Have you ever bought a piece of furniture that didn’t last as long as you hoped it would? If so, you’re not alone. Many people buy low quality furniture without even knowing it. While it may look beautiful on the outside, that appeal only lasts as long as the inside is durable. If the inside isn’t durable, the outside will not be able to withstand all that furniture goes through in its lifetime. Knowing how to tell if furniture is low or high quality can help you purchase the best, so you can have it as part of your home for many years.

What to Purchase for High Quality Furniture

Wood furniture can be made out of softwood or hardwood. An example of a softwood is pine, while examples of hardwood are oak and mahogany. Most people decide on one of the other types of wood depending on its visual appeal because these woods are good for furniture durability and stability. That is if the furniture is only made of that type of wood, which means it’s solid wood. Solid wood means that from the inside out it is made of high quality wood. Furniture that isn’t solid wood doesn’t have the quality that you need it to have to last for years and for some, decades.

Two types of woods to avoid are engineered and veneered. These woods are the lowest quality you can purchase. Engineered wood is made of wood particles that are glued together. Veneered is low quality wood covered with a thin layer of high quality wood. This gives it the look that it is much more durable than what it really is, which is why people decide to purchase it.

Signs of Low Quality Furniture

To find out if the furniture you are interested in is solid wood, pay attention to the following signs it’s made of low quality materials:

  • Rough Surface

Solid wood furniture has a smooth, even texture. Engineered wood has a rough texture because of all the pieces put together. Place your hand on the furniture you want to buy to feel if there is any roughness to it. If there is, it’s not solid wood. If you’re buying online, take a look at close ups of the furniture to see if you see particles in it. To make sure the furniture is solid wood when the description says it is, research the reputation of the company. It’s likely if the company ever had problems with their products, someone would have complained about it online.

  • Glossy or Cloudy Surface

Solid wood furniture has stain on it, so it’s not glossy or cloudy.  Furniture with a glossy or cloudy look has veneer covering it.

  • Splintered Edges

Solid wood furniture doesn’t have splintered edges on it because it has been manufactured with care. Solid woods also don’t splinter like the ply board or chipboard that engineered wood is known for producing. To check for splinters, look under the furniture, and carefully feel it to assess its smoothness.

  • Dull Spots

High quality solid wood furniture does not have dull spots. If you turn your head sideways, and see that there are shiny or glossy parts along with dull ones, it’s likely it’s a veneer finish.

Now that you know how to tell if a piece of furniture is high or low quality, you can move on to purchasing one with confidence that you won’t be disappointed. At Satara Furniture, all of our products are 100% solid wood. You won’t find any of the low quality signs in our products. We know what high quality is, and what it means to customers, so we strive to only offer the best of the best.