How to understand what kind of wood furniture is made of? 🌳 Detailed guide for buyers

When choosing furniture, many people ask themselves: What kind of wood is it made of? This is important, because the type of wood determines not only the appearance of the product, but also its price, durability, resistance to moisture, mechanical damage and even insects 🐛

In this article you will learn:

• How to visually determine the type of wood 🧐

• What are the features of popular types of wood?

• What is the difference between solid wood, veneer and MDF

• Which breeds are best for different rooms?

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Why do you even need to know what kind of wood your furniture is made of? 🤔

Knowing the wood species gives you:

✅ Understanding quality and service life
✅ Opportunity determine the real price
✅ Correct maintenance and operation
✅ Protection against counterfeiting (when cheap goods are passed off as elite)
✅ Selection of furniture by style and interior

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1. Solid wood, veneer or MDF - what do you have in front of your eyes? 🔍

Before we get into breeds, it's important to understand is the wood in front of you natural.

🔸 Solid wood

These are solid wooden boards that are processed and assembled into a product.

Signs:

• Annual rings and knots are visible

• The surface is warm to the touch

• Uneven pattern

• Weight is greater than that of slab materials

• You can smell it: it often smells like wood even after varnishing 🌲

🔸 Veneered board

This MDF or chipboard, covered with a thin slice of natural wood.

Signs:

• The wood texture is repeated

• The drawing may be too "perfect"

• A thin layer of veneer can be seen on the ends

• Lighter than solid wood

🔸 Laminated board

Chipboard or MDF covered with film with imitation wood (most often PVC or melamine).

Signs:

• The pattern is repeated literally on every element.

• To the touch - cold, glossy or completely smooth

• Doesn't smell like wood

• Often looks too "plastic"

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2. How to determine the type of wood by its appearance? 🌲

Different breeds have their own texture, color, and density characteristics. Here are some of the most popular.

🪵 Oak

Color: from light yellow to brownish-gray
Texture: clearly defined annual rings, pores are clearly visible
Density: tall, furniture is heavy
Style: classic, country, modern

🔍 How to find out:
If the wood has a rough, textured surface, with clearly visible fibers and knots, it is most likely oak.

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🪵 Beech

Color: light yellow with a pinkish tint
Texture: almost knot-free, fine, even grain
Density: tall, but slightly lighter than oak
Style: scandi, minimalism, modern

🔍 How to find out:
The surface is smooth, almost silky, with a delicate texture. If the wood is slightly pinkish, it is probably beech.

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🪵 Pine

Color: from light yellow to warm amber
Texture: large knots, soft fibers
Density: low - light furniture
Style: eco, provence, country

🔍 How to find out:
A light wood with many knots and a strong resinous smell - classic pine. Pleasant to the touch, but easily scratched.

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🪵 Ash

Color: light, with a grayish or creamy undertone
Texture: clear grain, reminiscent of oak but lighter
Density: average
Style: scandi, loft, art deco

🔍 How to find out:
If the wood resembles oak, but is lighter and has a “softer” texture, it is ash. Often used as an alternative to oak.

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🪵 Nut

Color: from light brown to deep chocolate
Texture: waves, sinuous lines, warm shine
Density: high
Style: classic, art deco, loft

🔍 How to find out:
If the wood has a noble dark shade, a complex pattern and feels expensive, it is probably walnut.

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3. How to distinguish wood species by weight and hardness? ⚖️

If you have the ability to lift the furniture or press your fingernail on the edge, you can check hardness:

💡 Advice: Take a coin or key and press lightly - if a mark remains, the wood is soft (most likely pine or spruce).

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4. Additional ways to recognize wood 🧪

If external examination does not produce results, other methods can be used:

🔍 UV lamp

Some species react differently to ultraviolet light. For example, oak can glow greenish-yellow, while beech can glow reddish.

🧼 Smell

Trees have their own aroma:

• Pine - bright resinous

• Oak - tart, woody

• Beech - almost odorless

• Nut - with a slight sweetness

💦 Moisture reaction

Some woods (especially soft ones) absorb water. Try to drop it on an invisible area - if the drop is quickly absorbed, it is soft wood.

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5. Where are different breeds most often used? 🛋️

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6. What if the furniture is painted or varnished? 🎨

Yes, this complicates the task. But there is a way out:

🔹 Ask the seller for documentation or product passport
🔹 Look at the ends and the insides (for example, from below or from behind)
🔹 Examine the texture underneath the coating - natural wood will have a relief even under a layer of paint
🔹 Knock on the door - natural wood gives a dull, pleasant sound, and laminated chipboard - ringing and empty

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7. Can you trust the manufacturer? 🧾

If you buy furniture from a trusted brand, you must be informed of the exact composition:
🔸 Wood species
🔸 Materials used (solid wood, veneer, MDF)
🔸 Processing method

📌 On the website azbukamebeli.com.ua you can:

• Get advice on each product

• Order furniture from a specific species

• Check all specifications before purchasing

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Conclusion: how to identify a tree on your own? 🧠

Here's a quick checklist:

✅ Inspect the texture and fibers
✅ Check weight and density
✅ Look closely at the knots and annual rings
✅ Smell the material
✅ Assess the hardness (press with your fingernail or coin)
✅ Look at the ends or inside of the furniture
✅ Compare with samples or photos on the Internet
✅ Contact the manufacturer for details

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Want furniture made of real wood? Contact Azbuka Mebeli! 🧡

📍 We produce furniture from natural wood species - oak, beech, ash, pine
📍 We provide honest information about the composition and processing
📍 We deliver and collect all over Ukraine
📍 Custom sizes and shades

🪵 Furniture that will last for decades is a reality.
Contact us and find out which breed is right for you!

🌐 azbukamebeli.com.ua | 📞 Free consultation