When you’re looking for new furniture, you can get a lot of confusing advice. You can also find a variety of price points for similar products. And with so much of our shopping done online now, you don’t always have the luxury of touching, lifting, sitting, or generally judging the quality of a piece, but must rely on images, reviews, and company reputation when making a purchase decision. To help in your quest, here are some furniture myths that may help you narrow your selection.
Myth: High-quality furniture is always expensive.
Fact: Quality depends on materials and craftsmanship, not just the price tag. You can find well-made, durable pieces at various price points.
Myth: High-end designer furniture is always durable.
Fact: Some expensive furniture prioritizes aesthetics over a strong frame. Look for solid construction regardless of price.
Myth: Plywood is always a sign of low quality.
Fact: Plywood is a durable and stable wood that is often used in quality furniture for parts that need to resist warping, like the sides of dressers or shelving. Plywood is engineered by gluing together thin layers of wood veneer, which gives it strength and resistance to warping. In other words, as the name implies, plywood is wood.
Myth: If furniture ships flat, it is going to be a pain to assemble.
Fact: Some furniture ships better flat. Tables and desks with their legs fully attached are bulky, and damage, seen and unseen, can occur as pressure is put on the legs in transport. Rather than considering how an items ships, consider how it assembles. High quality, ship flat furniture will often use guides and inserts to insure fool-proof and easy assembly.
Myth: Children and pets mean you must buy cheap furniture.
Fact: High-quality furniture is built to withstand wear and tear. Investing in a durable, well-made piece can save money in the long run since you won’t have to replace it as often as cheap furniture.
Myth: Wrinkles occur when material has been upholstered incorrectly.
Fact: Wrinkles, often called comfort wrinkles, occur in leather because the material has to be upholstered in a way to allow the leather to stretch when sat upon. This is the correct way to manufacture a leather chair or accessory. If this process wasn’t followed and a manufacturer upholstered the leather too tightly, over time the seams would tear from the stress of being used.
Myth: Leather is hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
Fact: Leather is porous, and it breathes. It adapts to the temperature of its environment, so if the room is warm, then your leather chair will feel warm. When well looked after, leather is a durable material that ages well and lasts a long time.
