How to buy quality wood furniture

Article written by : Your Home Improvement Place

It’s a good idea to invest in good quality furniture as this would mean that it would last you a lifetime. Here are some tips on how to identify good quality furniture be it new or second hand.

Composition – There are mainly two types of trees used for furniture. These are hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods mean furniture made from deciduous trees and softwood means furniture made from coniferous trees. The main thing here is to make sure the wood you choose is relatively scratch resistant. To check this, you can draw a line with your nail on the wood and see if there is a visible dent. You should also avoid woods with knots, as they are more prone to cracks. You can also look at furniture that has veneers. This means that a lower quality wood will be used inside, while a premium wood covers the furniture. The only disadvantage is that you will not be able to refinish these pieces many times.

Construction – You should always look for jointly constructed pieces, as they will last longer than pieces that have been nailed, stapled or glued together. You should look for joints that are dovetailed or mortise-and-tenon. It is also important to look at if the corners have been reinforced and attached at an angle. If you’re choosing
a piece of furniture with drawers, open the drawers to test if they run smoothly on their glides and that the drawer includes a stopping mechanism to prevent them falling out.