Among the many things that inform the look and feel of your home interiors is the furniture material used. While it might seem trivial or surface-level, the furniture material you choose has a direct bearing on your home aesthetics and also dictates the comfort level. There are many factors you need to consider when looking at different furniture materials including your aspired aesthetic, existing home decor, the prevalent weather, your budget, and more. The room or area you need furniture for also has a part to play in helping you decide the ideal furniture material. For instance, the furniture material used for your living room furniture will be very different from the material used for outdoor furniture.
If the question 'how to choose furniture' has been on your mind, we're here to help. From environment-friendly furniture to furniture fabric types, we cover everything you need to know about choosing the right furniture material for your space.
The Definitive Furniture Material List
Before you choose furniture for your home, you need to be aware of the different types of furniture materials available at your disposal.
Plastic
A lightweight and versatile material that can be molded into any shape, plastic is a popular furniture material, particularly for outdoor furniture. Plastic is comparatively cheaper to manufacture and is mass-produced into simple pieces of furniture. While plastic is cost-effective and water-resistant, it's not very durable. In terms of visual appeal, plastic doesn't score too high but that's to be expected since you're not paying a lot for it.
Glass
A relatively new entry in the list of furniture materials, glass is a contemporary aesthetic favorite. This unique furniture material can be molded and shaped into pieces that other materials cannot, for instance, a three-tier, waterfall effect coffee table. While sturdier than plastic, glass furniture cannot withstand a lot of weight and needs to be used (and placed) carefully. Visually, glass furniture is generally quite stunning and earns brownie points for its minimalism.
Wood
If you're looking for sustainable furniture material, wood is a perfect choice. Arguably the most popular furniture material, wood is equal parts durable and visually appealing. Custom wood furniture is a big draw for most homeowners and it isn't just long-lasting but adds oodles of class and beauty to your home. There are many types of furniture wood you can choose from including oakwood, teak, mahogany, maple, pine, and many others. Each of these wood variants is visually and structurally unique and brings charm to your home interiors. No matter the wood type you choose, you can expect the furniture to last you for years on end, making it one of the most durable furniture materials out there.
Leather
One of the most important couch material types, leather has been used to create furniture for many years. Generally used to upholster chairs and sofas because of its flexible make and comfort, leather offers a distinct visual look that’s hard to replicate with any other furniture material. Leather is quite expensive and if you’re looking for a more cost-effective alternative, vinyl is the closest substitute. In terms of weather resistance, it’s generally recommended to avoid using leather in any outdoor furniture since the material isn’t meant to brave the elements of nature.
Steel
Another classic furniture material type that finds its way into most households is steel. Light, flexible, and durable, steel furniture is the best suited for your outdoor seating area out of all the furniture material types listed above. Steel can be easily formed into any shape, making it the perfect option for folding chairs and tables. If you’re looking for an offbeat, quirky look, steel furniture is the ideal choice and can be used across many different design aesthetics.
How to Choose the Right Furniture Material?
You have to consider a few things when choosing furniture material for your home. Here are some of the factors to consider and some handy tips that'll lead you to the right furniture material.
- Substance over style is something you need to remember when looking at different furniture materials. If you're choosing a furniture material for your living room, for instance, you need to pick a material that is durable and can withstand regular use. For your guest room or another part of your house you don't expect to use too much, you can have furniture which is pretty but not quite durable.
- Every type of furniture material reacts differently to different weather conditions. For instance, solid wood can puff up in too much heat while something like plant-based wicker is not water-resistant at all and shouldn't be used in places where it rains a lot. When looking at different furniture materials, consider your weather conditions, especially if you're looking for outdoor furniture.
- At the end of the day, furniture is both physical and visual and this needs to reflect in your choice of furniture material. If you have a primarily mid-century modern design aesthetic, steel or aluminum furniture will look out of place. Or if you're going for an old-school vibe, wooden furniture works best. Finding the perfect furniture material match for your design aesthetic is key to creating uniform and calming home interiors.
- Another factor to consider when evaluating different furniture materials for your home is your budget. Certain furniture materials like solid wood and leather are quite expensive, especially if you want something high-quality and from a brand. If you have a smaller furniture budget, you can either consider close substitutes like engineered wood and vinyl. Another option at your disposal is furniture rental. When you rent furniture online, you get to choose from an exciting range of products without worrying about their cost.
- If you're looking for eco-friendly furniture options for your home, there are plenty of decent options you can choose from. For wood, some of the closest eco-friendly alternatives are veneers, plywood, fiberboard, laminated wood, and more. Bamboo is also considered amongst the most eco-friendly and sustainable furniture materials available presently. If you're serious about sourcing sustainable furniture for your home, renting furniture instead of buying it is a great option. CasaOne offers high-quality furniture for rent to help you bring home furniture that has been created without having to cut down another tree.
When choosing the right furniture material for your home, consider your budget, requirements, and existing home decor, and find the right pick. Browse CasaOne's furniture collection right here.
Got Questions?
- What is eco-friendly furniture made of?
There are different materials used to create eco-friendly furniture including rattan, bamboo, particleboard, and more. Furniture made from metal, aluminum, and steel is also considered eco-friendly since all these materials can be easily recycled and used again.
- What type of fabric is best for furniture?
There are many great furniture fabrics available in the market for you to choose from including linen, wool, polyester, rayon, microfiber, velvet, and much more. The best furniture fabric for you depends on a variety of factors including your budget, personal preferences, weather, and existing home aesthetics.
- How many types of furniture materials are there?
The types of furniture material can be classified into three primary categories including wood, metal, and glass. For wood, some popular material variants include ash, mahogany, beech, cherry, walnut, oak, pine, and more. Some varieties of metal furniture include cast iron, stainless steel, and more.
- What are the materials used for furniture?
Some of the most popular materials used to make furniture are plastic, wood, metal, glass, cane, MDF, acryl, fabric, and more.
- Which types of furniture sell the most?
Wooden furniture sells the most for a variety of reasons. These include their longevity, their classic visual appeal, and sturdy-ness. Given its universal appeal, wood furniture can be used in all the rooms of a house and across different design aesthetics.