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Those of us who want good furniture that can stand up to a lifetime of wear and tear know that the best furniture is often old furniture. Much of the furniture that is new on the market today is poorly made, often using MDF (medium density fiberboard). This material falls apart in the presence of dampness and the furniture is often too fragile for long-term use. The joints fall apart, the drawers get warped and the frames break, and easily, too. Sometimes it falls apart before you are done making payments.

Many people who want sturdier furniture look for good pieces in the second hand, garage sale and auction market to get better alternatives that can stand the tests of time, families, pets and clumsy friends.

There are several ways to recognize good furniture just by looking at the construction of each piece, even upholstered pieces.

1. Open drawers in chests and dressers and look for dovetail joints attaching the front of the drawer to the drawer box. It’s going to be much sturdier than a drawer front that is nailed, stapled or even attached with screws.
2. Look for dust barriers between each drawer on the inside of chests, dressers and armoires. This is another indicator of quality construction in case goods, boxy furniture pieces designed for storage.
3. Many chairs that are quality construction will have legs that are actually part of the seat of the chair. The leg will start at the top of seat and finish at the floor, not be attached to the piece with a couple of screws.
4. This type of leg construction may also be found in tables, chests, armoires, and other furniture that is of better quality. Decorative columns may trim the sides and flow naturally into the feet or legs of a piece of good furniture. It’s a good way to get a piece of furniture that will hold up better because the joinery is stronger.
5. Look for quality veneers. Yes, a beautiful veneer over a hardwood base may be just the hint you need to get a great piece of furniture. Think decorative or book veneers that balance from the center and are made of fine woods like burl wood, maple or other woods that contrast with the rest of the piece.

All of these types of furniture construction can lead you to good furniture that will serve you for all of your life. Best of all you can find older furniture to fit every style of décor from primitive antiques to traditional to very modern. You can collect whatever you like or have a bit of everything. If you find something nice that is damaged or needs refinishing a good antique furniture restoration or antique furniture refinishing expert can work miracles.