Where can I find furniture not made in China?

Where can I buy furniture not made in China?

The vast majority of indoor and outdoor furniture found online and in Big Box furniture stores is made in China. Constructed from from low-cost particle board and plastic based veneers, Chinese made furniture can look good at first glance but rarely lasts over time.

What makes low cost furniture fall apart?

At Solid Custom Heirlooms we receive a lot of calls and emails from people who purchased particle board furniture from big box stores such as IKEA, Home Depot or Costco asking if we can help them repair peeling surfaces, chipped corners or bubbled veneer.

Particle board  and veneer furniture is very difficult to repair because once a piece of particle board starts to expand due to exposure to moisture or the veneer starts to pull away from the core, there is simply no way for a consumer or even an experienced furniture repair company to make that material go back to its original form. Fortunately, some of these stores have a very generous return policy!

As you can see in this photo of an almost brand-new IKEA desk, the thin veneer can quickly chip away from the particle board base with even the most basic use.

Alternatives to Chinese made furniture

After a bad experience with cheap furniture many people are ready to purchase furniture built from high quality materials. But where to start? What if you care about how and where your furniture is made? In this age of mega-retailers, where can you buy furniture that is not made in China? Are there still furniture brands that are made in USA?

Not all furniture is made in China! With a little digging shoppers can find a wide variety of American furniture brands that take pride in producing premium furniture with quality natural materials. Some are larger furniture stores that offer a set catalog. Others are smaller companies and craftspeople that offer custom furniture design and a wide range of options such as wood choice, stains and finish.

Why buy real wood furniture made in the USA?

The best furniture in the world is made from solid American hardwood. There is nothing that can compare to the rich natural beauty of American hardwood and craftsmanship of traditional woodworking techniques

For example, this 10 drawer dresser with cut-out drawer pulls is made from solid American Walnut. 

Furniture crafted from real American hardwood will last for generations

• • Quality American hardwood looks better as it ages
  • Solid wood does not chip, bubble or flake over time
  • If damaged, solid wood can be sanded and refinished over time
  • There are a wide variety of species including Ash, Cherry, Maple, Oak and Walnut available to match any décor

Solid hardwood is healthy

• • With the right finish, solid wood furniture can be low VOC or even no VOC
  • Many people believe sleeping on a solid wood bed has grounding and healing properties
  • Chinese-made particle board furniture can off-gas smelly chemicals for months or years

Buying American made furniture supports the USA

• • North American hardwoods are a renewable resource that grows abundantly in the United States
  • Made in the USA furniture employs a wide range of American workers including Loggers, Truckers, Mill Operators as well as the men and women who design, craft, finish and ship furniture
  • Buying American furniture supports our local economy
  • Made in the USA furniture has a low economic impact as raw materials and finished furniture pieces do not need to be shipped to and from from overseas

Solid Oak furniture made in the USA

Oak is one of the most popular – and most distinctly American – hardwoods used in furniture. Both Red and White Oak wood species are abundant in the Appalachian region of the United States and as a result have been used for fine furniture for centuries. Oak is a strong, solid wood with a bold grain pattern that is equally suited to traditional and contemporary furniture.

Where can I find real wood furniture made in the USA?

Solid Custom Heirlooms is a 3-generation strong family business based in the small town of Vinton Ohio and dedicated to crafting fine made in the USA furniture from locally sourced hardwoods. The hardwood that is used in our furniture is sourced exclusively from the Appalachian region of the United States. We believe “Solid is Best” and use solid wood wherever possible in our designs.

We take pride in working with every customer to design and build furniture that best meets their needs. We gladly accept custom orders and discuss each piece of furniture with our customers. If you see furniture on our website and have an idea on how to customize it to make it best for you – please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your ideas.