Solid Wood Furniture – Good or Bad?

Is it worth buying solid wood furniture?

Article by Sarah Morris

Sarah Morris

    

Sarah Morris is an avid writer of home decor and product reviews. She covers furniture products and more for ChosenFurniture.

Learn more about our Editorial Process

| Updated on January 3, 2023

Solid wood furniture is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a hard surface with a clean, natural finish that withstands the test of time. The beauty and durability of solid wood furniture are unbeatable. No matter your style or preferences, it will always be in style and eco-friendly. However, even high-quality furniture with a balanced mix of clean lines and natural materials needs a little tender love and care and periodic refinishing.

What is Solid Wood Furniture?

Solid wood furniture is a type of furniture that is both durable and strong. This type of furniture comprises a single piece of wood sanded, shaped, and finished with a sealant. The sanding process often exposes the wood’s natural colors and grain and removes imperfections. When sanding is complete, the wood is sealed with several layers of finish. These finishes are specially made to enhance the natural beauty of the wood.

So you want to buy solid wood furniture – and whether it be for your home or your office, you want to make sure that you are getting the best value for your money. We are fully aware of the high prices of furniture, yet, keep in mind that you buy handcrafted furniture made of carefully selected solid hardwoods built to last for decades.

Good furniture is a key component of a home, and American-made, expertly crafted, heirloom-quality solid wood furniture can make a space seem more spacious and open.

Advantages of Solid Wood Furniture

Solid wood furniture is one of the best forms of furniture to buy. It is fine-grained, strong, and durable. Many people opt for this furniture because it does not require much upkeep. You can take care of it with just a few simple steps. Solid wood furniture is also eco-friendly, created without man-made materials. It is also versatile, as there are many different finish options.

Disadvantages of Solid Wood Furniture

As we stated previously, the beauty and durability of solid wood furniture is unbeatable – the only downside is the price! The high price of these pieces of furniture is often hard on those who are on a tight budget, but this is also a nice perk if you’re looking for that high-end look for your home. Over time the quality tends to rub off, and they may become more fragile, but they can always be refinished or re-sanded. The finish is meant to wear down, so the natural wood is revealed over time.

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Types of Solid Wood Furniture

Before you buy any wood furniture, you should know first what type of wood furniture is right for you. There are a few different types of solid woods.

Solid wood is one of the most sustainable materials. Rather than being created by a manufacturing process, it comes from natural sources like trees, which means there’s never any risk of pollution or environmental damage! Solid wood can be either hardwood or softwood. And obviously, hardwoods are stronger and have a higher density than softwoods.

Hardwoods such as oak and mahogany provide a deep and heavy tone for your home, while pine provides a lighter, earthier tone. Birch produces a soft and formal tone for your home, while maple is known for its unique grain and light color. Oak is a common hardwood used for furniture such as tables and chairs, while pine is often found in beds such as headboards and nightstands. Birch furniture can be found in dressers and desks, while maple is more prevalent in desk chairs and bookcases. Walnut is more expensive and highly diverse, and you can use it for flooring, kitchen cabinets, and wood veneers.

Ash, Maple, and Cherry wood are more abundant as they grow larger but have highly sought-after aesthetics in the grain, which makes them less expensive than walnuts, but more expensive than some hardwoods. Birch is slightly cheaper and is commonly used in kitchen cabinets. It is also used for high-end furniture parts, yet, solid birch furniture can be hard to find.

Wood furniture is usually made from a single type of wood. The specific type of wood you select will also be reflected in the price of your furniture because some types are more common than others. Although the initial cost of hardwood furniture may be higher than softwood, the lifetime value will be much greater.

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Differences Between Engineered Wood and Solid Wood

Engineered wood furniture is the same quality as solid wood furniture. Manufacturers can use engineered wood products because the components are glued together, unlike natural wood furniture, which must be nailed, glued, or knotted together. They are both made of wood, but engineered wood is manufactured using different technologies.

The biggest difference between engineered wood and solid wood is durability. Solid wood furniture also requires more maintenance to avoid warping or chipping. Wood furniture can be damaged if left in contact with water for extended periods.

What are Veneers?

Another term tossed around in the wood furniture world is “veneer.” So, what exactly is a veneer? Veneer has different quality levels and is a less expensive alternative to hardwood. It is simple to put a thin piece of premium wood over a type of manufactured wood.

