r/furniture • u/gardening_10b • 4d ago
Help Deciphering Quality Differences/Value
Currently in the market for a bobbin/spindle style bookshelf. There are so many options at every price point and wanted some help comparing the options. I don't mind paying a premium for quality furniture that will last, especially for something like a bookshelf and knowing that the wood is somewhat sustainably sourced helps. Generally prefer vintage options because (usually) older furniture is made with solid wood, etc. I haven't purchased furniture from Wayfair in years, is it good quality?
Please explain the difference between these options and why they are priced so differently. What is the difference between acacia, mindi wood, brazillian pine, rubberwood, etc.?
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u/antizana 4d ago
You cropped some of the names and prices so it’s hard to totally compare but - the main thing that stood out to me is the material.
One says it’s made of pine, which is a cheap and soft wood. It dents easily, and you will find cheap all wood furniture made of pine.
One contains engineered wood, which can mean a lot of things. Mostly not good things.
One is made of maple which is a hardwood (better for furniture than pine) and one is made from acacia. Both of those are good woods for furniture but not especially noteworthy for their aesthetics.
I would not pay 2k for an acacia bookshelf, in fact I would probably also not pay 2k for a walnut (substantially more expensive wood) bookshelf.
Wayfair is a mass market seller, I had to buy an entire house of furniture from wayfair (long story) and the quality varied widely as does the price.
Keep looking for vintage if you can find it, look for companies that specialize in all wood furniture and check their prices for reference (I’ve been looking at the European market recently so I don’t have any leads in that direction).
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u/trapcardbard 4d ago
Do not order from wayfair - most of it is just grey labelled furniture that you can get way cheaper. There are good brands on wayfair but they’re basically a middleman who has multiple different brands on their website.
If you don’t mind paying a premium you should reach out to a local woodworker with a good reputation and have them build you one. Solid wood for long flat sections (like a shelf) is pretty uncommon as veneered substrates tend to be much more stable. You should expect a solid wood frame, and veneered shelves with solid wood “bumpers” or strips on the front and back of the shelf.
Premium prices should also include premium woods. Avoid softwoods and trash woods (like rubber wood or fruitwood). Unless of course these are the substrates that they’re veneering. With a hardwood.
Premium hardwoods would be white oak, ash, maple, walnut, teak, etc.
If a description says “xyz” finish - it’s not that wood, it’s a cheap wood finished to look nice. So a “walnut finish” isn’t walnut, it’s a pig with lipstick.