How to Buy Wood Furniture

Distinctive wood furniture – National Geographic

When you hear salespeople refer to "case goods," they’re talking about chests, dressers, tables - living room and dining room pieces. "Case goods" is an industry term that refers to furniture that’s generally constructed of wood. In actuality, today’s case goods may be made totally or in part of metal, plastics or other man-made materials. Materials are, or course, a determining factor in the look of a piece and will affect durability and price.

Furniture Woods
All woods used for making furniture fall into two categories: hardwoods and softwoods, but the designation doesn’t really have anything to do with how hard or how soft the wood is. "Hardwood" identifies the trees that lose their leaves seasonally and "softwood" refers to those that keep their foliage all year.

Among the hardwoods frequently used in making furniture are ash, cherry, maple, oak, pecan, teak, rosewood, walnut, mahogany and poplar. In the softwood category are cedar, cypress, fir, pine and redwood.

In addition to the more familiar woods, more and more exotic species, from all over the world, are being used to fashion furniture. As you shop in your local retail store, you might admire a piece made with Bocote from Mexico, Rosewood from South America, Curly Bulinga from Cameroon in Africa or Olivewood from the Mediterranean regions.

The exotic woods often are incorporated into decorative inlays and veneer patterns.

Construction Techniques
Several different woods are frequently combined in the same piece of furniture. For example, the term solid cherry or solid mahogany means that all exposed parts of the piece are made of solid wood. The frame or other parts not visible to the eye might be of another wood such as gum or poplar.

Because trees don’t grow in the shapes and sizes required for making furniture, pieces of wood are bonded together in different ways to achieve the necessary sizes and shapes. This technique can actually strengthen the wood and add to the durability of the furniture.

Veneering: An Ancient Art
Much of the most expensive furniture produced today owes its exceptional beauty to veneers. Veneering is centuries old. The Egyptians used it and Sir Thomas Chippendale was a masterful practitioner of the art. His designs from the 1700s attest to the beauty and lasting quality of fine veneers. In Chippendale’s time, veneering was so costly that few could afford it. But that isn’t the case today.

Veneer construction is the application of thin layers of highly decorative woods on top of solid cores such as plywood, particleboard or medium-density fiberboard. Veneering allows great flexibility, making it possible to match grain patterns or use inlays to create designs that nature can’t produce in the solid wood. Today, wood furniture in all price ranges is made of veneer construction which allows maximum use of beautiful, distinctive grain patterns and rare woods at affordable prices.

Engraving & Printing: A Modern Technique
Modern technology has produced a less expensive method of achieving the look of wood veneers. Manufacturers can simulate a natural wood grain by printing or engraving a pattern on surfaces such as density fiberboard. Paper or foil. This furniture is easier to produce and available at a lower price than similar furniture crafted of genuine wood and wood veneers. It can be attractive but usually doesn’t provide the same benefits as the real thing, which at today’s super affordable prices is an excellent choice.

An example of artistic veneers – Excelsior

Finishes: The Final Touch of Beauty
An appropriate finish adds the final touch of beauty to wood furniture. A finish which provides uniform color and adds a degree of protection generally requires the application of several coats of oil, wax, lacquer or paint to the surface. Clear finishes allow the markings and grain variations of naturally beautiful woods to show through. Tinted or opaque finishes change the color of the wood and can make the two different woods appear the same. Finishes can vary the look of a piece, making it appear smooth and sophisticated or rough-hewn and rustic.

Distressing is a technique for aging new furniture and heightening its rustic appeal. The wood is beaten or battered before the finish is applied. Distressed finishes tend to hide finger marks and scratches and can be an excellent choice for rooms where there is a lot of activity.

Painted finishes are another popular way of adding the final touch of beauty. Painted pieces can be a bit more expensive than those with natural finishes because paint tends to point up flaws so extra care must be taken at the factory to make sure that imperfections are removed from the wood.

Your salesperson or designer will be glad to explain the various finishes and fill you in on how to extend the life of your new wood furniture by pampering it with proper care.

Checklist for Buying Wood Furniture

• Doors and drawers fit well
• Drawers have glides and stops
• Drawers glide easily when pulled
• Drawers have dust panels
• Drawer corners are joined securely
• Insides of drawers are smooth and snag free
• Long shelves have center supports
• Doors swing open easily without squeaking or rubbing
• Long doors are attached with sturdy hinges
• Hardware is secure and strong
• No rough edges on hardware
• Interior lights operate easily
• Entertainment units have holes for electric cords
• Heavy balanced feeling when table is rocked
• Table leaves fit properly
• Finish feels smooth to the touch (except distressed)
• Distressed finish has randomly spaced dark marks

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