The Difference Between Quality Furniture & Fast Furniture

You’re likely to recall us bringing this topic up before, but with the increased attention on “fast furniture” versus quality furniture, we wanted discuss this growing trend towards quality. Today, we’ll dive deeper into the hallmarks of quality furniture versus the often less durable “fast furniture.” The idea behind this shift is that rather than “saving money” on something you will need to replace in 3-4 years, it’s better to invest in a quality piece built to last. This approach saves money in the long run and supports sustainability by reducing waste.

Let’s start off with what “fast furniture” is. In essence it is low-cost furniture built with inexpensive materials and methods meant for short term use. Not only are these pieces a waste of money, due to their short lifespan, but because they are not designed to last, they increase waste and have a large environmental footprint.

While “fast furniture” often uses particle board and thin veneers, high quality furniture is crafted from solid woods such as oak, walnut, mahogany or maple. High quality upholstered goods are made using high grade fabrics and quality fill as opposed to highly synthetic fabrics with low “rub” counts. We could write a whole blog post about rub counts but essentially this refers to the measurement of durability and resistance to wear. However, it’s important to note that even some quality fabrics, like silk, can have a low rub count and should be selected for the right application.

Let’s talk about fill. Those sofas and chairs that you complain about having lost their shape and becoming lumpy, are often due to the use of cheap fill and low-quality craftsmanship. Higher quality pieces are made using higher quality fill and assembled in layers, ensuring they will hold their shape far longer. Often quality upholstered pieces will have multiple layers of fill combined with dense foam which will help to ensure the furniture retains its shape. The final shape of a quality piece is built in layers and is the result of countless man hours. The above image is from a discussion and demonstration by Hickory Chair where they cut into one of their chairs to showcase the multiple layers that go into one of their chairs and the craftsmanship.

Another hallmark of quality furniture is its actual construction. Fast furniture is often being made assembly-line style with cheap glues, staples and nails resulting in weaker frames. Quality furniture construction involves labor-intensive craftsmanship and techniques such as mortise and tenon, dowels, and dovetail joints, which provide stability and strength. Eight-way hand tied springs are yet another quality method of construction for upholstered goods. In this method, individual coil springs are tied by hand in eight different directions using twine. This labor-intensive process ensures each spring moves independently, providing optimal support and comfort and ensuring a more even weight distribution. Often in less expensive furnishings you can expect to see webbing in lieu of springs. Details like corner blocks add support beyond simply nailing, gluing, and stapling frames.

Attention to detail is yet another differentiator between quality furnishings and fast furniture. Finishes on quality pieces are applied carefully and evenly in multiple layers without drips, bubbles and rough or clumpy patches. Hardware such as knobs and pulls are made of solid metals and other quality materials that wont break or tarnish (unless in the case of unlacquered brass). There are often other thoughtful details such as carvings, decorative moldings and inlays found in quality pieces that you won’t find in less expensive furnishings.

It should go without saying but due to the superior construction and materials quality furnishings are going to be far more comfortable than less expensive and cheaply made pieces. The exception to this might be more architectural and artful pieces meant for visual impact rather than use. In contrast inexpensive pieces tend to have wobbling legs and flattening cushions, greatly reducing their comfort level.

In summary while the higher quality pieces will initially cost more, they will not only last you far longer, but your enjoyment of the piece will be far superior to that of the lesser quality pieces of furniture. In the end, you not only have the more timeless and comfortable piece of furniture, but you can rest easy knowing you are contributing to more sustainable practices.