How to choose between wood veneer and solid timber furniture

The client interior design brief

It’s not uncommon for me to work with clients who want to let go of their Ikea furniture. Not because there’s anything wrong with it but they’ve outgrown it.

Ikea furniture is durable and long lasting. Despite the price and the materials. But it is generic and there comes a time when clients want more unique pieces.

This particular client was specific in saying they wanted quality, ‘grown up’ furniture. For me this means selecting pieces that you may not be confident in selecting yourself.

It also means spending more per piece and finding pieces made from quality materials, with a good warranty. So I was keen to find a solid timber dining table for my client that met their brief as mentioned above.

What is solid timber furniture

Solid timber furniture is furniture made completely from timber. So for example if the piece is a dining table, the table top and the legs are made from the same timber.

Timber is generally more expensive that other materials such as MDF ((medium density fibre board) or particle board.

Solid timber pieces have a natural appeal due to the natural variations in the timber itself. Whereas manufactured materials are generic and generally have a mass produced feel.

When you own a piece of furniture made from solid timber, over time the piece shows natural wear and tear that is unique to you and how you use it.

What is furniture with wood veneer

Some furniture is a mix of timber and wood veneer. So what is wood veneer:-

…wood veneer is real wood. It is just not solid (much thicker) wood. The only difference between wood and wood veneer is that the latter is a very thin “slice” of wood applied to a backer. (www.oakwoodveneer.com)

It’s not solid, so it can and does scratch. Sometimes the pieces scratches easily sometime a wood veneered piece can withstand scratches. Wood veneer is not solid timber so it’s less expensive.

For my client I selected a combination piece to meet their budget, style and functional goal. By combination I mean, the legs were solid rubberwood but the top was oak veneer.

Given this option my client decided to increase their budget because their broader goal was for quality, ‘grown up’ furniture. A piece that would last twenty years. A solid timber dining table can definitely last twenty years. A dining table with wood veneer may not, so this is how to choose between wood veneer and solid timber.