Different Types of Wooden Furniture

There are as many types of wood furniture as there are types of trees. Here’s a look at some of the more common types of wood used to make furniture and what you should consider when making your decision of what type of wood furniture to buy.

Hardwood vs. Softwood

While you might assume that hardwood is talking about the strength of the wood when talking about trees, hardwood and softwood are actually separated by the types of leaves they have and whether or not the tree sheds its foliage in Autumn and Winter.

Hardwood trees generally have large, broad leaves and grow in tropical or temperate regions. They usually lose their leaves sometime during the year.

Softwood trees refer to those trees that keep their leaves (their green) all year around.

Some types of hardwood trees used for furniture include Oak, Mahogany, Walnut, Poplar, Cherry and Maple. Some types of softwood trees include Pine, Ceder, Redwood and Cypress.

You might think that hardwood trees make better furniture, but that’s not always the case. Depending on how the wood is treated, some softwood trees can actually provide more strength than their hardwood counterparts.

All Wood and Wood Veneers

Beyond these two types of wood used for furniture construction, you should also take into consideration how the furniture was created. While it might appear that something is made out of Mahogany, you’ll want to make sure that it’s “real Mahogany” and not just Mahogany on the outside and a cheaper wood on the inside.

Sometimes to keep costs down, furniture makers will use a veneer or covering of more expensive wood (to make it look nice), but use a cheaper wood material on the inside. While you might think you’re saving money by going this route (who’s gonna know it’s not a solid oak entertainment center?), there are other things you should take into consideration.

For one, using “true wood” makes the furniture more durable. More durable furniture lasts longer and has a better chance of retaining its value or even increasing in value as the years pass. So, while it may be a little more expensive in the short term, buying real wood furniture is actually a sound, stable investment.

Buying Wood Furniture

There are a lot of things to consider when deciding on which wood furniture to buy, but if you do your homework and learn what to look for, buying wood furniture can be a wise and profitable decision. If you buy good, quality wood furniture, you’ll have it around for years to come and might have something to pass on to your children.

These tips on types of wood used in furniture making should help you decide which type of wood furniture is best for you.