Reasons To Buy Pine Bedroom Furniture Instead Of MDF Furniture
Posted by Marylou Biederman in Bedroom, Furniture
Most new furniture today is made from cheap MDF (medium density fiberboard). This is true even of many branded furniture. The problem is that MDF is made by compressing cheap, low-quality powdered wood in a matrix of hydrocarbon-based resin under high pressure and high temperature. As we all know, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. And since MDF is usually made from low-quality wood to cut costs, furniture made from MDF does not last as long as furniture made from solid wooden planks.
This is one big reason why you should buy solid wood bedroom furniture. But not all woods are created equal. Some, like pine, have exceptionally beautiful knotting and grains. This is one of the reasons why furniture craftsmen in the 1800-s and 1900-s used pine to make furniture. This is also the reason why many unscrupulous furniture manufacturers today stick a pine veneer on top of their products – so that they can pass the whole thing off as pine and sell the furniture for a higher price.
Genuine pine bedroom furniture does not need to be painted. In fact, it should not be painted, because that would just hide the natural beauty of its grain patterns. At most, it should be lightly stained to help bring out the grains, and then waxed or lightly varnished.
Some people actually prefer to buy unfinished pine furniture. This is because freshly cut pine releases a natural and pleasing fragrance into the air. Unfortunately, pine is a softwood, so it is susceptible to insects and fungus attacts when left unprotected to the elements like this. Of course, if the bedroom is constantly kept cool and at a low humidity, there are generally few problems.
Because pine is a softwood, it is more easily dented and scratched when compared to a hardwood like oak. Even with proper maintenance (e.g. annual waxing), some people find some serious wear and tear showing up on their pine beds and wardrobes after a decade or two. At this point, it can be worthwhile to take the furniture to a carpenter to get some repairs done. 
In some cases, it may also be a good idea to get the furniture painted, especially when there is some serious scarring visible. Getting old wood bedroom furniture painted white or some other light pastel color can be a nice change of pace.
Besides being repairable, there is another big point of difference between pine and MDF. Furniture made from solid boards of pine can be carved in elaborate and sophisticated designs, like the Victorian styles or Queen Anne styles. While MDF can be molded and shaped to a certain extent, there are limitations. When you compare two pieces of furniture in the gothic style side by side, you will find that the one made of pine bears a more intricate design.
The main reason to buy MDF furniture is for its low price. If you are willing to buy branded MDF furniture for a high price, you are better off spending that money on real pine bedroom furniture, even if it is unbranded. Furniture made from pine is an investment that can easily last you two or three decades of regular use.
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I often see comparison articles between oak and pine furniture and this is the first time saw more information between pine and MDF.
You have pointed out the MDF is used for furniture these days due to its low cost. As MDF uses compressed powdered wood, it is not as strong as a solidwood like pine. But you have pointed out the most important advantage about pine wood for its quality.
By the way, the picture of