Being a smart furniture consumer

Smart consumerism is based on the principle of buying the best quality of good to meet your needs and budget. Saving up your money and buying a beautifully crafted piece of furniture out of durable materials will ultimately keep you from wasting money and time in the future. Plus, if you research and buy only quality goods, you won’t make impulse purchases.

An unclutterer is a smart consumer.

In September, Karawynn Long (a guest author on the website Get Rich Slowly), posted the informative article “Furniture Shopping Secrets: How To Tell Superior from Shoddy.” This article helps anyone shopping for furniture to be an informed consumer. And, when it comes to being a smart consumer, knowledge is essential.

A brief selection of the text:

Wood furniture — composition
I used to think hardwoods were hard and softwoods were soft. Silly me! Actually, hardwood just means ‘from a deciduous tree’ and softwood means ‘from a coniferous tree’, and some hardwoods (like aspen) are softer than some softwoods. What you want on exposed surfaces is a wood that’s reasonably scratch-resistant. You can test this easily enough by attempting to draw a thin line with your fingernail across the wood; if it makes a visible dent (use a flashlight here if necessary) you know it won’t stand up to much use.

Structurally, any kind of solid wood or sturdy plywood will do the trick. If plywood, look for at least nine layers. Check the wood for knots, even on unexposed pieces; all knots are susceptible to cracks. Some woods, like pine, are ‘knottier’ than others, and therefore less desirable. Avoid particleboard, pressed wood, or fiberboard.

Veneers — a thin piece of premium wood covering a lower-quality piece of wood — are often used even in very high-quality furniture. As long as the base piece is solid wood or plywood, the only drawback to veneer is that it limits the number of times an item can be refinished.

The article discusses composition and construction of wood and upholstered furniture and includes a quick furniture checklist to have with you when shopping. Remember: informed consumers are smart consumers, and unclutterers are smart consumers.

Posted by Erin on Oct 6, 2009 | Comments

8 comments posted

  1. Posted by Robyn - 10/06/2009

    As I was reading this, I was reminded of a post Leo Babauta (from ZenHabits) has over at http://mnmlist.com/the-true-cost-of-stuff/ :

    “An object isn’t born in the store. It is born in the woods (if it is wood), in the mines (if it’s metal), in the depths of the world (in the case of petroleum-based products such as plastics, synthetic textiles and such), or perhaps all three places and more if it’s a combination of materials. It’s born when those natural resources are mined or harvested (at great cost and great cost to the environment), and then hauled to a factory somewhere, a factory that pollutes, inevitably. It’s shaped and shifted into its final form (often in various factories), then shipped to various distribution systems and finally to the retailer.

    I say finally, but it’s far from final. The life of this object has just begun to enter our lives, even though we’ve already paid for the destruction of our Earth just to own it.”

    I don’t want to be a downer here, but I do think it’s important to remember there are other costs besides dollars when we buy furniture or anything. I’m learning this lesson myself.

    Ironically I just sold a big reading chair on Craigslist after being inspired by Unclutterer (and other how live with less sites). It feels so good to have more room in my little condo.

  2. Posted by Erin Doland - 10/06/2009

    @Robyn — If the first time you buy something, you buy a quality product, then you don’t have to replace it. Ultimately, you put less strain upon the environment. For example, one quality chair can last you a lifetime. A series of shoddy chairs will mean that you put a strain upon the environment every time you have to replace it. It’s an environmentally responsible action to purchase quality goods.

  3. Posted by JJ - 10/06/2009

    My parents had the same trestle style table and benches for at least 20 years. They purchased a new table and chairs when all of the children were gone; they then needed a table that was smaller for everyday use, but had expansion leaves for family gatherings. The old table was a craft/utility table for years, and is now in my garage awaiting refinishing and some new benches to be used in my dining room.

    When buying furniture you should also use the same rule of thumb as buying new clothing. Buy quality and mostly in a style that won’t be obsolete the moment you leave the store. That way, you won’t have that extremely high quality circular neon orange leather sectional sofa that you can’t stand to look at for years, or replace at the first opportune moment.

  4. Posted by Sylvia - 10/06/2009

    I agree with Erin, sturdy, well made (and well cared for) furniture should last and last whereas a cheaply made piece will just need to be replaced later. This just adds to more and more waste.
    This article made me think, I don’t think we have a new piece of furniture in our whole house! Everything is 1940s – 60s and is very well made, I expect it to last for years to come. I guess it helps that my husband is a furniture wizard and can bring almost anything back to life :) http://www.toshmahal.com.
    Another tip, seek out your local refinisher to restore your furniture rather than tossing it out and buying new.

  5. Posted by gypsy packer - 10/07/2009

    Softwoods should be avoided, if at all possible. They are evergreen, but they also tend to split along the grain. They are farmed woods, and most are harvested young and sappy. I, personally, love the look of mid-century cedar furniture, but it’s getting rare precisely because cedar is among the easiest wood to split.

    Also note the difference between South American mahogany and Philippine (lauan) mahogany. Lauan is another softwood which splits and shreds; South American mahogany is one of the most durable of woods. Unfortunately, it’s also a rain forest wood, so look for it secondhand and, if possible, as a solid rather than a veneer.

    The primary objection to veneers in older furniture is that they were glued with water-soluble hide glues, which loosen in humid conditions. If you wish to view genuinely fine veneering, check the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s furniture collection.

    Particle boards will swell and ruin the applied finish when exposed to moisture, and this includes the occasional spilled drink. Avoid the stuff whenever possible. Even laminate floors are not immune.

  6. Posted by Battra92 - 10/08/2009

    If given the choice I’d furnish my home with quality craftsman made antiques. This includes things like Shaker made chairs and tables or quality Victorian pieces.

    My girlfriend and I have discussed that when we build a home together we should check places like auctions, flea markets or even new sources like your local Mennonites or Amish cabinetmakers. Honestly, you may even be able to find some

    I don’t care about the environment or anything (I’m one of those people who know the secret about trees – they grow back) but I do believe in the notion of buying once and buying for a lifetime and then letting your kids sell it off to buy Ikea garbage. Less waste that way.

  7. Posted by Jenna - 10/09/2009

    Interested in learning about another way to shop online? Check out http://www.cafegive.com, where a portion of every purchase goes directly to supporting the non-profits you love. How sweet is that? Get what you need and help make the world a better place. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. We have great home decorations section as well. Great for the holidays!

  8. Posted by Daniel Ho - 10/11/2009

    As an aside, I’ve learned the opposite: get acceptable quality furniture of acceptable quality that’s as durable as necessary, but shouldn’t last a lifetime.
    I learned that lesson from my parents, who bought excellent quality furniture…of the wrong style! That means you have to put up with ugliness forever because you can’t wear it out, and yet feel guilty about wanting to get rid of it so you can get modern stuff instead.
    Life is transitory, so furniture should be the same.

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