Since bedroom furniture is largely made of wood, this seems like a pretty good place to talk about wood furniture that is not made of solid wood. I am talking, of course, about the infamous Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF) and particle board furniture. They both do have a place in furniture, and in some ways get a bad rap. Consider some of the pros, cons, and uses of both.
MDF:What it is: Medium Density Fibreboard is wood fibers that have been glued together with heat and pressure to make hardboard.
Advantages: MDF is stiff, has no knots or holes to deal with, it is hard, and it is fairly strong. Additionally, it is easy to work with, taking paint, laminates, veneers, and varnishes really well. It is also less expensive than a hard or solid wood piece. Solid wood, of course, is always better, but when it comes to hitting a price point while still maintaining some quality and look, MDF is not a bad way to go. Just always make sure you ask your sales associate what is under a veneer.
Disadvantages: MDF’s biggest drawback is that it is not solid wood. Aside from that, though, it does tend to split sometimes when you put screws into it. Additionally, you should always use caution when sanding or cutting MDF (if you are going to do that to your new furniture, but just be aware of the issue). The glues that are used in it can be dangerous when released into the air.
Particle Board:What it is: There are some who confuse or interchange the names MDF and Particle Board. There is, though, a real difference. Particle board is made similarly to MDF, but is made of more coarse pieces than MDF is. With particle board, you can actually see the pieces usually.
Advantages: Basically it is cheap. Usually, particle board is used for floor underlayment and on roofs more than for furniture construction.
Disadvantages: For furniture, it is generally not strong enough and is subject to chipping and flaking. Occasionally you will see it used in Ready to Assemble (RTA) furniture. Make sure when reviewing what your furniture is made of, you get that distinction between particle and MDF.
MDF and Particle Board are certainly not the only materials you will find being used for furniture construction, but they are the most common aside from solid wood. As always, when you purchase furniture, make sure you find out about the construction. MDF is not always all bad, just always make sure you are getting what you pay for at all times.
See you tomorrow,
The Furniture Guy
