29/07/2026
Not all “high-end” furniture is built equal. Whether you’re buying custom, from a showroom, or even the thrift store, check these 5 things first:
1. Solid wood vs. veneers: Solid hardwoods (like White Oak or Walnut) can be sanded and refinished many times. When veneers are necessary, look for thick veneers on a quality substrate. Thin veneers over particle board won’t hold up to regular use long term and breaks down if it gets wet.
2. Check the underside: is it unfinished or rough to the touch? Is it held together with a bunch or nails and globbed up glue? Quality doesn’t cut corners.
3. The finish type: Heavy plastic/polyurethane film finishes can off gas VOCs for several weeks to months after being applied. They also tend crack over time and are challenging to repair. Zero-VOC hardwax oils absorb deep into the grain, highlight the natural beauty, and are easy to spot repair and refresh in-place.
4. Quality joinery and hardware: even thin, sleek spindle legs can be rock solid when the joinery is well thought out. If looking at a piece in person, give it the old shake test. If it wobbles or feels like it’s delicate, it probably is.
5. Sustainability: be aware of “fast furniture” disguised as luxury. If a piece can’t survive a move or be repaired when life happens, it’s disposable. Built-to-last products cost less over time and are better for our planet.
