• ElderReflections@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    189
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    3 months ago

    Confirmation bias: all the shite furniture from 1800s has rotted to dust already

    Edit for full disclosure: I’ve exclusively bought antique furniture. I’m basically a shill for big-auction

    • brygphilomena@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      37
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      Sure. A lot has rotted away, but much modern furniture is designed with so much MDF and other manufactured wood products that aren’t resilient in the least. Moisture will destroy them, they take gashes super easy, and are soft wood.

      I’d think the furniture our grandparents had would be more likely to have been solid wood.

      That’s not to say there aren’t solid hardwood pieces being made today. But they are extremely expensive and are competing in a space with poor regulation of descriptions and all the flat pack Chinese imported stuff thats literally 10% of the price of good furniture that will last.

      Solid hardwood furniture is a luxury.

      • CrowAirbrush@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        3 months ago

        I bought a modern well made dresser from some exotic wood, cost me roughly €900 amd it got damaged after moving but i haven’t taken the time to repair it as it’s only visual.

        That thing is solid af, it has more hidden supports than it needs. I could probably park a car on top and it would withstand the weight. (Obv. i haven’t tested that lol)

        We went shopping for a tv cabinet and 99% turned out to be particle board but they still had the audacity to charge between €1200 and €1800 euro’s.

        • brygphilomena@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          3 months ago

          Yea. It’s really bad looking for something online. They may be under the “solid wood” category for material, but they still are 90% particle board.

          I prefer spending extra knowing that I’ll have something for decades and not have to replace it in a year or two. Fortunately for me, about 80% of my homes furniture is from Habitat for Humanity. They are fantastic for having a good selection of quality stuff for cheap. Some might need a little repair, but they tend to only accept decent stuff in the first place.

    • Zos_Kia@lemmynsfw.com
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 months ago

      Also the one from their grandma cost 3 months wage at the time and they probably got it as their wedding gift. Totally comparable to 25$ worth of composite 👍