How to Buy Quality Furniture Made in the USA

Believe it or not, Restoration Hardware isn't the only place you can get furniture for your home. Pieces of furniture made in the USA are still found in high numbers, and are both high-quality and durable.

Of course, not every piece of furniture that's made in the States fits that profile.

As a result, buyers must learn how to weed out bad apples in order to find gold. Doing so requires that they do more than just superficially observe the pieces of furniture they consider purchasing.

Buyers must go into the buying process ready to scrutinize every little detail.

Follow along as we take you through the dos and don'ts of buying quality furniture that was made in the land of the free.

Construction

When shopping for furniture, you're likely to come across a piece that seems perfect for you and your family. Perhaps it'll be homier than anything you could have hoped for. Maybe its color will blend well with the furniture you have back home.

Don't be fooled by its charm, though. How the piece is made is immensely important. The safety of your family does, after all, depend on the make. 

That said, let's go over some expectations you should have your furniture's construction.

Storage

At the end of the day, most pieces of furniture have a practical use. One of the most common ways in which we use furniture, for example, is for storage.

Measuring a piece of furniture's usefulness in this area is easy. The amount of space it provides should be ample, and the storage space should be easily accessible.

Pay close attention to how the nuts, bolts, and glue affect how the piece functions. If, for instance, you have a hard time opening a drawer on a dresser, don't buy the piece. You don't want to struggle with opening and closing the drawer every time you get dressed.

Stability & Durability

There are horror stories about people who completely overlooked small details which were crucial to a piece's stability and durability. Unfortunately, some of these people paid for their mistakes with their lives. Others were luckier, but they still had some pretty close calls.

Needless to say, you don't want to end up like those people. You can avoid doing so by investigating all a piece's crucial areas before buying it.

If you're buying a chair, for example, check the legs for sturdiness. You should also look for visible signs of distress of amateurish construction. There shouldn't be any nuts or screws sticking out.

You might also want to make sure that it's possible to secure certain pieces to the wall. 

Material

From woods to upholstery, you'll find a wide array of materials used in furniture. Not all materials, though, are created equal.

As a result, we'd like to educate you about the different types of materials you'll encounter and how to decide between them.

Woods

There are several types of woods on the market. That said, we're focusing on 3 types here: composite woods, veneers, and solid woods.

Composite Woods

Technically speaking, composite wood isn't wood. It has wood in it, but it's actually a mixture of wood and plastic. Manufacturers also throw a binding agent in to hold everything together.

It's stronger than some other types of wood. It is also, consequently, more durable than some of the alternatives. 

Veneers

Veneers are thin cuts of wood which are used to cover panels. You frequently see them on doors, cabinets, and sometimes even floors. 

Veneers are somewhat cheap. They are susceptible, however, to peeling and bubbling. Consequently, when they do need repairs, replacing them altogether tends to be easier than repairing them.

Solid Wood

Solid hardwood furniture made in the USA, as in most other places, will cost the most as a buyer. It is the most expensive type of wood on this list.

The expense is worth it in most cases. It is the most durable and can last for generations. This longevity makes the cost over time easily the most affordable option.  Solid wood's uniformity also makes it easier to repair than composites and veneers.

Further still, solid hardwood provides a high-quality look that is unmatched by veneers and composite woods. Because solid wood ages well, that quality and beauty lasts for ages.

Upholstery

Upholstery can make or break a sofa or chair cushion. The type of upholstery you purchase, though, should depend on your lifestyle and preferences.

Fortunately, furniture made in the USA incorporates a plethora of different fabrics. Those fabrics include:

Cotton

Cotton is one of the strongest fabrics available to buyers. Not only is it strong, but it is easier to dye than many other fabrics. This makes it extremely versatile.

Compared to some other fabrics, it is also rather inexpensive.

Silk

Silk is a beautiful fabric that can have a bit of sheen to it. Despite its beauty, however, it is not as tough as other fabrics. 

It is easily damaged, for instance, by the sun. That said, if you want furniture for a patio or sunny room, silk might not be ideal.

Linen

Linen isn't necessarily as durable as cotton, but its stain resistance makes it appealing to people with children or pets. Linen is, however, a little wrinklier than some other fabrics. As a result, linen is a more stylistic choice (rather than a practical one) for some people.

Other Fabrics

There are more fabrics than we can actually list here. We didn't even get around to covering, for example, popular fabrics such as wool and nylon. Having said as much, we recommend that you look at a detailed fabric guide to learn more about fabrics or visiting Heartland Fabrics to view all of our fabric choices.

Consider Buying Some Furniture Made In the USA

As we said before, furniture made in the USA is high-quality and stylish. You do, however, have to vet your future furniture carefully. It won't just fall into your lap.

Because we want you to get a head start on your search, we recommend that you start by looking at some of our wood samples. We have a nice variety of stains, and they complement a variety of different furniture arrangements.

After you've browsed our selection, consider giving us a call or contacting us via email. We'd be more than willing to help you plan out your next design.