Veneer furniture is any type of furniture that is finished with a thin sliver of wood or other material on the surface of the piece. This thin exterior coating is known as veneer and may be composed of real wood, wood laminate, or a resin product designed to mimic the look or marble or other natural elements. In general, veneer is used to provide a richer look to furniture constructed with less expensive materials.
Producing veneers for use in veneer furniture normally involves creating the slivers from sheets of wood or other materials. To accomplish this, most manufacturers utilize a lathe. This allows them to produce slivers or sheets in any length desired while also producing veneers with different levels of thickness. Doing so makes it possible to produce a desk with a nice veneer with the same ease as applying the thin exterior layer to an entertainment stand or set of end tables.
Many people associate veneer furniture with discount furniture pieces that come in kits and are assembled at home by the consumer. Many of these discount tables, shelving units and computer desks are constructed with pressboard and then covered with a laminate veneer intended to simulate the look of real wood. While they are generally affordable and will last for several years, they do not have the durability of solid wood furniture and are generally replaced in time.
However, there are examples of veneer furniture that are of higher quality and designed to last for longer periods of time. Instead of pressboard, some manufacturers choose to use solid sections of wood that are very durable but not considered the most desirable for furniture. As such, they are less expensive than using oak or maple. To provide these solid wood pieces with a more expensive appearance, it is not unusual for the finished produce to be provided with a hardwood veneer made from a more expensive wood. When manufactured with care, this type of veneer furniture can look very much like a solid oak or maple piece and will last for a number of years.
One of the main advantages to both manufacturers and consumers is the veneer cost. For the consumer, a piece finished with quality veneer supplies makes it possible to purchase attractive furniture even when the budget is very tight. For manufacturers, the use of different types of veneer make it possible to produce furniture for a lower cost per unit, thus increasing the profit realized from each product sold.
