The Advantages and Disadvantages of Wooden Furniture for Your Home and Family

A friend’s eldest son recently went off to college. Like a lot of young men, he immediately spent too much money on a new top-of-the-line television. He purchased a cheap stand for it online, but after only a few weeks, it began to wobble. When he returned home for a break, he asked his parents if they’d mind parting with a low wooden bookcase from the family room. The bookcase had survived his entire childhood and adolescence and the preschool years of his two younger sisters; it could certainly stand up to the weight of his new TV. It was several decades old, but the finish still looked pretty good, give or take a few scratches, and the bookcase could stand without sagging, leaning, or wobbling.

My friend’s story demonstrates both the advantages and disadvantages of wooden furniture. Quality wood furniture is stronger than furniture that comes packed flat in a box, and it will last for years. It’ll also look much better for much longer than cheaply-made furniture, like the kind that consists of a thin veneer of hardwood affixed to a lighter and less expensive wood like plywood. If the finish of wood furniture isn’t maintained, it can suffer damage or wear off over time, but a skilled woodworker can always return it to like-new condition.

Preview
$2449
Lake House Platform Bed
Customize Browse Beds

The Advantages of Wooden Furniture

The most practical advantage of wood furniture is its strength. Hardwood tabletops, desktops, and shelves won’t sag over time the way cheaper woods like plywood, particleboard, and fiberboard can. It can maintain that strength for decades—century-old furniture is routinely found in usable condition in attics and basements. The bookcase my friend’s son made off with, for instance, was originally handed down to the family from an elderly aunt. High-quality furniture retains its value, too: Resold heirloom-quality wood furniture can often command a premium price.

The greatest advantage of wooden furniture, though, lies in its enduring look and appeal. The grain and tones of genuine hardwood bring warmth and character to any room. When finished correctly, solid wood has a luster that can’t be matched by a veneer. Even when the finish of wood furniture isn’t properly maintained, it still looks attractive. It’s why shabby chic furniture with a distressed finish is a part of the modern rustic look, which continues to grow in popularity. My friend’s old bookcase, for example, currently lends a stately charm to his son’s dorm room.

Thanks to its lasting strength and enduring beauty, damaged hardwood furniture can usually be fully repaired or restored with the right tools and skills. Finished wood can withstand years of wear and tear from even the most rambunctious family—scratches and dents from careless teenagers, scribbles from crayon-wielding toddlers, spilled glue from craft projects gone wrong, and more. Scratches and scuff marks can be sanded out; the old finish can be removed and replaced with a new one. However, despite all the benefits, wood furniture comes with some disadvantages.

The Disadvantages of Wooden Furniture

When my friend’s son moved to a new dormitory, it took two people to carry his improvised TV stand across campus. Wood furniture’s strength, stability, and durability come at a price: It’s heavy. Other disadvantages to wood furniture include the following:

Wood is vulnerable to water. Moisture can damage wood finishes and soak into the wood underneath, causing it to split and swell.

Ultraviolet light can change wood’s color and damage its surface. In a way that’s similar to the effect sunlight has on skin, sunlight can break apart chemical bonds in wood and cause the surface to change colors. If you’re not among the wood furniture owners who find this kind of discoloration attractive, a skilled craftsman can restore an old finish to return the color to its original hue. Wood furniture with a durable and protective topcoat over the finish is likely to resist discoloration over time.

Finishes can be scratched or damaged by sharp objects. While the topcoat should make your furniture resistant to damage caused by everyday use, sharp or heavy objects may scratch the finish, which could expose the wood underneath. Check to see if your warranty covers repairs for accidental damage.

Repairing damage requires patience and skill. Fixing scratches on a wood surface requires a craftsman’s touch; sanding or removing stains requires patience, care, and attention to detail.

The strength of hardwood makes it ideal for use in furniture. It’ll stand up to considerable abuse, and damage can often be repaired or restored. To get the most value from your wood furniture, make sure to always purchase quality, high-end furniture made from solid hardwood.

Preview
$2289
Lake House Dresser
Customize Browse Dressers

Maximizing the Advantages of Wood Furniture for Your Home

Skilled woodworkers can look at a halved log of hardwood and see the graceful lines of a farmhouse kitchen table beneath the bark. Leaving things undone or done poorly isn’t in their nature. When shown a piece of high-quality wooden furniture with deep scratches or other visible damage, they’ll immediately begin to think about how to bring it back to its former glory. Not only that, but they’ll be eager to get started.

