How Bad Is Wood Veneer on Furniture?

There is a common belief that furniture made with veneer is something to avoid, and that solid wood is always better. Veneer means a thin layer of wood glued down to other wooden boards. Cabinet makers will say that factors of thickness, workmanship and condition determine whether veneering is good or bad.

Veneer is not a modern invention. Thousands of years ago, fabulous veneer work in ebony and ivory was put into King Tut's tomb in Egypt. Veneer techniques in the Renaissance became very sophisticated, using tiny pieces of exotic woods and burl grain to create intricate designs or lavish scenes, called marquetry or intarsia work. Much of the finest royal furniture for hundreds of years employed lavish veneer construction, using the finest species of wood and tiny pieces of burl or exotic grain.

Another reason for veneer is "matching," or making the right and left grain mirror images of each other, like pages of a book. There is also quarter matching and pie-shaped or sunburst matching for dazzling special effects in wood.

Cabinetmakers have always sought boards with especially beautiful grain, like the fork of a mahogany tree for "flame" grain, or the curly "burl" found near the knots of walnut trees. Wide planks of especially beautiful wood are gorgeous, but tend to warp and curl over time. The technique of veneering allows this beautifully grained wood to be glued to more stable wood with less attractive grain for results that are beautiful and durable. Attractive appearance on curved surfaces is another use of veneer, for example, the curved case of a grand piano is always veneered.

Beginning in the 1800's, veneer was employed to make valuable woods like mahogany or walnut go farther by gluing them to less prized species, like maple or birch. Around 1900, highly prized quarter-sawn or tiger oak was often veneered over regular cut solid oak. 

Many examples of veneer work have endured for hundreds of years. Veneer repair requires a skilled woodworker, but can be done. Old veneer was long-lasting, and could be retouched or sanded and refinished over and over again.

Starting about 1970, industrial furniture manufacturers developed the technique of gradually making veneer thinner, and today, hardwood veneers are as thin as 1/54 of an inch! This modern veneer looks like typing paper, it is almost transparent, and can never be sanded, refinished or significantly touched up if damaged. On most modern furniture and kitchen cupboards, veneer is not glued to natural hardwood, instead it is attached to particle board, which is a mixture of sawdust and glue which is pressed into large sheets. Often the edges are finished with real wood, so the veneer and particle board construction is not visible. On better furniture and cabinets, real wood is used where it shows - legs, raised panels, edges, etc.

Most new furniture is built in this manner, and often advertised as "solid hardwood and veneers," although it is certainly not what most consumers would mean by "wood." This construction has some advantages: 1) particle board doesn't warp like real wood unless it gets wet, 2) it conserves valuable hardwood, and 3) it recycles sawdust, which would otherwise be in a landfill. Most mainstream furniture has been constructed in this manner for some years. New furniture is like a new toaster or TV, it is temporary, never to be repaired or restored, and definitely not an heirloom for the next generation.

There has always been good and bad workmanship in veneered furniture, just as there has been in solid wood furniture. Old veneer that has bubbles, loose edges, missing pieces and so on is difficult to repair. Old veneer that is in great condition will probably stay in great condition, and can be refinished or restored when it becomes necessary, perhaps far in the future. Modern veneer is another matter entirely. Ultra-thin veneer has its place in new furniture that is intended to be used and then discarded when worn, rather than restored for future generations.

How bad is wood veneer on furniture? As Oscar Wilde said, "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." The history of veneer on furniture is a long and honorable tradition, and the answer depends on workmanship, condition and thickness of the veneer itself.

Buying Office Furnishings and Manufacturers Information

Some of the more popular manufacturers of office furnishings include Steelcase, Herman Miller, The Hon Company, Haworth, Bush and Aeron to name a few. This is nowhere near a comprehensive list of quality office furniture manufacturers. I would like to note that in mentioning these companies, I am not suggesting that you buy from them. I use these name brands because my experience in the industry shows them to be highly respected.

All of these manufacturers offer a wide selection of high quality office furnishings, so when you buy it may just come down to a single review or small bit of information gleaned from these articles that helps you make a final decision. Therefore, when shopping for your office furniture and accessories, take your time and read and review about manufacturers and their respective furnishings before buying.

You may always shop brick and mortar or online discount furniture stores, but because it is most desirable to have durable office furniture you should always consider brand name manufacturers also. Absolutely there can be major price differences, but typically the quality from brand names pays off in the end. Saving a few dollars now can cost you more later. If you buy cheap now, you will probably be spending more of your valuable time sooner than normal trying to replace the cheaper furnishings because they just do not hold up as long as the brand name items.

Of course, if you are buying for your own company or office you may be able to take certain liberties as pertains to cost when deciding on the final purchase. If that is the case, your personal pleasure and satisfaction when sitting in your office enjoying the new surroundings will make a difference (rather than just price). The reputation and standards by which each piece of furniture is built may become a priority, but often there is so little difference between the quality of the products it comes down to the most eye appealing concept and/or comfortability of the office furniture for you and your work space.

Remember that most major brand names carry similar office furnishings as well as large office equipment. This means that after reviewing a few office furniture manufacturers' lines, you have probably seen most all of the possible options. You only need to select a brand name to complete your order. The only need to continue searching through all brand names is if you want a unique color or design not readily available.

Wanting to locate the perfect design and color for uniqueness is completely understandable since you may spend as much (or more time) in your office than at home. In that case, it is worth the extra effort to put together the most appealing group of office furnishings to create a relaxed or comfortable work zone. And for those fortunate enough to own a home office business, the final decision may be determined by matching your current home's décor.

On the other hand, if your needs are strictly utilitarian, review a few different office furnishing manufacturers product lines to learn what is available, then compare prices and choose a standard color and your done. At that point, you have fulfilled your office's needs with the confidence that you have purchased long lasting quality equipment from a brand name office furniture manufacturer.