As furniture experts, we know that the best wood for furniture can include teak wood, white oak, red oak, and cypress — the same types of wood we use to make the frames for our upholstered furniture. While there are a plethora of types of wood for furniture, all with their own benefits, we've spent years perfecting our craft using locally sourced hardwoods from Texas and Louisiana.
Why? Because they perform the best, last the longest, and don’t cost a fortune. We're here to share our expertise on selecting the best wood for furniture for your home.
Browse our various furniture collections to see how these different woods help create beautiful and sturdy sofas, chairs, sectionals, and more. Need some extra guidance? Our furniture buying guide provides additional insights into selecting pieces that will serve your family well for years to come.
Expert Note: Living Designs Furniture is a Houston-based manufacturer specializing in premium upholstered furniture, also known as fabric furniture. We craft each piece using high-quality hardwood frames that provide exceptional durability and structural integrity. While our furniture features top-grade wood construction, our specialty is upholstered pieces where the hardwood frame is expertly covered with beautiful fabric — we don't manufacture exposed wood furniture. This article will help you understand the superior wood materials we use in our frame construction and why they make such a difference in the quality and longevity of your furniture.
What wood is best for furniture?
In order to craft top-quality frames, you need to choose top-quality wood. But before we dive into why we recommend our hardwood choices, let’s talk about what makes top-quality wood in the first place. When considering which wood is the highest quality for furniture construction, consider the following factors:
- Durability: Can it withstand daily use and long-term wear?
- Grain pattern: How strong is the wood naturally?
- Versatility: Can it be easily carved, shaped, and finished in various ways, making it suitable for both traditional and modern furniture styles?
- Aesthetic appeal: Simply put, if exposed, does it look nice in your home?
However, certain hardwoods consistently outperform others in furniture construction due to their density and strength. Top-quality wood typically comes from trees that grow slowly, developing tight grain patterns and exceptional strength.
These hardwoods resist warping, cracking, and everyday wear better than their softwood counterparts, making them ideal for furniture that needs to withstand daily use while maintaining its beauty for generations.
The problem with low-quality wood
Unfortunately, many fast furniture companies prioritize speed and cost-cutting over quality, using cheap wood alternatives to make their furniture frames. These materials may look fine initially, but they quickly reveal their shortcomings through sagging, chipping, warping, and joint failure.
But it’s more affordable, so what’s the problem? Well, it may be affordable in the moment, but it won’t be long-term.
Cheap furniture often falls apart within just a few years of normal use, creating a cycle of constant replacement that ultimately costs consumers more money and generates unnecessary waste. Filling your home with furniture that not only functions poorly but also looks shabby is every homeowner’s nightmare.
Quality woods like the ones used at Living Designs Furniture are worth the investment due to their time-tested durability and aesthetic appeal, meaning you will save money by not having to shop for a new sofa every three years.
Keep reading: Should I assemble furniture myself? (Hint: the answer is no)
What type of wood is used to make high-quality furniture?
For years, our expert local craftsmen have utilized white oak, red oak, and cypress for our upholstered furniture frames and teak wood for our outdoor furniture. We believe that Texans deserve the best furniture possible — and that requires us to use the best wood for furniture.
Each of the following types of hardwood is used in the frames of our upholstered furniture to create durable pieces that can last for years to come.
White oak
White oak offers exceptional durability with a stunning grain pattern that ranges from straight to gently curved. Its tight and dense structure makes it naturally resistant to water and warping, which makes it perfect for daily use. Dust, dirt, and other hazards will have a hard time penetrating through the wood, so it will last longer than softwoods.
Red oak
Known for its prominent grain pattern and warm, reddish tones, red oak has been a staple in American furniture making for centuries. Red oak is more porous than white oak, meaning it will be easier to stain for a more customizable look. However, being more porous doesn’t make it any less durable — this wood is tough, sturdy, and long-lasting, making it a great option for furniture.
Cypress
A true Southern tree, cypress wood offers natural resistance to moisture and insects, thanks to its natural oils. Native to the southeastern United States, the color of this wood can actually vary depending on where it is grown. Because we get our cypress wood from our trusted suppliers in the Louisiana swamps, the wood has a richer, redder color that comes from the water’s high salt content. While it is technically classified as a softwood, cypress displays remarkable durability in both indoor and outdoor placements.
Teak
What is the best wood for outdoor furniture? When it comes to patio furniture, no other wood comes close to matching teak's natural weather resistance and longevity. This tropical hardwood contains natural oils that repel water, resist rot, and deter insects, making it the best choice for outdoor furniture. Our teak wood patio furniture is built to withstand the unpredictable Houston elements year-round while maintaining its brightness for an inviting look.
Teak consistently ranks at the top due to its unique properties. Even when left untreated, teak weathers to an attractive silver-gray patina while maintaining its structural integrity. This means your patio furniture will look beautiful and function perfectly for decades with minimal maintenance.
The Living Designs difference: Local sourcing and superior construction
So you might be thinking, why does it matter what wood is used for upholstered furniture if it’s going to be covered in fabric? Dear reader, it matters more than you’ll ever know. To produce our top-quality furniture, we need top-quality wood that will withstand years and years of consistent use.
Our hardwood frames are built to last using locally sourced white oak, red oak, and cypress from Texas and Louisiana. This local sourcing strategy provides several key advantages for our customers.
- Quality: Locally sourced wood hasn't traveled thousands of miles from who knows where, which means it arrives at our factory in the best condition. The shorter transportation time preserves the wood's natural properties and reduces the environmental impact of your furniture purchase.
- Affordability: Because our wood is sourced domestically and not imported, our furniture is not affected by furniture tariffs that can significantly increase the price tag. This allows us to offer superior quality hardwood furniture at competitive prices while supporting American forestry and manufacturing.
- Longevity: Sturdy wood paired with a sturdy spring foundation creates strong, supportive furniture that is made to stand the test of time. The longer your furniture lasts, the less likely you will have to replace it, saving you time and money.
Purchase top-quality furniture made from top-quality wood from Living Designs Furniture today
Choosing the right wood for your furniture frames represents a significant investment in your home's comfort and style. As furniture experts who have been crafting furniture in our own factory for decades, we can say with confidence that our products are made with the best wood for furniture: our locally sourced white oak, red oak, and cypress from Texas and Louisiana.
We are the best furniture store Houston trusts to deliver top-quality, handcrafted furniture for unbeatable prices. When you visit a showroom, you will be met with our incredible selection of upholstered furniture that can be bought as-is or fully customized to fit your needs and your home.
Your dream home is just within reach. Stop by a Living Designs Furniture store in Houston to experience why our commitment to quality makes all the difference in your daily life.
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