Quality… The saying “you get what you pay for” holds true for just about any purchase you make – but nowhere is this truer than in the case of your furniture. If you populate your house with cheap furniture from Ikea instead of solid wood, don’t come complaining when it starts to warp in the humidity, sag under heavy books, and break down from even gentle daily use.
While you might save money initially, you will “pay for it” in the future when you need to buy new furniture just a few years down the road. This is no way to live your life! Trust me. I’ve replaced my fair share of particle board 18-hours-of-assembly-required furniture. It looks great when you first make it, if you actually get all the hardware in the box and the holes are magically drilled in the right places, but after just a few months of daily use it really starts to show.
While that cheap furniture is great for apartments, dorms, and other temporary living situations, it’s not the type of thing you want to settle down with. If you are living in your forever home, it’s time to look for excellent quality home furniture and hardwood is the way to go for both durability and beauty. Sometimes you can find solid wood vintage furniture in thrift stores or yard sales, but most of us won’t be that lucky.
Here are just a handful of reasons to invest in solid wood over poorly-produced plastic or cheap particle wood products.
Craftsmanship Furniture And Your Home
Purchasing solid wood furniture made by experienced furniture makers guarantees a quality product. Furniture is best when it’s made by manufacturers that have been in business a long time and know their craft very well. When you purchase a solid wood product and care for it properly, it can last for generations. Choosing well-made furniture can be a great experience. On the other hand, low-quality furniture will likely need to be replaced in just a few short years. The problem with furniture from big box stores is that you often end up spending money on hastily produced, marked up junk.
Furniture is an investment. It makes a statement in your home, so it is important that your furniture be unique. So add solid wood furniture to your home to enhance its look and feel, and to express your individuality and personal style. If you have fine family antiques or heirlooms in your home, it is also important to have a professional perform any refinishing. An experienced craftsperson will know the appropriate products to apply and what process is best for each type of wood. If you attempt to refinish it yourself or use an amateur, your investment could get end up looking or feeling unpleasant and possibly require the job be re-done. That can cost you precious time and money!
Look For A Quality Manufacturer
You want to make sure you are getting your furniture from a trustworthy expert. Solid wood furniture made by experienced furniture makers will give you the quality of craftsmanship your home deserves. A good manufacturer knows what it takes to make a lasting piece. Furniture can be made with hard or soft woods. The Janka hardiness test classifies the strength of a piece of wood. A reliable craftsman will use a variety of woods – such as cherry, oak, maple, and pine – and knows where each and every piece falls on the Janka scale. Custom finishes can be requested, ensuring that your product is truly one-of-a-kind. A quality producer will offer conveniences, such as insured “White Glove Delivery.” Most woodworkers these days have the ability to ship their products globally, guaranteeing that you get exactly the product you want.
Companies that have operated for more than 30 years have not only the skillful craftsmanship to make beautiful pieces of hardwood furniture; they also know their customer base and offer a unique purchasing experience. That is not what you can expect if you buy a cheap product from a company that produces furniture en masse. A typical problem with products from big-box stores is that by the time the warranty is expired, so is your piece of furniture!
