Guide to Buying Wood Furniture

Wood furniture looks amazing and it lasts for many years. It is a natural product and it suits any home. If you choose the right piece you can end up with a family heirloom that will be treasured for generations to come.

Choosing good furniture is not that difficult if you know what to look for. At the lower end of the market you will find flat pack furniture which is made to sell at the lowest price point. This type of wooden furniture is fine if you want a short-term fix or if your budget will not stretch any higher but you are not going to end up with a family heirloom here!

Wood veneered furniture is a mixed bag. Some of it is low quality - a thin veneer of wood over weak chipboard, but some of the best furniture available is veneered so take this into account when shopping.

Solid wood furniture is built to last. It is strong and durable. It is a good choice. If you are on a budget, solid pine furniture is worth looking at.

Depending on what colours and patterns of wood you like you will be drawn to varieties. If dark colours are your thing you may like mahogany and if pale is more up your street you may like birch and pine. There is a big difference in the price of woods though - the rarer and more exotic they are the more expensive. You should also be aware of the ethics involved with wood - not all of it is grown and harvested in environmentally friendly ways so you are better off sticking to FSA approved sources.

It is also worth remembering that different woods have different inherent strength. Oak is very strong and a great choice.

If you are buying drawers, a mark of good furniture is a dust layer to stop dust from one drawer falling into another. Another good sign is dovetail joints because these are strong. The interlocking joints are what make dove tail so good.

You should also look at the finish of the wood. If it is sealed with a varnish or paint it will take more rough-and-tumble than something with a light wax. Remember to treat it accordingly.

Find out what you need to do to keep your wood in top condition before you make a purchase.

Obviously when buying any furniture you will need to make sure that you can get it into your house once it is out of the shop! Make sure you measure up...

Wood furniture is amazing, so get shopping today...