After all, furniture is a big investment. You want it to endure in both beauty and comfort. Here are some tips to make you a more educated furniture shopper. Pine, the most common softwood used in furniture, is prized for its lustrous patina and its ability to withstand changing humidity without swelling or shrinking. Solid wood furniture means all exposed parts are made of the same species of all natural wood, with no other materials, such as plywood or particleboard, included.
Solid wood has one disadvantage.
When exposed to extreme atmospheric conditions, it will expand or contract, and may split along the grain of the wood. Veneer furniture begins with thin layers of wood glued together with the grain at right angles over a thick core. This crisscross design reduces the chances of splitting or cracking. Plus, the glue is the same strong, waterproof adhesive used in aircraft and marine construction, so the end result is actually stronger than the natural wood. Make sure the wood grains match on a piece.