Where to Find Solid Wood Furniture That’s Worth the Money

Opting for furniture crafted from authentic wood such as maple, oak, or solid pine guarantees durability and longevity unlike those utilizing engineered wood materials. Despite the potentially higher cost of solid wood furnishings, choosing to invest in them is typically a wise decision.

By gaining knowledge about solid woods, you will develop the ability to distinguish quality wood furniture that is built to last.

This guide will give you an introduction to the fundamentals of solid wood, followed by a display of exceptional brands and superior furniture items that are worth the investment.

What is Solid Wood Furniture?

What precisely constitutes solid wood furniture?

The co-founder of Fyrn, David Charne, provided us with a concise definition of solid wood furniture: it pertains to furniture crafted from genuine, natural hardwood rather than synthetic materials like particle board or plastics.

Make sure to choose items that you are contemplating that can endure for many years.

Bryan Ferris, a custom furniture builder and designer in San Diego, California, clarified that solid wood furniture is constructed primarily with solid wood and does not incorporate any plywood or fiberboard.

Feriss explains that solid wood furniture is typically crafted using primarily wood joinery and minimal use of screws and nails due to their tendency to deteriorate over time. A desirable solid wood furniture item should be of high quality and endure for generations as an heirloom piece.

6 Places to Buy Solid Wood Furniture

1. Fyrn

Fyrn, a creation of Ros Broughton and co-founder David Charne, has gained a reputation for its remarkable stools and dining chairs. The objective of Fyrn’s establishment was to produce durable furniture that can endure a lifetime, using solid, non-chemically treated wood that minimizes waste and has a potential lifespan of multiple generations.

Fyrn endeavors to extend the lifespan of each of their furniture items and prevent them from ending up in the landfill. They achieve this through various measures such as a free in-home trial, a buy-back policy, and an exchange program. Additionally, all components of Fyrn products are entirely replaceable and repairable for life.

2. Maiden Home

Maiden Home provides high-quality, contemporary furniture designed to suit opulent modern houses. The brand ensures top-notch standards with artisan-made furniture crafted by skilled professionals in the US. Each piece undergoes rigorous quality checks before being handed over to the customer.

Maiden Home endeavors to provide a unique combination of coziness, excellence, and aesthetics. Furthermore, they furnish a gratis white-glove delivery and shipping system that guarantees contentment.

3. Burrow

Burrow was established with the intention of making the furniture purchasing procedure easier. They specialize in living room furniture and aim to offer superior quality pieces at affordable prices. By providing direct delivery to customers, they are able to reduce expenses, and every furniture item is crafted from sustainably sourced hardwood, ensuring long-term satisfaction.

4. Inside Weather

Inside Weather is committed to providing custom furniture that is both affordable and of high quality. The company’s focus is on ensuring that every customer’s preferences are met. All furniture items can be customized to suit the customer’s home decor and style preferences. Moreover, Inside Weather products are made in the USA and produced on order, eliminating the need for retail and warehouse costs. This strategy is aimed at enabling customers to save on quality furniture purchases.

5. Interior Define

Interior Define was founded with the intention of enhancing the shopping experience for sofas, by removing the difficulty of discovering reasonably priced, well-made furniture that is also able to be personalized. Subsequently, the company has broadened its scope to furnish an assortment of home decorations and amenities. The objective of the brand is to empower you, the purchaser, to be the decision-maker. Moreover, you can receive one-on-one design guidance from experts to ensure satisfaction.

6. Crate&Barrel

Providing excellent products, classic fashion, and distinctive design to its customers, Crate&Barrel caters to both online and in-store shoppers. Their architectural appearance is captivating, and they prioritize their clientele’s satisfaction, leading to a bustling online community. The community aims to enable as many individuals as possible to cherish all the moments they spend in their dwellings.

7. Floyd

From 2013 onward, Floyd has made a name for itself on the internet as a brand that specializes in durable, classic furniture. Originally based in Detroit, the company now offers a range of furniture items online – from lounge pieces like couches and low tables to bedroom necessities like their trendy, adaptable bed frames. Their website is user-friendly and packed with options, including smaller decor items like rugs and accent pillows.

8. Stickley

Stickley, a renowned furniture manufacturer established in 1900, has been a steadfast producer of American-made furniture. The brand’s exceptional reputation stems from the genuine premium hardwoods used to craft their pieces, which are synonymous with their integrity and honor. With over 90 percent of their furniture made in New York and North Carolina, Stickley offers a wide range of traditional and modern-looking designs, such as the Round Pedestal Dining Table or the Walnut Grove Upholstered Bed. Whether you’re decorating your bedroom, living room, dining room, or office, Stickley provides outstanding hardwood furniture to meet your requirements.

9. The Joinery

The Joinery was established in 1982 as a solitary enterprise that refurbished and repaired furniture. Over the years, the company has undergone significant growth. Its primary focus is the utilization of joinery methods for producing long-lasting high-grade furniture, in line with its name. Despite being a larger organization, The Joinery still counts on a single craftsman in Portland, Oregon, who employs hardwoods to craft robust furniture. A user-friendly website allows for easy navigation of the available furniture.

