How to Identify Quality Furniture

Whether you're looking for bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, or living room furniture, it’s important to choose quality and durable pieces that will give you the best value for your money. Thankfully, there are some guidelines you can follow to identify high-quality furniture. Here are a few tips to follow the next time you visit a furniture store to buy a new piece. 

Strength

When shopping for furniture in a furniture store, it's important to assess the sturdiness and durability of the pieces. This involves checking for wobbliness, applying pressure, and testing the strength of drawers if applicable. For chairs or couches, sitting in them can reveal how they respond to weight. Low-quality items may wobble, bend, slide, or in the worst case break!

Material

When considering furniture, the choice of material significantly affects the longevity and appearance of the piece. For long-lasting furniture, solid wood is highly regarded due to its durability and timeless appeal. High-quality wood furniture can be identified by its smooth finish, natural grain, and substantial weight. Additionally, materials such as leather, glass, metal, and wicker are also known for their durability and ability to provide exceptional quality while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home decor.

How is it Made

Consider the craftsmanship and quality of the furniture construction. Look for sturdy joints without any gaps, such as dovetail, mortise and tenon, or tongue-and-groove joints. Additionally, check that any drawers open and close smoothly and are solidly constructed. Whether you're looking for bedroom furniture or living room furniture, always assess the overall appearance of the piece, including whether it sits level, if the upholstery is tightly secured, and if the finish is even. These factors can indicate quality craftsmanship compared to mass-produced factory furniture.

Weight

High-quality furniture pieces are typically constructed from dense, heavy materials like wood, metal, and glass. In contrast, lightweight furniture is often made from cheaper materials like plastic or engineered wood. While cheaper materials aren't inherently bad, they tend to have a shorter lifespan.

Fabric

Fabrics can be made from natural or synthetic fibers, each with its advantages. High-quality fabrics such as cotton, leather, and wool are known for their durability, while polyester is also a strong and durable option. Specifically, leather furniture is highly regarded for its resistance to cracking, sagging, and damage, making it a good option on sectional furniture and recliner chairs that are used daily. When purchasing fabric items, it's important to check the tag to see what blend of fabrics a piece is made of and to understand the proper care instructions.

Price

Quality furniture often comes with a higher price tag because it is crafted from expensive materials with great attention to detail. Make sure to assess the price of a piece and decide if it aligns with its construction and materials. If an item is priced high but is made from low-quality materials and poorly constructed, then it may not be worth the cost. Trust your judgment to determine if the furniture store price accurately reflects the quality and longevity of the piece.