Introduction
The right furniture can make a home feel like a home, but the wrong choice can be disaster. Furniture is expensive, so it’s important to choose pieces that will last. To help you buy furniture that will last for many years and give you the best value for your money, here are some things you should consider:
How to Pick Furniture That Will Last
When you’re looking for furniture that will last, there are several things to keep in mind. First, choose pieces made of solid wood–it’s more durable than particleboard or MDF and can be refinished if necessary. Second, look for a warranty: If the manufacturer offers one on their product then they stand behind the quality of their workmanship and materials. Thirdly, find out who made your piece: If it was crafted by established companies with a reputation for high standards then you’re likely to get something well-made (and therefore more likely to last). Finally, look at how well constructed each individual piece is; this can tell you whether or not an item has been designed with longevity as its chief concern rather than simply being cheap enough that no one cares if it breaks down after six months because “you get what you pay for.”
In addition: It never hurts when choosing furniture made from real wood materials like oak which have been kilned using low temperatures so as not damage them during production processes such as staining/painting etcetera…
The Right Kind of Wood
Hardwood is stronger than softwood, but it’s also more expensive. Softwood is more resistant to warping and cracking, but it’s less durable than hardwood. Here are some other things you should know about the different types of wood used in furniture:
- Hardwoods include ash, cherry, oak and maple; you’ll see these in kitchen cabinets and dining room tables. They tend to be heavier than pine or plywood (the two most common types of softwoods) which makes them harder for insects like termites to eat through–and if they do get eaten through by termites or beetles then repairing them is easier since there’s no need for staining afterward!
- Pine tends to be lighter in color than cedar although both have similar durability levels when exposed directly outdoors–which means that if you live on the coast then pine may not last as long as cedar would under similar conditions because its lower density means less protection against saltwater damage over time.”
Hardwood Vs. Softwood
When it comes to selecting furniture, there are two basic types of wood: hardwood and softwood. Hardwoods are more durable than softwoods, but they’re also more expensive and not as environmentally friendly.
Softwoods come from trees that grow quickly in temperate climates; they’re easy to work with because they’re lighter than hardwoods, which means you can build bigger pieces out of them if you want (like a dining room table). But these trees don’t last as long–and when they do wear out, they don’t decay into soil like other plants do; instead they just continue rotting until all that’s left is dust!
Solid vs. Veneer
Unless you’re a furniture expert, it can be difficult to know the difference between solid wood and veneer. The main difference is that solid wood furniture is made from hardwood while veneer is made from softwood. This means that while solid wood may be more expensive than its veneer counterpart, it will last longer and be more durable in the long run because of its higher quality materials.
Wood Type and Finish
The first step in selecting furniture that will last is to consider the type of wood and finish. Solid wood is more durable than veneer, but it can be sanded and refinished if something happens to it. Veneer can’t be sanded or refinished; if you scratch or chip the surface, that’s it–game over. However, veneer can easily be stained or painted (but not sanded!).
Wood Construction and Seams
- Wood Construction and Seams
Seams are the points where two pieces of wood join together. If your furniture has visible seams, they should be glued and reinforced with screws. The goal is to ensure that the seams are tight and flush, so they don’t create an uneven surface or show signs of splitting or cracking over time.
Frame Design and Assembly
The next step is to look for frames that are joined with screws, dowels or mortise/tenon joints. These types of connections are much more durable than glue alone and will hold up over time.
How You Use the Furniture Can Influence Its Longevity, Too!
- Use furniture for its intended purpose.
- Don’t abuse the furniture by using it in ways that are not intended by the manufacturer, such as using a recliner as a step stool or an office chair as a dunk tank. If you’re going to do something like this, at least make sure that your friend has his camera ready first!
- Don’t put furniture in direct sunlight or extreme heat. This can damage their materials and cause them to warp over time (which means they won’t last as long). It’s also important not to store any wooden pieces near fireplaces or other sources of heat because this could cause warping as well.
- Keep pets away from upholstery fabrics such as leather and suede; pets have sharp claws which can tear these materials easily if they get too close while playing around with their favorite toys on top of them! If possible try putting down some kind of protective covering before letting your cat climb onto one side while sleeping so they don’t accidentally scratch themselves while rolling around trying get comfortable during nap time…and then jump off again once they realize how uncomfortable being up high feels after all 🙂
The proper care and maintenance can help you get the most out of your furniture.
You can help your furniture last longer by following these simple steps:
- Keep it clean! Dust and dirt are the enemies of wood, so keep yours clean and free from debris. Use a soft cloth to wipe away dust, crumbs, or pet hair as needed. If you have water damage on your furniture (or even just water stains), try using WD-40 or another oil-based cleaner first before trying anything else–it may do the trick! For deep stains caused by red wine or other liquids that will not come out otherwise, try applying Murphy’s Oil Soap directly to the area before wiping down with a damp cloth; this should help lift away some of that stubborn stain without damaging your wood finish too much in the process (but if it doesn’t work right away don’t give up hope!).
- “I need new cushions!” You might think this is an excuse not to buy new furniture because no one wants old stuff anymore but we promise there are plenty of options available today where you can easily replace worn-out cushions without having to replace entire pieces themselves! We suggest looking into specialty stores like Restoration Hardware who specialize specifically in customizing existing pieces so they look brand new again instead wasting money replacing something when all we really needed were some fresh cushions anyway!
Conclusion
So, there you have it! We hope that this guide has helped you understand how to choose furniture that will last. As we mentioned before, the most important thing is to think about how you’re going to use it and ensure that it’s built with those needs in mind. If you want something more casual or disposable, we would recommend sticking with something like hardwood or particle board rather than solid wood because they tend not break down as quickly over time (though they might still need some repair work every now and then). However, if durability is important but price isn’t necessarily so much – such as when buying an accent piece – then go ahead and splurge on something made out of real wood instead!