The veneer is made of a single layer to provide the look of hardwood grains, but the underlying pieces are made of different lower-quality materials keeping the cost down. As a downside, the veneer limits the number of times you can refinish a piece of furniture. That’s why it is not recommended on tables.

A cheap veneer is the easiest way to make particle boards or chipboards look like real wood. If you have a lower-quality particle board underneath your veneer, you will likely see wear and tear. A dent or chip in the veneer is not easily repairable. And how it is made matters just as much as what!

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Why Does Solid Wood Furniture Cost More?

While it certainly isn’t hard to find inexpensive furniture on the market today, it is almost impossible to find cheap quality wood furniture – and for a good reason! Quality furniture that uses solid wood always has a premium price compared to options made from particleboard, MDF, plywood, or veneers.

Below, we explore the reason behind the pricing decisions so you can understand why solid wood furniture has such a high price point (and why it’s almost always worth the investment).

Solid Wood Furniture Costs: Size of Furniture

Of course, larger pieces of furniture will have a higher material cost than smaller pieces. For example, a dining room table will cost more than its matching dining room chair. This is simply because it takes more wood to produce these larger products. It’s a good idea to keep this in mind when planning your room and to keep it to your budget.

Solid Wood Furniture Costs: Craftsmanship

Because furniture is handcrafted in America by master craftsmen, it is not only solid wood but solid value. So the time and craftsmanship put into each piece of furniture is another factor in its ticket price. There are various construction methods to improve the form and function of each piece.

When we talk about finely made furnishings, the devil is in the details. Some special touches which impact cost include:

• Using a human set of eyes to carefully match wood grains for drawer fronts or a tabletop
• Hand oiling a finished piece to give hardwood furniture its most natural sheen and texture
• Creating proprietary finishes or hand waxing the inside of drawers to reduce VOCs and carbon footprint

These construction techniques are marks of quality craftsmanship. They will take more time and skill to do it right. So the labor costs will always be higher.

And don’t forget custom furniture. Nowadays, each customer can shop and gets exactly what they want. Each furnishing can be customized to match your home decor and personal tastes.

Solid Wood Furniture Costs: Design

In an age where production values are low, and design is king, designers have managed to maintain a level of craftsmanship that was once reserved for those with high fashion tastes. With one big impediment: not with the same top-quality construction.

The finest original design – by all means, a design that looks good and feels so good – will cost more than boring mass-production compositions.

Good furniture is always an investment. When furnishing your home, it’s important to consider long-term costs over short-term costs. What would you like to do: buy cheap wood furniture every few years, or buy one knowing that you won’t have to replace it in a couple of years?

Wood Furniture Costs: Joint Construction

Inevitably, when you build solid wood furniture, you’ll always use joint constructions, which is more labor-intensive than simply screwing or nailing everything together.

But hey, joint constructions are better than staples, nails, or glue. Joint construction is more costly than the other options, but it’s reliable, simple, and secure. Dowels and screws are more than ok, although dovetail or mortise-and-tenon joints are best. Plus, solid wood furnishings have to be finished (sanded, stained, and sealed), and this labor-intensive work creates a higher price tag.

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So How Much Does Solid Wood Furniture Cost?

The average price of solid wood furniture can range anywhere from $1,000 – $10,000 depending on the size, craftsmanship, (luxury) materials, and level of customization. Furniture made of solid wood lasts much longer than furniture built with veneers, plastic, or particleboard. Yes, top-quality solid wood furniture is expensive, so be sure you’re getting the best value and price. Although you may pay more up-front, the lifetime value of solid wood furniture will be much higher than low-cost options. And you should always buy solid furnishings from the best furniture brands.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve made a new investment in your home decor. The great news is that solid wood furniture is built to last. Using natural, solid wood provides many benefits, from durability to an attractive appearance. And you can easily customize your design to make a handcrafted piece of custom furniture that’s perfect for your home.

Built from the finest quality materials, natural solid wood furniture is a sound investment that will stand the test of time. And with minimal maintenance, your wood furniture will be a lasting masterpiece. Wooden handcrafted furniture has a warm, rustic charm unmatched by any other type of furniture.

Sarah Morris

Sarah Morris is a passionate home decor expert, how-to reviewer of furniture products, and a fact checker for ChosenFurniture. She is passionate about all types of design, with a personal preference for traditional, rustic, and modern. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, covering decor choices in the kitchen, living room, outdoors, and more.