Furniture Materials
Furniture materials underwent a major change in the last century. Wood remains the most popular material for just about all types of furniture for both indoor and outdoor uses, however, it is not the only material used for furniture making for a long time. In addition, there are many types of wood that can be used for furniture making and their selection has a major influence on aesthetic appeal, ease of maintenance, durability and the price of furniture.
Despite a number of materials from which furniture can be made, most homeowners decide for wooden furniture or engineered wood such as particle board which looks just like real wood but it is significantly cheaper. It is hard to say what makes wood the absolute favourite when it comes to selection of furniture material. Its popularity is partly related to the fact that it has been traditionally used for furniture making, while the second part of the answer lies in its exceptional durability, unique aesthetic appeal and high level of comfort it provides. However, there is a major difference between different types of wood as already mentioned earlier in just about all aspects including the looks, level of care required and durability. Furthermore, some types of wood are more challenging to work with, while some are not available in large enough amounts to meet the demand.
Metal is the second most popular furniture material after wood due to its durability and ease of maintenance as well as highly appealing look. It is used for making both indoor and outdoor furniture, while its main drawback is vulnerability to corrosion. As a result, some homeowners prefer stainless steel furniture which is naturally resistant to moisture and water and does not need any kind of anticorrosion protection.
Plastic is avoided by most homeowners, however, plastic industry has progressed tremendously in the recent years and plastic furniture no longer looks as aesthetically unappealing as it used to. On the contrary, it can be used to create some of the most amazing designs but it is also true that it is usually found in contemporary style homes because it does not go particularly well with traditional designs and materials.
Most homeowners own at least a few pieces of furniture which are entirely or partly made from fabric or leather in order to increase the level of comfort or improve the aesthetic appeal of their furniture, or both. Just like natural materials are preferred when it comes to furniture itself, most homeowners are attracted the most by natural fabrics, especially leather due to its aesthetic appeal and virtually no care required.
Furniture is sometimes also made from two or multiple materials. Most common combinations include metal and wood, plastic and metal/stainless steel, metal and fabric, wood and plastic, and engineered and solid wood. The mentioned materials are combined for practical reasons, to increase the level of comfort or solely for aesthetic purposes although some such as lumber and engineered wood are combined to reduce the costs.