How Is Heirloom Furniture Different From Other Furniture Types?

If you've ever had a piece of janky furniture that got nicked on the first touch or fell to pieces after you literally spent hours putting hundreds of tiny components together, you've felt the pain of cheap furniture. 

Heirloom furniture, on the other hand, is the furniture you could pass down to your kids, who give it to your grandkids, and so on. It's furniture done right the first time, so you don't have to worry about making trips to a donation center or the rubbish bin. It's furniture that's handcrafted, built with amazing-quality materials, and created to last generation after generation.

So how can you tell the difference between imposters and heirloom pieces? Let us show you the way.

What Is Heirloom Quality Furniture?

Don't be fooled by sky-high price tags. Heirloom furniture qualities go way beyond expense. Heirloom quality furniture reflects its name: it's furniture that should last for generations instead of a few years.

Furniture goes through a lot. It gets stuff placed on it, it gets moved around from room to room and home to home, and it needs to weather life's parties and messes. Impeccable handmade craftsmanship and the finest materials are the keys to long-lasting heirloom furniture characteristics. Here's what to look for. 

Craftsmanship

With heirloom furniture, you want each component to be put together so it's truly built to last. The joints should be both glued and screwed. The cheap stuff often features just one or the other. If you find that a table is off balance or that a chair's leg has gone wobbly, a cheap process is likely the culprit. 

Strength is also a craftsmanship consideration with heirloom furniture. You want heirloom furniture to stand the test of time. Scratches, saw marks, and gouge marks are a red flag that furniture is not heirloom-worthy. As heirloom furniture is passed down, it should retain the same pristine quality it had when you first got it. 

Assembly and Sanding

Did you know that weather can affect your furniture? Changes in temperature and moisture can alter the way wood behaves, which can wreak havoc on poorly constructed wood furniture. The wood in heirloom furniture is assembled in a way that allows for natural expansion and contraction. In particular, the direction of the wood grain should be moving in opposite directions. This keeps the piece of heirloom furniture in a state of dynamic tension that's able to withstand whatever life throws at you — or your furniture.

To bring out the luster of the wood and make it gleam for generations to come, heirloom furniture surfaces are properly sanded and finished. Then they can be expertly stained so that heat and moisture don't stand a chance against its durability.

Materials

You've heard that it's what's inside that counts, right? The same goes for furniture. Heirloom pieces should be solid wood furniture, made from wood like oak, mahogany, or cedar. 

Solid wood doesn't break easily like cheap materials, such as particle board, laminates, or plastics. Beware of pieces that use these knock-offs. Not only do they look less refined, but they're far less durable. 

Cheap furniture could even pose a threat to your family — and not just in terms of your taste and style reputation. Materials like faux wood and low-quality veneer can emit dangerous chemical fumes, putting your health at risk.

Get Furniture to Last a Lifetime — and Longer

Solid wood furniture looks elegant, it comes in a variety of styles, and it can be passed down to your beloved. You won't have to worry about noxious chemicals or construction or longevity. Heirloom furniture can be gifted and re-gifted time and time again. 

Come to Jerome's Furniture to check out heirloom pieces that are stylish, practical and valuable. By choosing high-quality heirloom furniture, you'll have pieces you can love for decades and beyond.