10. Vaughan-Bassett

Having been in existence for more than a century, Vaughan-Bassett is renowned for producing furniture that is built to withstand the test of time. Originally established by two individuals hailing from Bassett, Virginia, the company now boasts of having over 500 skilled craftsmen working in factories situated in Galax, Virginia. A key feature of the brand is their utilization of wood solids and veneers obtained from trees grown near certain company plants, with primary materials being pine, oak, maple, cherry, ash, poplar, birch, and beech. The company places great value on the durability of their products and therefore ensures that details such as the drawers of dressers are constructed with French dovetail techniques.

11. Allform

Allform distinguishes itself from other furniture brands on our list by focusing mainly on sofas and chairs, which is reflected in the exceptional quality of their finished products. In addition to providing employment to American artisans, the company has partnered with a multi-generational family-owned facility in North Carolina. Allform is committed to using recycled materials in the production of its products, including the 3-Seat Sofa. The sofas are designed with modularity in mind and feature simple yet timeless aesthetics. Although the color palette leans towards basic and neutral tones, customers can opt for brighter hues such as red to add a touch of vibrancy.

12. Vermont Woods Studio

Established in Vermont back in 2005, Vermont Woods Studios aimed at counterbalancing the depletion of the rainforest by procuring furniture and raw materials directly from its local area. The business collaborates with autonomous furniture craftsmen all over Vermont and vends its merchandise either online or in-person at its Stonehurst showroom. Apart from marketing top-grade wooden furniture derived from sustainable sources, the label has considerably contributed to ecological conservation by sowing more than 200,000 trees to help rebuild the Amazon forest.

13. Burrow

After encountering unsatisfactory experiences with furniture brands that were lacking quality, affordability, and convenience, the creators of Burrow decided to introduce a fresh furniture line that encompasses all of these features. The brand prioritizes forward-thinking furniture that is designed with modularity in mind, exemplified by the Block Nomad Sofa, which makes moving and rearranging furniture more efficient. Consequently, Burrow provides complimentary shipping, effortless portability, effortless assembly, and the opportunity to expand your furniture collection over time. Burrow’s furniture aligns with the mid-century modern style and is available in more natural hues. Although the furniture necessitates assembly, the procedure is relatively straightforward.

14. Apt2B

We suggest checking out Apt2B if you desire contemporary American-made furniture. Established in 2010, the company aimed to create well-crafted pieces that were affordable, and they have thrived ever since. Their offerings include mid-century modern items such as the Rollins Coffee Table, as well as transitional, industrial, glam, and “Scandifornian” designs. The furniture created in the USA, such as the Huxley chair and Magnolia 3-piece sectional, are clearly labeled. A large percentage of their upholstered furniture is made at their downtown LA factory.

15. AllModern

AllModern specializes in modern furniture that boasts contemporary features and details. Since its establishment in 2006, the brand has established a reputation for offering affordable yet stylish options. Its extensive collection ranges from the chic Geo Upholstered Sofa to tufted area rugs. Although the company has only two physical stores located in Massachusetts, its website is user-friendly and offers a vast selection of products with thousands of reviews. Furthermore, the majority of its furniture is American-made in the North Carolina mountains, but do verify the product details to confirm if the item is imported or not.

What to Look for in Solid Wood Furniture

As a lot of buyers tend to make their purchases primarily through online channels, it is advisable to look for indications of the standard of an item before making a purchase.

Solid wood furniture is constructed from solid pieces of wood, rather than a hardwood veneer over an MDF board, and is typically more costly and heavier compared to its veneer and MDF alternatives. According to Betsy Moyer, Co-Founder of Retreat, solid wood furniture is usually crafted with exquisite joinery to guarantee its durability for numerous generations, which is why it is referred to as heirloom quality.

Moyer points out that Walnut, Oak, Maple, Hickory, and Teak are popular types of hardwoods utilized in furniture making (and also for kitchen cabinetry). They usually come with a higher price tag compared to softwoods, and this is justified.

The Difference Between Softwood and Hardwood

When looking for furniture made from solid wood, you may encounter options made from either hardwood or softwood. Understanding which one suits you better will aid in making the correct decision.

Living Cozy was informed by Brianna Hill, the founder of Over The Hill Designs, that despite its higher cost, hardwood furniture offers advantages that justify its additional expense.

According to Hill, hard woods have two advantages – exceptional durability and resilience resulting in low maintenance requirements, and their replenishable nature. This implies that these woods can be replanted, thereby making a constructive contribution to the environment.

In many cases, hardwood furniture has a longer lifespan and can offer several years of pleasure. Additionally, if it incurs scratches or damage, a professional can recondition the surface and revive the furniture, which saves you money and prevents it from being discarded. Softwood, on the other hand, does not always have this option available.

Bryan Ferris explained that hardwood is characterized by its density, which is influenced by the growth of the tree. He added that in the United States, several domestic hardwoods like oak, walnut, cherry, maple, alder, and hickory serve as the fundamental materials for making furniture. Additionally, some imported hardwoods such as Sapele, teak, and mahogany are also used.

“Ferris remarked on the durability and long-lasting quality of hardwood furniture, while noting that softwoods such as pine, cedar, and redwood are more prone to denting and scratching. While it is possible to create furniture from softwoods, it is typically not perceived as high-quality due to this tendency.”