At Unruh Furniture, we build heirloom-quality dining tables, beds, and desks to last throughout the years, and we take pride in what we do. We’ll repair any damage done to our furniture, regardless of who or what caused it—at no cost to you. We’ll even come and pick it up. When you order handmade custom furniture from us, you’ll receive all of the advantages of wood furniture, with none of the disadvantages.

Unruh Furniture is dedicated to crafting the best high-end furniture for your home. Our furniture is customized to the specifications you provide and available in any of six hardwoods and twelve finishes. Schedule a visit to our Dallas showroom in the heart of Deep Ellum to find custom furniture that will last a lifetime.

Featured Image: When it comes to wooden furniture like Unruh’s intricately-crafted Lake House Dresser, the advantages are many and the disadvantages are few.

Image #1: Made from solid hardwood planks, Unruh Furniture’s Lake House Platform Bed displays the advantages of wooden furniture to their fullest

$2,500 Giveaway

Enter below for your chance to win!

Until next selection!

DaysHoursMinSec

Ready to get started?

Our furniture craftsmen build custom, solid wood pieces once our amazing customers send us their design preferences.

Visit our showroom to meet with one of our trained designers on staff to get started creating the perfect piece for your unique space!

Scout Marshall

Videos

Here's how it all works min max
click to play

Here's how it all works

High-quality hand-made furniture customized by you to match your style and your space.

Quality that Endures min max
click to play

Quality that Endures

Nothing fake, veneer, or prefabricated. See our quality first hand.

Renee's amazing story min max
click to play

Helping Single Moms

Hear Renee's amazing story and learn how you can join in.

