How Do I Choose the Best Plywood Chair?

The overall strength of plywood is surprisingly high because of the way plywood is constructed: pieces of wood veneer, or layers, are glued or fastened to each other with their grains perpendicular in order to resist bending or warping in any direction. A plywood chair is therefore likely to be quite strong, though it may not be the most attractive chair if the outer layer of the plywood is made from a low grade of wood. Choose a plywood chair with an outer layer made from fine wood, such as oak, mahogany, cedar, and so on.

Plywood is flexible but resistant to cracking or warping, which makes it a good choice for creating scooped seats and curved features. The plywood chair you are considering should be an attractive unit, and it should be comfortable as well, so the plywood is likely to feature bends and curves. Make sure the ends of any plywood sheets, bent or otherwise, are sanded properly and finished smoothly to prevent splinters or other problems that can cause injury to a person or damage to clothing or other items.

It is important to consider the overall decor of a room before choosing a plywood chair. You will probably want to choose a plywood chair that fits in with the rest of your furniture to some degree, though it is okay to choose a chair that stands out to some degree as well so it ends up being a noticeable conversation piece. The color and design will have an impact on the appearance of the chair, so try to choose a color that fits the color scheme of the room, and a design that will be visually appealing to you for years to come, even as popular styles and trends change.

If you have hardwood floors in your home, be sure to take a look a the legs of the plywood chair. Some chairs come with a felt or rubber footing that will prevent scratching on hardwood floors, while others are bare wood. While bare wood legs will not necessarily damage wood floors, it is always a good idea to protect your investment by adding feet to the chair to prevent scratching. Some chairs will already feature such feet, but if they don't, you can purchase casters or pieces of felt that can be secured to the bottom of the legs quickly and easily.