Five Tips For Identifying Quality Furniture

Too often in today’s furniture world; hidden behind a façade of stylish designs, trendy colors, and vibrant fabrics; are inferior materials and poor construction techniques. While the price tag may look attractive, remember that you get what you pay for.

Here are five of our top tips to help you make an informed decision on your next furniture purchase.

Tip #1 – Check the Joints

Check the construction of the joints. The easiest way to do this is to look at the outside of the drawer boxes. Are the drawers stapled together? If so, it’s time to move on to another piece. A quality piece of furniture will have dovetail joints on the corners. Some manufacturers will dovetail the front of the drawer box (where you look) and staple the back together. So it’s a good idea to pull the drawer all the way out and see if all four sides are dovetailed.

How are the side panels fastened? Is there glue or nails visible? If so, then this piece was not designed for a long lifespan. While generally not visible, quality furniture is constructed with mortise and tenon joints. This type of joint construction is strong, durable, and will stand the test of time. If you’re not sure how the piece is constructed, just ask the sales associate for clarification. If the piece is quality crafted, the sales associate will be happy to answer your questions.

How are the side panels fastened? Is there glue or nails visible? If so, then this piece was not designed for a long lifespan. While generally not visible, quality furniture is constructed with mortise and tenon joints. This type of joint construction is strong, durable, and will stand the test of time. If you’re not sure how the piece is constructed, just ask the sales associate for clarification. If the piece is quality crafted, the sales associate will be happy to answer your questions.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Check the drawer boxes to see if they utilize dovetailed joints.

Quality drawers feature dovetailed corners.

Tip #2 – Where Is It Made?

The location in which a piece of furniture was made is a key indicator of how well it’s made. If the piece was imported from one of the typical import countries, then it was made flat-pack for economical shipping. Flat-pack furniture ships nicely, but it will not hold up in the long run.

Almost all solid wood furniture sold in the USA is built right here in the USA – much of it in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. Quality crafted furniture requires special packing and shipping methods to transport, but it will last for a long time – possibly generations.

If you don’t know where an item is made, just ask the sales associate or look the manufacturer up online.

KEY TAKEAWAY: If an item was built overseas, it probably isn’t made with longevity in mind.

Tip #3 – Try It Out

Go ahead. Sit on the recliner. Open the cabinet doors. Try the dresser drawers out. Give the desk chair a spin. Do the mechanisms work smoothly? Do the drawers open noisily? Are there any creaks when operating it? If a piece in a showroom has defects, it’s more than likely that those same defects are present in the piece that will be delivered to your house.

A quality piece of furniture will work smoothly every time with no squeaks or bumps. Moving parts wear out over time, so minor defects will only get worse as time goes by.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Try a piece of furniture out before you purchase it to make sure everything works smoothly and quietly.

Don't be afraid to try out the furniture before purchasing.

Tip #4 – Is It Solid Wood?

Most mass-produced furniture on the market today is built from pressboard, particle board, or veneers. This makes an economical price point, but the piece will show wear quickly. Solid wood furniture is more expensive, but it is what creates heirloom-quality pieces.

How do you tell the difference between real wood and something of lesser quality? On a poor-quality piece, you may notice that the grain of the wood doesn’t consistently match. Or you might notice that the pattern of the wood grain is repeated in various places. Uneven grain patterns are a mark of inferior materials.

In contrast, solid wood furniture has a never-repeated grain pattern that goes all the way through the wood. Solid wood is durable, long-lasting, and is superior in longevity to any manmade replica.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Don’t waste your time on pieces built from particle board or veneers.

Choosing carefully the first time will prevent the expense and frustration of replacing your furniture in the near future.

Tip #5 – What do you think of the salesperson?

Since people buying quality furniture tend to ask many more questions than those who are buying simply for a cheap price, the salesperson should have helpful answers for all your questions. They should know how the piece is constructed and where it’s made. They should also be able to identify various wood species and explain the differences between them. Plus, since they work with furniture designs and colors all day, every day; they can also provide helpful tips and suggestions on what might work with your décor.

If the salesperson can’t easily answer your questions or vaguely addresses them before changing the subject; it’s time to move on to someone who is more passionate about what they do. A good salesperson will offer helpful information and will never pressure you into making a snap decision.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Quality salespeople sell quality furniture.

Here at Hearthside, we are happy to answer your questions – all of them. We offer only high-quality furniture – furniture we’re not afraid to show you. Plus, with close relationships with many of the craftsmen we work with, we can provide you with “behind the scenes” specifics on the piece you’re looking at.

Stop in today! We’d love to meet you.