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Wooden furniture can be anything and everything: warm, elegant, cozy, traditional, modern, simple, intricate, or anything in between. It fits naturally in any living space, making it a wise decorating investment. In addition to running the gamut of style, wooden furniture also comes in a wide range of quality, along with a wide range of prices. So how do you spot quality before you pay up? Observe for the following the next time you shop for wooden furniture, whether it's from a specialty retailer or a swap meet:

WOOD.

Furniture is made of either solid wood or wood veneers(thin layers of wood). Veneer is usually of a lower quality than solid wood, but can be high quality when used to make intricate designs. High quality furniture is often made of deciduous trees, which are generally harder woods. These include ash, beech, birch, cherry, mahogany, maple, oak, pecan, poplar, teak, and walnut. Furniture made of coniferous trees, such as pine, cedar, and redwood, can be high quality, but tend to be much softer and scratch and dent more easily.

CONSTRUCTION.

A good place to start when examining the construction of a piece of furniture is the joints. There are a wide variety of joints used in furniture construction, but some are better than others. High quality furniture will have the wood pieces joined through some kind of interlocking mechanism: mortise and tenon (socket and peg), doweling (wooden pin inserted into drilled holes), tongue and groove (wooden lip inserted into a groove), and dovetailing (wooden pins that are wider at the end and fitted into corresponding sockets).

Pieces will be securely attached to one another. Give the furniture a good shake; there shouldn't be any squeaking, twisting, movement, or noise. Look at the back of the piece, as well as the hidden parts of the furniture. High quality pieces will be smooth and fitted even where no one will see. Doors and drawers should open and close smoothly and be flush when closed.

FINISH.

Wooden furniture should be sanded evenly for a smooth feel. Stain can change the look of the wood by adding color or bringing out the natural beauty of the wood. Either way, the stain should be evenly applied, without streaks or blotches. The finish ought to be even as well, free from cloudiness, roughness, bubbles, or other imperfections. It should be clear and lustrous, allowing the beauty of the wood to show through while protecting the furniture.

LABEL.

If there is a label, it can give you information that is not obvious by looking at the furniture. Pieces labeled 'genuine' are made of the actual wood named. 'Solid' denotes a non-veneer or non-plywood piece. Furniture that is painted to mimic a certain wood's finish will be labeled 'imitation.'

Also, be wary of a label that simply says, 'Maple.' This can mean that the piece is of a different wood with a maple stain. Be aware, too, that 'Oak Finish' can mean that a piece is finished to look like oak, not that it is made of oak. Ask a sales associate if you are unsure about a piece of furniture.

Quality wooden furniture can be easy to spot. Whether you are buying a brand new hutch, or a set of chairs from a garage sale, following these tips will ensure you'll find a piece to enjoy for years to come.

Learn more about this author, Meredith D. Burt.
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