The Inside Story: How Wood Furniture is
Built
January 7, 2014 – HIGH POINT, N.C. – Wood furniture adds warmth
and distinction to a room’s décor and helps you and your family enjoy the activities you love most,
from watching a favorite movie to sharing a meal.
To make shopping for wood furniture easier, the American Home Furnishings Alliance offers
guidelines for consumers who want to purchase the best quality within their price range.
“Armed with the right questions – and answers – you can choose wood furniture with confidence,”
says Jackie Hirschhaut, AHFA vice president. Once you know the basics, including how much space
you have, AHFA suggests asking yourself, and your local retailer, the following questions:
What kind of wood is right for you?
All wood used for furniture falls into two categories: hardwood and softwood. Hardwood tends to be
more durable than softwood, but these terms actually refer to the kind of tree that produced the
wood, rather than the strength of the wood itself.
Hardwood trees – like oak, cherry and maple – lose their leaves seasonally. Softwood trees – like
cedar and pine – keep their foliage all year. Quality furniture is available in both types of wood,
although products made from softwood species
Each wood species has a natural color – from pale yellow (pine) to reddish brown (cherry) to dark
chocolate brown (walnut) – and its own set of physical characteristics. For example, cherry has a
uniform, straight grain and naturally contains brown flecks. Maple sometimes has a “curly” or
“birds-eye” figure in the grain. Walnut produces a variety of wavy or curly patterns in the grain.
In addition to these natural variations, there are differences in color and graining because of the
way each piece of wood reacts to the various stains and finishes used in manufacturing. The beauty
of buying wood furnishings is that no two pieces are exactly the same. Even among “matched” chairs
in a dining set, there are variations in color and grain.
How is the piece constructed?
“Solid wood” means that the piece is made of solid boards, which may be softwood or hardwood
lumber. Sometimes several thinner boards are glued together to make the wood more stable and to
reduce the chance of warping. A block of wood consisting of several smaller pieces of wood glued
together also is considered solid wood. This block can be carved into different furniture components
such as table legs, chair backs or bedposts.
“Engineered wood” also is used in furniture construction. Engineered wood is made from slices of
wood (plywood) or the pieces of wood that remain after a tree is milled into lumber (particleboard or
“medium density fiberboard”). Furnishings made with engineered wood are sometimes described as
“all wood.”
Plywood panels often are used as back pieces for chests and cabinets. Bonding together thin slices of
wood creates plywood. Placing the slices at right angles makes the panel much more stable and
resistant to warping. Particleboard consists of chips of wood coated with glue and pressed into a
sheet. Particleboard is often used for table tops and the tops and sides of chests. Medium density
fiberboard, or MDF, is created by breaking down wood chips into fibers and mixing these with an
ultra-strong adhesive resin. When fused under intense heat and pressure, the resulting panel has
consistent, uniform strength, is resistant to warping, cracking and splitting, and has no knots or
other surface imperfections. MDF is used in all types of furniture.
Veneers are used in both “solid wood” and “all wood” construction. This refers to the application of
thin layers of surface wood on top of a solid wood, plywood or MDF core. Veneering affords
manufacturers the ability to match grain patterns or create intricate designs. Some of the most
expensive furniture is masterfully crafted using beautiful veneers.
Today’s technology has produced another alternative: an artificial laminate surface of plastic, foil or
paper printed or engraved to look like real wood. Furnishings made this way are easier to produce
and available at lower prices than furnishings constructed using genuine wood veneers. Also,
laminates eliminate the natural variation in color and graining found in furnishings made of solid
wood or wood veneers. While some consumers prefer the consistency in a laminate surface, others
may favor the unique variations of natural wood.
How is the furniture finished?
Clear finishes allow the wood’s natural markings and grain to show, while stains and painted
finishes alter the wood’s appearance. Some pieces have an elaborate finish achieved through many
layers of lacquer or paint applied to achieve a weathered or aged look. Others may feature a
gleaming, polished finish for a more contemporary look. Naturally, these more complex finishes add
significantly to the cost of the furniture.
Ask your retailer to explain signs or tags that refer to the finish. A piece described as having a
“cherry finish” may not necessarily be constructed of cherry wood. It may simply refer to the color of
the stain applied or even to the color of the artificial laminate surface.
How do I evaluate workmanship?
Wood furnishings are easily evaluated. Do doors and drawers open and close easily? Do they fit well?
Is the hardware attached securely and straight? Run your hand across the surface. is the finish free
of drips and bubbles? The piece should not wobble or creak.
Don’t be afraid to look closely and ask questions. Turn chairs upside down and examine the joints.
Are they snug and free of excess glue? Are drawer interiors smooth? How are drawer fronts
attached? Higher quality pieces will have “dovetail” joints in which wedge-shaped tenons on one side
fit into corresponding spaces on the other side to form interlocking joints. Look for support blocks on
drawer bottoms and “dust panels” between drawers.
When evaluating tables, you may need to get down on all fours to see whether corners are
reinforced and legs are securely attached. If you are considering a table with leaves, make sure to
have the opening and closing mechanism or technique demonstrated.
“Well-made furniture is easy to find in all price ranges and styles,” said Hirschhaut. “Educating
yourself before shopping will help ensure you get the best your budget will allow.”
The American Home Furnishings Alliance is headquartered in High Point, N.C. – the furniture capital
of the world – and represents more than 200 leading U.S. furniture manufacturers and 150 suppliers
to the industry worldwide.