Many people prefer buying wooden furniture as they are durable and sturdy. Moreover, they come in different styles, and all of them are chic and very appealing, especially if you buy a valuable old wooden piece of furniture. However, there are different kinds of wood and styles to choose from, and also, different areas and rooms to furnish, for example, if you are furnishing your living room, you won’t use the same pieces and wood type that you use for outdoor furniture. If you are planning to buy new furniture pieces, read on as we will tell you what you need to consider when buying wooden furniture.
Wood Type
There are more types of wood than we can talk about in one article, however, there are some popular types that people usually go for when they buy their furniture that include ash, maple, oak, rubberwood, acacia, walnut, and mahogany.
- Ash is light, sturdy, flexible, and smooth. It is most commonly used for making chairs.
- Maple is light, exceptionally durable, moisture-resistant, and heavy. It is very easy to paint.
- Oak comes in different shades like light brown, greyish, or red. It is known for being sturdy and very durable.
- Rubberwood is very similar to maple wood and is used in making many pieces of furniture, however, proper sealing and staining are essential for its durability.
- Acacia is a rich, deep brown-colored wood. It is scratch and water-resistant, which makes it one of the best choices if you want elegant and durable pieces of furniture.
- Walnut wood is for people who prefer dark shades of wood. It is known for being light yet solid enough.
- Mahogany comes in dark shades too and is perfect for carving ornate details and staining.
Moreover, there are veneers, which is a wooden, thin layer that is glued to surfaces of furniture pieces to give them a solid appearance. Laminates, on the other hand, are used on plywood and can resist heat and scratches. Figure out what traits you need in your wooden furniture, then choose the type of wood accordingly.
The Style of Your Home
When choosing your furniture, you have to keep the style of your home in your mind. If your home is modern, for example, you should go for light wood. On the other hand, heavy wood with dark colors, especially Mahogany, is your best choice as it can be hand-carved. The colors of the walls in your house are a very important factor to consider while choosing your wooden pieces, as you want your furniture to complement the colors of the walls. No matter what your choice is, do not compromise on quality. Designers at Simply Amish of Indianapolis recommend that you prioritize the quality of your wooden furniture pieces. However, almost all types of wood are durable and heavy-duty, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some poor-quality pieces sold in the market that you need to stay away from.
Cost
One of the advantages of wooden pieces of furniture is that they come in a wide range of prices that suit every budget, in other words, there is something for everyone. However, you need to set your budget first, then choose your furniture according to it, so you don’t get disappointed while buying your wooden pieces. Some types of wood are very expensive and are for high-budgets like Sandalwood, African Blackwood, Ebony, Mahogany, and Maple. On the other hand, Plywood, Veneer, and Particleboard are among the cheap types of wood. However, cheap doesn’t necessarily mean bad quality.
You can save more money when buying wooden furniture by doing intensive research to also ascertain quality. Buy wooden furniture pieces gradually to avail of seasonal discounts. Visit your local furniture shops to see the actual look and touch the surface of wooden furniture pieces that catch your eye. Talk to the store manager to check available special promotions, especially if you’re a veteran, senior, or military personnel.
Moreover, busy property owners can conveniently buy high-quality wooden seats, chairs, and other valuable furniture pieces at reputable online stores, such as Dreamo Living. Buying furniture pieces online allows you to compare the designs, quality, and prices hassle-free. Many online furniture shops offer buyer’s remorse and warranty. So, don’t miss to check the terms before ordering online. Also, read the reviews of verified customers and check the ratings to have an idea of the furniture piece’s quality.
Its Function
You need to determine the function of the piece of furniture you are going to buy first, so you can make the right choice. Ask yourself how frequently it will be used to buy the right type of wood that matches the frequency of use and the location you will place it in. If you intend to place a wooden chair in the garden of your house, for example, Acacia, Cedar, Oak are among your best options. Moreover, closets and cabinets should be made out of heavy-duty wood types so they can stand the frequent use and wear and tear. However, if you want to buy a wooden chair and place it in a corner for decoration only and no one will actually frequently use it, go for less durable wood as you will be paying for a feature you do not need, and go for unique designs.
Check the Labels
It is essential that you read the labels attached to the furniture pieces to learn more about the material it is made from and how to maintain it and keep it in a good condition. You don’t want to pay money and ruin your furniture while cleaning the pieces by putting hot mugs on a piece that can get easily stained by heat or liquids. Other than labels, you should surf the internet for the best ways to clean your wooden furniture, especially if you bought expensive pieces. Even second-hand items should be handled with care and kept well maintained all the time.
Construction of the Wooden Pieces
You can figure out if the piece is well constructed or not by looking at it. High-quality wooden pieces of furniture have interlocking sides and screws to hold the piece together. Here is a trick that you can do to determine if it is durable or not; check if there are any visible staples, nails, or glue at the joints, and if there are any, this piece of furniture is not really that durable. Bear in mind that solid wood is much more durable than engineered wood. However, engineered wood resists moisture better than solid wood.
There are many advantages of buying wooden pieces of furniture that include a wide range of different styles and prices that suit everyone. Wooden furniture is very practical, and it looks very appealing and adds warmth to a house. However, there are a couple of things that you should consider before buying wooden furniture like, the type of wood, the design of your house, your budget, the purpose of each piece, and knowing how to keep it well maintained and take good care of it. Now you are ready to choose the right pieces of wooden furniture to complement your home design.