Is spending more now worth it for furniture that lasts?
We hear that question a lot. At Better Wood & Home we believe the answer depends on what you want your furniture to do over time. As a family-owned, California-based maker of mid-century modern–inspired pieces, we build solid wood items meant to be used, repaired, and passed on. If you want a piece that ages gracefully, keeps its structure, and stays out of landfill, solid wood is often the smarter choice.
Why paying more up front can save you money later
When shoppers compare prices they usually look at the sticker, not the lifetime. Solid wood furniture typically lasts decades - sometimes generations - while many mass-market items show wear in 5–10 years. Data on expected furniture life supports that trend: see these furniture lifespan estimates for common categories.
There are several reasons a solid wood piece holds value:
-
Structural resilience - solid boards resist sagging and delamination in ways engineered boards do not.
-
Repairability - dents, scratches, and loose joints can be fixed without replacing the whole item.
-
Resale and heirloom potential - solid wood often retains or even gains desirability with age.
Those outcomes are why many people treat a dining table or bed as an investment rather than a disposable buy. We show product-level examples in our catalog so customers can see how materials and joinery contribute to longevity; learn more about solid wood bed frame options in our collection.
[collection-carousel="dining-table"]
How construction makes as much difference as wood species
One mistake buyers make is assuming “solid wood” equals “well made.” Build quality matters. Strong joinery like dovetails and mortise-and-tenon is what keeps a piece together for decades. The University of Georgia offers a useful wood furniture quality checklist that walks through joints, drawer fit, and other signs of craftsmanship we care about.
From our perspective, you should check three things before you buy:
-
Joinery type and reinforcement.
-
Whether structural components are solid wood rather than thin backs or glued panels.
-
The finish and how it protects the surface.
We design our pieces with durable joinery and protective finishes so they cope with everyday life - no flat-pack construction, and most inventory ships from the U.S. That approach helps explain how we keep quality high while staying direct to customer.
Health, indoor air quality and sustainable sourcing
Materials matter beyond durability. Engineered boards and composites can emit formaldehyde unless they meet strict standards. The U.S. EPA maintains clear formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood, and many people prefer solid timber with low-VOC finishes for healthier indoor air.
For shoppers who care about environmental impact, solid wood often ranks well when the timber is responsibly sourced. Friends of the Earth has a useful sustainable furniture guide that recommends solid wood with non-toxic finishes and certifications such as FSC when possible. The American Hardwood Export Council also outlines why U.S. hardwoods can be a renewable option; check their U.S. hardwood sustainability summary for local sourcing benefits.
Common concerns we hear and what we tell customers
From conversations with woodworkers and customers we notice a few recurring worries:
-
“Is solid wood worth the price?” We explain the lifecycle savings, repairability, and resale.
-
“Will it warp or crack?” Properly kiln-dried hardwood, thoughtful design, and good joinery reduce movement.
-
“What about veneer?” Veneer can be well used in quality furniture, but you should know whether veneers cover engineered cores or are applied over solid panels.
Those points are why we show construction photos and species notes so buyers can make an informed choice. If you want help choosing wood, read our guide on which type of wood is best for dining surfaces and appearance preferences.
How to spot truly well made solid wood furniture
Look beyond surface appearance. Here are practical signals of quality we recommend:
-
Consistent, tight joinery such as dovetails in drawers.
-
Solid rails under table tops rather than thin glued strips.
-
Finishes labeled low-VOC or water-based for safer indoor air.
-
Reinforcements at stress points and metal hardware rated for heavy use.
If you value these features, you’ll likely avoid inexpensive pieces that rely on staples, thin veneers, and low-grade plywood. Popular woodworking resources can deepen your knowledge - see this joinery guide for more on traditional joints.
How Better Wood & Home helps you get more value
We keep a lean online model so we can invest in material quality, honest finishes, and skilled joinery rather than markups for middlemen. That direct approach is what allows us to offer mid-century inspired pieces made from American-sourced hardwoods and ship them from the U.S. Customers often tell us the combination of clear construction notes and responsive support gave them the confidence to choose a higher-quality piece that will last.
