We have all seen the advertisements that say things like "solid wood" but what they really mean is a solid wood veneer. What is a veneer? Well a veneer is a very thin slice of solid wood, this veneer is often attached to an inferior substrate like MDF this allows the manufacture to produce the product at a lower cost unfortunately this type of construction comes with a price, the MDF material usually often times is not as strong as solid wood and over time the underlayment will begin to come apart and you are left with dust. So when looking to buy a good piece of furniture you want to make sure that it is constructed from solid wood whether it be Maple coat racks or a new chest of drawers.

When looking to purchase a good quality desk inspect the drawer construction this will point out a lot about the quality of the piece, starting with the drawer fronts are they made from solid wood or are they a veneer? Second examine the drawer sides are they constructed from MDF or a good grade of plywood or the best are they made from solid wood? Finally examine the joints, how are the drawer sides fastened together the best drawers will be built with dovetail joints, this is the best joint available for drawers.

When looking to purchase a mounted coat rack you will definitely want to make sure that it is made from solid hardwoods like Oak, cherry or Maple, these are quite durable woods and will last for decades. Solid Maple coat racks can actually be handed down from generation to generation. You might also want to inspect the types of hooks on the wall mounted coat rack some manufactures advertise a "brass finish" this brass finish can be painted on or a plated finish either way over time the finish will wear off. You need to insist on solid brass, a solid brass wall mounted coat hook will last for decades. Another thing to look at is how is the coat rack mounted and is the mounting hardware included? Is the mounting system designed for 16 inch on center wall stud mounting? If not you might want to keep looking. Whichever you are looking to purchase a piece of good quality furniture will cost more than veneered furniture but over time it will retain its usefulness much longer as well as continuing to look excellent for many years to come.