| If you want your bedroom regal and elegant, you | | | | either of three - hard, soft or engineered. Hardwoods |
| can always count on solid wood furniture to give you | | | | are mahogany, oak, maple, birch, teak, walnut and |
| that distinct aura. But while it may be easy to | | | | exquisite cherry while softwoods would be fir, pine, |
| appreciate this type of home furnishing, it's not | | | | redwood and cedar. While softwoods can also make |
| something you can just bring home indiscriminately. | | | | quality furniture, they're easier to scratch and bend |
| There are, of course, things to look for in assessing | | | | compared to the hardwoods. Plywoods or engineered |
| whether or not a good-looking piece is actually worth | | | | woods are also quite popular and can be very strong |
| your praises. | | | | as they are made to withstand the tendency to split |
| From the outside, you'll first want to look at the | | | | or warp. Thus, they are widely considered for high |
| furniture's finish. This is a process that begins with | | | | quality and very attractive furniture these days. |
| sanding the wood which should make the piece | | | | Of course, when it comes to furniture quality, |
| smooth against your hand. When the sanding is done | | | | construction will always play a vital role. How a |
| against the natural grain of the wood, it ends up | | | | furniture piece is put together will always affect how |
| rough with dark lines. This stage is, thus, very | | | | it looks, how it functions and especially how long it |
| important because if it's done improperly, it would be | | | | lasts. Foremost in matters of construction quality |
| hard to apply the stain evenly. A good piece with a | | | | considerations are joinery and sturdiness. While these |
| good stain will then enhance the natural charm of the | | | | may sound complicated for those who have no |
| wood. In the end, it should look even in color with all | | | | working knowledge about carpentry, it will be enough |
| sides and ends in the same tone. The final step is | | | | to know how to test for these two. To know if a |
| applying the finish which can either be glossy or | | | | piece is sturdy enough, it shouldn't make those |
| matte. In both, the wood should only feel silky | | | | squeaky sounds when you try to shake it. As for the |
| smooth and look rich in color. Remember that | | | | joineries, take time to feel for bolts and screws and |
| high-quality furniture will always have its insides and | | | | dowels with your hand. Corner blocks are also |
| undersides finished to avoid shrinking or swelling as it | | | | important in making furniture stronger and more |
| reacts to temperature and humidity. | | | | stable. They don't necessarily have to be visible from |
| Another thing to look into when judging the value of | | | | the outside, but they have to be in there |
| wood furniture is the wood itself. This wood can be | | | | somewhere to provide basic support to the piece. |