Wood is the primary material when it comes to making furniture. If you are planning to get your home redecorated with new furniture then choosing the right material and design is important. Well, designing furniture or the new setup can be handed over to your Interior Designer in Kolkata but you need to select the material.
When it comes to the base material there is a choice between wood and metal. If you choose wood then you have to choose between, engineered wood, solid wood and plywood. From ancient times solid wood is used to make furniture. But in the modern interior, there are more options such as engineered wood and plywood.
Many of you might have an idea about the differences between these three materials but here have distinguished all three of them from our point of view. This article will help you to choose the best materials for your home.
Solid Wood
Solid wood is simply the cut piece of a tree. Normally bigger pieces are cut from bigger trees with thick trunks. After cutting, and polishing it can make your home feel exotic. Traditional furniture was made using solid wood only because that was the only resource.
Pros
- Furniture made with solid wood lasts long, it can last for centuries as well if maintained properly.
- Solid wood furniture is a great piece of art if made with traditional designs.
Cons
- Solid wood furniture is heavy and not that easy to move from one home to another.
- Since it is a natural material the resources are limited which increases its cost.
- Solid wood needs more maintenance than anything else and that can be costly.
Plywood
Plywood has been in the use since the 18th century. Though many great options are present in the recent market and better quality plywood is available but this is not a recent invention. Since the beginning of plywood, it has made a difference in the furniture market. It has replaced solid wood for the commoners. Plywood is made up of thin sheets of wood stuck together with adhesive. Multiple layers of the play wood made it sturdy and strong enough to be used in making furniture.
Pros
- Plywood furniture lasts long, though it might not last centuries it can sustainably last for a few decades.
- It is lightweight and easy to carry in pieces.
- Because of the easy transport, use of thin wooden sheets and many cost-effective procedures it costs less than solid wood.
- You can elevate modern designs with plywood and beautiful laminates.
Cons
- Plywood cannot bring the gorgeous look of traditional furniture. It can replace solid wood in terms of portability and cost but cannot replace the glamour that solid wood has.
Engineered wood
The most recent discovery in the wood market is engineered wood. It is invented to use the waste products of wood and plywood. The extra and waste wood particles are used to make engineered wood. The small particles are chopped into small dust-like particles and later the wood dust is mixed with glue and given the shape of a ply or wooden sheet. The process can control the thickness of the wooden sheet.
Pros
- It is super lightweight and super portable.
- It is the cheapest material when it comes to wooden furniture.
- It looks like plywood but is much cheaper.
Cons
- It cannot stand water damage. If a piece of engineered wood furniture comes in contact with water, it will get swelled and loosen up the bindings. Water can ruin the entire furniture.
- Engineered wood furniture does not last long. It can easily get damaged due to weather conditions or any external cause. Such furniture is flimsy.
- It cannot hold heavy weight. Engineered wood cannot hold a heavy load, and even excessive weight of clothes can cause damage to the furniture.
Now you know which material to choose. We always prefer to use plywood as we can experiment with the designs, it is lightweight and cost-effective, lasts long. Contact us, your interior designer in Kolkata to know more.