We know, we know. They’re heavy, hard to maneuver, and can be incredibly expensive if bought brand new. But if you just took a bit of extra time and gave just a little bit more effort, we promise you’ll learn to love the timeless beauty of real wood furniture. Read on to learn why.
It’s Better Quality
Your IKEA tables and chairs are useful for easy transportation, which is helpful to renters or folks who tend to move around a lot. However, if you’re living somewhere longer term, it wouldn’t hurt to switch out that cheap wood substitute for the real thing. Real wood furniture is built to last, spanning multiple generations.
It Can Take A Beating
Speaking of it being built to last, you can do just about anything to a piece of real wood furniture, and it will happily maintain its structural integrity. You know what happens if a piece of cheap furniture gets wet - the particleboard starts to chip, the paint starts to bubble, and you end up with a pretty dinged-up dresser or side table.
Real wood, however, can be sanded, stained, stripped, painted, stripped again, and stained again, and still do just fine—as long as you’re doing it properly. Scratches, dents, and other wear and tear can easily be removed, unlike cheaper-made items.
This also allows you to paint or stain an item in your preferred color, so you get a fun art project as well!
It’s Better For The Planet
When you buy furniture that lasts a lifetime—or several lifetimes, you’re not tossing worn items into the landfill. Not to mention, solid wood often has minimal chemical processing, meaning it won’t give off harmful organic compounds within your home.
It’s Cheaper
Yes, it sucks to have to spend big bucks on a furniture item right now, but think long-term. If you buy a real wooden bed frame for $500, you won’t be spending a couple of thousand dollars on cheaply made bed frames for the rest of your life.
This can be difficult (who has savings anyway?) to go through at the start, but it will, in fact, make your life much cheaper down the road.
If you’re crafty or don’t have a lot to spend at the onset, you can also look at flea markets, garage sales, or on Facebook Marketplace for real wood items that need a little bit of love. These items are often much cheaper and let you have some creative freedom.
It’s Pretty!
Real wood products come with their own character, wouldn’t you agree? Every piece of wood is truly unique, with distinct markings and natural variations that you just don’t see on manufactured, wood-like furniture.
Even if you prefer a solid colour, wood tends to hold paint better than cardboard ever will. You know what we mean—that streaky, unfinished desk your friend decided to paint that they’re convinced looks good, but we all know it doesn’t.
Whether your preference is for natural varnished wood or a more solid, monotone look, real wood furniture will do a better job in the long run.