Explore Unruh

Dining

58 Products

Dining

Living

54 Products

Living

Bedroom

31 Products

Bedroom

Office

35 Products

Office
[gravityform id="586" title="false" description="false" ajax="true"]
<div class='gf_browser_chrome gform_wrapper js-submit-trigger-sib_wrapper om-submit-tracking_wrapper' id='gform_wrapper_586' style='display:none'><div id='gf_586' class='gform_anchor' tabindex='-1'></div><form method='post' enctype='multipart/form-data' target='gform_ajax_frame_586' id='gform_586' class='js-submit-trigger-sib om-submit-tracking' action='/blog/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wooden-furniture-home-family/#gf_586'> <div class='gform_body'><ul id='gform_fields_586' class='gform_fields top_label form_sublabel_below description_below'><li id='field_586_2' class='gfield field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_hidden' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_586_2' >Source</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_2' id='input_586_2' type='text' value='' class='medium' aria-invalid="false" /></div></li><li id='field_586_5' class='gfield field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_hidden' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_586_5' >From URL</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_5' id='input_586_5' type='text' value='https://www.google.com/' class='medium' aria-invalid="false" /></div></li><li id='field_586_6' class='gfield field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_hidden' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_586_6' >Embed URL</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_6' id='input_586_6' type='text' value='https://unruhfurniture.com/blog/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wooden-furniture-home-family/' class='medium' aria-invalid="false" /></div></li><li id='field_586_7' class='gfield field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_hidden' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_586_7' >Local Override</label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_7' id='input_586_7' type='text' value='' class='medium' aria-invalid="false" /></div></li><li id='field_586_1' class='gfield gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_586_1' >Your Email<span class='gfield_required'>*</span></label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_email'> <input name='input_1' id='input_586_1' type='text' value='' class='medium' placeholder='Enter your email' aria-required="true" aria-invalid="false" /> </div></li><li id='field_586_4' class='gfield conditional-logic conditional-logic conditional-logic conditional-logic conditional-logic conditional-logic conditional-logic conditional-logic conditional-logic gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label gfield_label_before_complex' >Zip Code<span class='gfield_required'>*</span></label> <div class='ginput_complex ginput_container has_zip ginput_container_address' id='input_586_4' > <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='input_4.4' id='input_586_4_4' value=''/><span class='ginput_right address_zip' id='input_586_4_5_container' > <input type='text' name='input_4.5' id='input_586_4_5' inputmode="numeric" pattern="[0-9]*" value='' placeholder='Your Zip' aria-required="true"/> <label for='input_586_4_5' inputmode="numeric" pattern="[0-9]*" id='input_586_4_5_label' >ZIP Code</label> </span><input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='input_4.6' id='input_586_4_6' value='United States'/> <div class='gf_clear gf_clear_complex'></div> </div></li><li id='field_586_8' class='gfield gform_validation_container field_sublabel_below field_description_below gfield_visibility_visible' ><label class='gfield_label' for='input_586_8' >Comments</label><div class='ginput_container'><input name='input_8' id='input_586_8' type='text' value='' /></div><div class='gfield_description' id='gfield_description__8'>This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.</div></li> </ul></div> <div class='gform_footer top_label'> <input type='submit' id='gform_submit_button_586' class='om-trigger-conversion gform_button button' value='Submit' onclick='if(window["gf_submitting_586"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_586"]=true; ' onkeypress='if( event.keyCode == 13 ){ if(window["gf_submitting_586"]){return false;} window["gf_submitting_586"]=true; jQuery("#gform_586").trigger("submit",[true]); }' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_ajax' value='form_id=586&amp;title=&amp;description=&amp;tabindex=0' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_586' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='586' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_586' value='WyJbXSIsImQ5OWQ2NDFmODE3NGQ4OGRiOWIyZWVmMTVlNzhhODA4Il0=' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_586' id='gform_target_page_number_586' value='0' /> <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_586' id='gform_source_page_number_586' value='1' /> <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' /> </div> </form> </div> <iframe style='display:none;width:0px;height:0px;' src='about:blank' name='gform_ajax_frame_586' id='gform_ajax_frame_586'>This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.</iframe> <script type='text/javascript'>jQuery(document).ready(function($){gformInitSpinner( 586, 'https://unruh.test/wp-content/themes/unruh/images/icons/spinner.svg' );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_586').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_586');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_586').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! is_redirect && ! is_confirmation;var mt = parseInt(jQuery('html').css('margin-top'), 10) + parseInt(jQuery('body').css('margin-top'), 10) + 100;if(is_form){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_586').html(form_content.html());if(form_content.hasClass('gform_validation_error')){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_586').addClass('gform_validation_error');} else {jQuery('#gform_wrapper_586').removeClass('gform_validation_error');}setTimeout( function() { /* delay the scroll by 50 milliseconds to fix a bug in chrome */ jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gform_wrapper_586').offset().top - mt); }, 50 );if(window['gformInitDatepicker']) {gformInitDatepicker();}if(window['gformInitPriceFields']) {gformInitPriceFields();}var current_page = jQuery('#gform_source_page_number_586').val();gformInitSpinner( 586, 'https://unruh.test/wp-content/themes/unruh/images/icons/spinner.svg' );jQuery(document).trigger('gform_page_loaded', [586, current_page]);window['gf_submitting_586'] = false;}else if(!is_redirect){var confirmation_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('.GF_AJAX_POSTBACK').html();if(!confirmation_content){confirmation_content = contents;}setTimeout(function(){jQuery('#gform_wrapper_586').replaceWith(confirmation_content);jQuery(document).scrollTop(jQuery('#gf_586').offset().top - mt);jQuery(document).trigger('gform_confirmation_loaded', [586]);window['gf_submitting_586'] = false;}, 50);}else{jQuery('#gform_586').append(contents);if(window['gformRedirect']) {gformRedirect();}}jQuery(document).trigger('gform_post_render', [586, current_page]);} );} );</script><script type='text/javascript'> jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_render', function(event, formId, currentPage){if(formId == 586) {gf_global["number_formats"][586] = {"2":{"price":false,"value":false},"5":{"price":false,"value":false},"6":{"price":false,"value":false},"7":{"price":false,"value":false},"1":{"price":false,"value":false},"4":{"price":false,"value":false},"8":{"price":false,"value":false}};if(window['jQuery']){if(!window['gf_form_conditional_logic'])window['gf_form_conditional_logic'] = new Array();window['gf_form_conditional_logic'][586] = { logic: { 4: {"field":{"actionType":"show","logicType":"all","rules":[{"fieldId":"1","operator":"isnot","value":""}]},"nextButton":null,"section":null} }, dependents: { 4: [4] }, animation: 0, defaults: {"5":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/","6":"https:\/\/unruhfurniture.com\/blog\/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-wooden-furniture-home-family\/","4":{"4.1":"","4.2":"","4.3":"","4.4":"","4.5":"","4.6":"United States"}}, fields: {"2":[],"5":[],"6":[],"7":[],"1":[4],"4":[],"8":[]} }; if(!window['gf_number_format'])window['gf_number_format'] = 'decimal_dot';jQuery(document).ready(function(){gf_apply_rules(586, [4], true);jQuery('#gform_wrapper_586').show();jQuery(document).trigger('gform_post_conditional_logic', [586, null, true]);} );} if(typeof Placeholders != 'undefined'){ Placeholders.enable(); }(function(){ if (typeof window.gf_image_choices_ignore_global_css_586 === "undefined") window.gf_image_choices_ignore_global_css_586 = 0; })();} } );jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_conditional_logic', function(event, formId, fields, isInit){} );</script><script type='text/javascript'> jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery(document).trigger('gform_post_render', [586, 1]) } ); </script>