The material used in the furniture is key to making sure it fits in your interior design, but more importantly, is long-lasting.
When we bought our first home, my husband and I knew right away that we wanted solid wood furniture for the most part. Although there are many other cheaper options like wood veneers, composites, and laminates, we thought none of them is equal to the durability and authenticity of solid wood.
But, exactly what makes solid wood different? Let me elaborate on this a bit further:
What is Solid Wood
Solid wood is lumber that has been cut and milled directly from trees. Unlike engineered wood—such as plywood, veneers, or medium-density fibreboard—solid wood is not manufactured from wood composites that are held together with adhesives.
Such a quality makes this material exceptionally durable. It doesn’t warm as easily as engineered wood. The only problem is that it’s more susceptible to stains thus, may require high maintenance.
While this factor is a drawback for us, it didn’t discouraged us from buying solid wood furniture. I particularly liked the solid wood dining table that I bought from Soul & Tables, one of the furniture shops I purchased my items from in Singapore. It was a teak straight dining table that can seat 4-6 people around.
Its material is regarded for its high resistance to moisture and water. It also has natural oil content that makes it resistant to termites, insects, and fungal stains as well.
How Do You Know If It’s Solid Wood?
Making sure that your furniture is 100% solid wood as its described is one way to know that you’re purchasing something high-quality. It should be long-lasting and can be refinished and repaired easily down the road.
In my search for solid wood furniture, I learned how different it is from engineered wood. To conclude this article, I’m sharing with you some ways to tell if it’s solid wood or wood composite.
• Solid wood furniture is typically heavier than furniture made of veneer.
• The grain of the furniture on the top should match that of the edge.
• Carved details would also mean the furniture is made of solid wood.
• Solid wood often has unfinished hidden sides, such as the underside of a table or the inner parts of a drawer.
If you’re ordering furniture online as I did for some of my furniture, these tips may not be applicable. So, it’s essential to find a reputable online furniture shop in Singapore that’s known to provide authentic solid wood furniture.
I’m just glad to have found Soul & Tables through a friend’s recommendation and I have to admit, I fell in love with most of the solid wood products they have! Getting introduced to this brand proved that you can also get quality furniture online—often for a fraction of the mall price.
What do you think of solid wood furniture? Let’s talk in the comment section below.
