When it comes to choosing furniture, there are many factors to consider. You have to think about the style of the piece, the size, the color, the materials used, and how well it will fit into your home. But when you’re looking for heirloom quality furniture, there are some additional factors to consider. This blog post will discuss essential features that you should look for in heirloom-quality furniture.
Solid Wood Construction
This means hardwood and never veneer over plywood, particle board, or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Some builders do use quality softwood, such as cedar, depending on the type of furniture. When browsing for quality furniture online, it’s important to view the furniture in person before purchasing if at all possible. This way you can be sure it feels sturdy and durable enough for your needs before committing.
After you have a good idea of what type of wood construction is used, look at its finish. Is it varnished or waxed? If so, how thickly was it applied? Some finishes may be too thin for heirloom quality furniture, which may wear off over time. You can always reapply finish as needed, but it’s important to keep up with regular maintenance.
Finally, check the joints. Are they glued and dowelled together? Or are they screwed and nailed? Glued and dowelled joints are sturdier and will last longer than other types of joints.
Traditional Joinery
This means that the furniture has been joined together with mortise and tenon, dovetail, or rabbet joints. These joints are more difficult to execute than other methods, but they result in a much more substantial piece of furniture.
If you’re not familiar with these terms, mortise and tenon joints are the most common type of traditional joinery. It involves drilling a square hole into one piece of wood then inserting another piece with its end cut at an angle. The dovetail joint is similar to this but uses two angled cuts instead to interlock like fingers on both sides. The rabbet joint is made by cutting a rectangular groove into one piece of wood then fitting the other piece into it.
All three of these joints are very strong and will last for many years if properly executed. So, if you’re looking for heirloom-quality furniture, be sure to look for pieces that have traditional joinery.
Drawer Construction
This may seem like a minor detail, but the quality of drawers can make or break a piece of furniture in terms of durability and functionality. Drawers should have solid wood sides with dovetail joints at each end for strength and rigidity. They also need to be on full extension slides that allow them to open and close smoothly, even when fully loaded.
Ample Storage Space
If you’re purchasing a piece of furniture to store or display belongings, you’ll want something that offers a decent amount of space. This doesn’t just mean a lot of drawers. It also means adequate shelving, cubbies, and other storage options. After all, you want your new piece of furniture to do more than just look good; it needs to be functional as well.
Adequate Dust Protection
This is especially important if you suffer from allergies or asthma, because dust mites can trigger an attack. Look for pieces made with solid wood instead of particleboard or MDF, since these materials are more likely to contain dust mites than solid wood.
Keep these features in mind when shopping for your next piece of furniture, and you can be sure that you’re getting a high-quality product that will last for years. Amish furniture is some of the highest-quality furniture available, so if you want to be sure you’re purchasing heirloom-quality furniture, Amish-made pieces are a sure bet.
