed and provide strength. While this core makes them lighter and easier to manage, it also makes them more susceptible to damage that often cannot be repaired.

Conclusion

If price is the main factor for a consumer, then choosing veneer may be the short-term solution. However, as time goes on, solid wood furniture proves to offer more durability and a longer life. With lasting beauty that can be shared within your family, solid wood can prove to be much more economical in the long run.

While lower-end choices may have a smaller price tag, the problem remains that much like many other products, cheaper options can result in some sacrificed quality. What you save in the short term may end up costing you more in the future when pieces need to be replaced.