Our 5 Secrets to Picking the Perfect Wood for Your Furniture

The Best Way to Find the Right Kind of Wood for Your Wood Furniture

A piece of rustic wood furniture is a gorgeous addition to any home. Whether it’s a table, a TV stand, a couch, a bookcase, or a bed frame, wood is an excellent choice due to its beauty and durability. After all, a well-built piece of quality wood furniture can and should last a lifetime. But, not all wood furniture is made the same. Some manufacturers use inferior materials or techniques, yet they charge the same prices as manufacturers of authentic wood furniture. So, it is important to know what you’re looking at when you’re shopping for wood furniture. With that in mind, here are our five secrets to help you choose the perfect wood for your furniture.

1. Choose Solid Wood Wood furniture that is made entirely from solid wood is much better than furniture that isn’t. Manufacturers that glue single wood boards or use wood panels can still call their furniture wood, but it isn’t constructed from solid wood. Therefore, it’s an inferior product and one that won’t stand the test of time. When buying with quality and longevity in mind, make sure the entire piece of furniture is solid wood, and not just certain parts of it.
2. Choose Hardwood Over Softwood Solid wood furniture is either made from hardwood, like oak, walnut, cherry, maple, and ash; or softwood, like poplar, pine, and fir. Hardwood is denser and harder, so it naturally stands up to use better than softwood. Hardwood is much more resistant to scratches and dings, but it is more expensive. Therefore, if you want an heirloom piece that will last for decades, then hardwood furniture should be your choice.
3. Check the Joints of the Furniture Wood furniture can be assembled in a variety of different ways, but some methods are more stable and longer-lasting than others. For instance, joints that are made with mortise-and-tenon or dowel techniques offer the best stability, whereas butted and mitered joints tend to be weaker. In most cases, the latter just can’t stand up to heavy use unless the joints are reinforced.
4. Watch for Knots and Cracks If a piece of furniture is built with wood that has knots or cracks, then you should find one with wood that doesn’t have them. Knotted or cracked wood is more susceptible to developing additional cracks over time, so it's best to avoid these kinds of blemishes (unless this is the 'character' you desire, and you're willing to take a risk on the furniture's longevity.)
5. Lift the Furniture at One Corner Solid wood furniture is heavy, but that doesn’t mean that it always sits flush to the ground. Lift one corner of the furniture to make sure it doesn’t twist and be sure to listen for any squeaks. Set the piece of furniture back down and check to make sure all four legs are in contact with the floor. Press down on the different corners to see if the piece rocks or wobbles. If the piece is built right, you should not be able to notice any movement or noise on a flat floor.

Log Furniture Place Hand-Crafts Genuine Rustic Wood Furniture Log Furniture Place is one of the top retailers for hand-crafted solid wood furniture online. We only use authentic materials in our rustic wood furniture, and everything we sell is backed by our solid warranty. We are dedicated to our customers and offer some of the most competitive prices around. Contact us today if you have any questions regarding our process and/or to learn more about our custom furniture options.