There are a lot of factors when it comes to buying wood furniture; cost, color, and quality to name a few. But the most important question, arguably, is what kind of wood you’re getting.

There are, essentially, three types of “wood” used in furniture: Solid wood, MDF, and plywood.

And within these categories, there are high quality and lower quality versions which will affect the long-term durability of the furniture and the price.

Are there times when MDF is a better option than real wood? Or should you always invest in high-quality hardwood furniture? We’re answering those questions and breaking down the difference between MDF and real wood.

Solid Wood

Solid wood is a natural resource and doesn’t go through the manufacturing process that MDF does. It’s broken down between hardwood and softwood; hardwood being, unsurprisingly, the more durable and long-lasting of the two.

Hardwood vs. Softwood

Hardwood trees are slow-growing and produce a denser wood, and are, in general, deeper in tone than softwood trees. Typical hardwoods found in high-quality wood furniture are Oak, Cherry, Maple, Walnut, Birch, and Ash.

Softwoods, on the other hand, are less dense and are not as durable as hardwoods. They are sometimes used as a backing or on the insides of case goods. Typical softwoods are Pine, Poplar, Acacia, and Rubberwood.

Qualities and characteristics of natural wood

Natural wood is a living material. Its characteristics will never be uniform, so “perfection” can’t be expected. We think this is the beauty of hardwood furniture. Every mark, mineral stain, and color pattern tells a story about how the tree adapted to its environment.

Natural wood furniture, in particular hardwood, is incredibly long-lasting if it’s taken care of well. These are pieces that end up being heirlooms – your grandmother’s dining table or the antique nightstand you got from a friend.

The great thing about natural wood furniture is that it can be refinished and sanded down, extending the longevity even more.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)

So, what about MDF?

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is an engineered wood composite made up of leftover hardwood or softwood. It can be quite dense and sturdy, making it near impossible to cut with a table saw.

MDF is sometimes confused with particleboard (also known as chipboard), which is much less sturdy as it’s made up of large chips of wood that are bound together with glue and resin. Although particleboard is less expensive, we’d recommend you steer clear. The space between the wood chips in particleboard makes it less durable and more prone to damage.

With that being said, not all engineered wood composites are cheap and low-quality. MDF puts its strength and density to good use in some applications. You may find it in media cabinets, for example, because it won’t warp from the heat that comes off of electronics.

Most bookcase shelves are MDF as it can hold more weight and prevents warping. And finally, most dressers have MDF on the siding to help mitigate cost and weight and to ensure the stability over time.

As dense as it is, MDF is considerably heavier than hardwood furniture – something to keep in mind if you’re purchasing a larger item.

What about plywood?

Engineered wood (plywood) is made up of layers of wood, which are glued together in alternating sections.

Plywood can come in both hard and softwood versions, which affect its durability. Additionally, plywood can come in different numbers of layers, usually averaging between 3 and 9. The more layers, the stronger the plywood, and the higher the cost.

The best quality plywood comes from kiln-dried hardwood layers, which makes it hold its shape and prevent warping. The benefit to plywood is that it can be shaped and curved for specific usages like the base of a Stressless Chair.

What are veneers?