Want to see related furniture? Browse our farmhouse dining tables collection or take a look at all products to explore the full catalog. If you have a specific need, please get in touch - we're happy to answer questions about wood species, finishes, and shipping details.
[collection-carousel="dining-table"]
Care basics that keep wood looking great
Proper care is straightforward and rewards you with years of service. For dining surfaces we recommend following clear maintenance steps; see our post on care for your dining table for specifics. Key actions include protecting from direct heat and long-term water exposure, using coasters and placemats, and cleaning with gentle, pH-neutral products.
Small repairs like sanding and re-oiling are often all that’s needed to refresh a top. That repairability helps explain why a solid dresser or table can remain in active use for decades instead of ending up in a landfill.
Making a buying decision that fits your needs
Here are quick questions we suggest asking before you buy:
-
Will this piece see heavy daily use or occasional use?
-
Do I prefer a piece that patinas over time or one that looks new for years?
-
Does the seller show how the piece is built and what finishes were used?
If you are after bedroom furniture that will last, our solid wood dressers and solid wood bed frame options are good starting points. We try to keep most items in stock and we’ll tell you when a popular line is selling fast so you can make a timely choice.
[collection-carousel="wooden-dressers"]
Next steps and how to compare offers
Compare not just price but what the price buys: material grade, joinery detail, finish type, and shipping method. Read any available construction photos, ask for clarifications, and look for third-party guidance such as the investing in quality furniture article for extra context on what attributes make a piece worth keeping.
We want you to buy with confidence. If you’d like to know more about where our wood comes from, our sourcing and values are described in Our story. And if you want to see specific product options or ask about lead times, please get in touch.
Final thoughts
Solid wood furniture tends to cost more up front, but many buyers find the long-term benefits justify the price. You get durability, repair options, better indoor air profile when low-VOC finishes are used, and a piece that can change with your home over decades. We build with those priorities in mind because we want your furniture to last and still look great years from now.
If you’re ready to explore pieces that match that approach, start here: browse our farmhouse dining tables, check out solid wood dressers, or view all products. And whenever you need help deciding, please get in touch.
Why Solid Wood Furniture Is a Smart Investment
Is spending more now worth it for furniture that lasts?
We hear that question a lot. At Better Wood & Home we believe the answer depends on what you want your furniture to do over time. As a family-owned, California-based maker of mid-century modern–inspired pieces, we build solid wood items meant to be used, repaired, and passed on. If you want a piece that ages gracefully, keeps its structure, and stays out of landfill, solid wood is often the smarter choice.
Why paying more up front can save you money later
When shoppers compare prices they usually look at the sticker, not the lifetime. Solid wood furniture typically lasts decades - sometimes generations - while many mass-market items show wear in 5–10 years. Data on expected furniture life supports that trend: see these furniture lifespan estimates for common categories.
There are several reasons a solid wood piece holds value:
Structural resilience - solid boards resist sagging and delamination in ways engineered boards do not.
Repairability - dents, scratches, and loose joints can be fixed without replacing the whole item.
Resale and heirloom potential - solid wood often retains or even gains desirability with age.
Those outcomes are why many people treat a dining table or bed as an investment rather than a disposable buy. We show product-level examples in our catalog so customers can see how materials and joinery contribute to longevity; learn more about solid wood bed frame options in our collection.
[collection-carousel="dining-table"]
How construction makes as much difference as wood species
One mistake buyers make is assuming “solid wood” equals “well made.” Build quality matters. Strong joinery like dovetails and mortise-and-tenon is what keeps a piece together for decades. The University of Georgia offers a useful wood furniture quality checklist that walks through joints, drawer fit, and other signs of craftsmanship we care about.
From our perspective, you should check three things before you buy:
Joinery type and reinforcement.
Whether structural components are solid wood rather than thin backs or glued panels.
The finish and how it protects the surface.
We design our pieces with durable joinery and protective finishes so they cope with everyday life - no flat-pack construction, and most inventory ships from the U.S. That approach helps explain how we keep quality high while staying direct to customer.
Health, indoor air quality and sustainable sourcing
Materials matter beyond durability. Engineered boards and composites can emit formaldehyde unless they meet strict standards. The U.S. EPA maintains clear formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood, and many people prefer solid timber with low-VOC finishes for healthier indoor air.
For shoppers who care about environmental impact, solid wood often ranks well when the timber is responsibly sourced. Friends of the Earth has a useful sustainable furniture guide that recommends solid wood with non-toxic finishes and certifications such as FSC when possible. The American Hardwood Export Council also outlines why U.S. hardwoods can be a renewable option; check their U.S. hardwood sustainability summary for local sourcing benefits.
Common concerns we hear and what we tell customers
From conversations with woodworkers and customers we notice a few recurring worries:
“Is solid wood worth the price?” We explain the lifecycle savings, repairability, and resale.
“Will it warp or crack?” Properly kiln-dried hardwood, thoughtful design, and good joinery reduce movement.
“What about veneer?” Veneer can be well used in quality furniture, but you should know whether veneers cover engineered cores or are applied over solid panels.
Those points are why we show construction photos and species notes so buyers can make an informed choice. If you want help choosing wood, read our guide on which type of wood is best for dining surfaces and appearance preferences.
How to spot truly well made solid wood furniture
Look beyond surface appearance. Here are practical signals of quality we recommend:
Consistent, tight joinery such as dovetails in drawers.
Solid rails under table tops rather than thin glued strips.
Finishes labeled low-VOC or water-based for safer indoor air.
Reinforcements at stress points and metal hardware rated for heavy use.
If you value these features, you’ll likely avoid inexpensive pieces that rely on staples, thin veneers, and low-grade plywood. Popular woodworking resources can deepen your knowledge - see this joinery guide for more on traditional joints.
How Better Wood & Home helps you get more value
We keep a lean online model so we can invest in material quality, honest finishes, and skilled joinery rather than markups for middlemen. That direct approach is what allows us to offer mid-century inspired pieces made from American-sourced hardwoods and ship them from the U.S. Customers often tell us the combination of clear construction notes and responsive support gave them the confidence to choose a higher-quality piece that will last.
Want to see related furniture? Browse our farmhouse dining tables collection or take a look at all products to explore the full catalog. If you have a specific need, please get in touch - we're happy to answer questions about wood species, finishes, and shipping details.
[collection-carousel="dining-table"]
Care basics that keep wood looking great
Proper care is straightforward and rewards you with years of service. For dining surfaces we recommend following clear maintenance steps; see our post on care for your dining table for specifics. Key actions include protecting from direct heat and long-term water exposure, using coasters and placemats, and cleaning with gentle, pH-neutral products.
Small repairs like sanding and re-oiling are often all that’s needed to refresh a top. That repairability helps explain why a solid dresser or table can remain in active use for decades instead of ending up in a landfill.
Making a buying decision that fits your needs
Here are quick questions we suggest asking before you buy:
Will this piece see heavy daily use or occasional use?
Do I prefer a piece that patinas over time or one that looks new for years?
Does the seller show how the piece is built and what finishes were used?
If you are after bedroom furniture that will last, our solid wood dressers and solid wood bed frame options are good starting points. We try to keep most items in stock and we’ll tell you when a popular line is selling fast so you can make a timely choice.
[collection-carousel="wooden-dressers"]
Next steps and how to compare offers
Compare not just price but what the price buys: material grade, joinery detail, finish type, and shipping method. Read any available construction photos, ask for clarifications, and look for third-party guidance such as the investing in quality furniture article for extra context on what attributes make a piece worth keeping.
We want you to buy with confidence. If you’d like to know more about where our wood comes from, our sourcing and values are described in Our story. And if you want to see specific product options or ask about lead times, please get in touch.
Final thoughts
Solid wood furniture tends to cost more up front, but many buyers find the long-term benefits justify the price. You get durability, repair options, better indoor air profile when low-VOC finishes are used, and a piece that can change with your home over decades. We build with those priorities in mind because we want your furniture to last and still look great years from now.
If you’re ready to explore pieces that match that approach, start here: browse our farmhouse dining tables, check out solid wood dressers, or view all products. And whenever you need help deciding, please get in touch.