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What are the Pros and Cons of Solid Wood Office Furniture?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

Every professional should want to have his or her office space looking its best to impress clients, provide a professional and comfortable feel, and ensure that the decor is durable and long-lasting. To achieve these goals, solid wood office furniture is a fine choice. populating an office space with solid wood office furniture can present pros and cons that may make a purchase of such furniture either feasible or off-putting. When considering how to furnish an office, consider the advantages and disadvantages of wood pieces.

The advantages of solid wood office furniture are certainly many: the pieces will look great, provide strong support and last a very long time. Since solid wood office furniture is often either handmade or at the very least, made with great care, it is likely that the pieces being placed in the office will be strong, well-made, and durable enough to deal with the day to day rigors of office life. Such durability comes at a cost, however, both in terms of money and in weight. Solid wood office furniture is likely to be much heavier than composite materials, such as plastics, particle board, or aluminum. This may put a damper on an office rearrangement, and even make initial installation of such pieces difficult.

Businessman with a briefcase
Businessman with a briefcase

Further, solid wood office furniture is likely to be more expensive than other cheaper, lighter materials. Since much of the wood furniture is hand-made, the cost for such pieces goes up in relation to the production cost. The upswing to this reality is that the solid wood furniture is a worthwhile investment: these heavier, more durable pieces will last a long time, making the cost a bit more bearable. For some office spaces, lighter, cheaper materials may be a better option to cut down on costs. One must bear in mind, however, that materials such as particle board can chip and break easily, meaning the furniture will not last as long as the solid wood office furniture.

If the office space must look professional and classy, solid wood furniture can add a subtle flair to the space. It is not uncommon to see such furniture in executive offices, as many important clients will most likely see this room, but one might consider taking a look at the rest of the office and adding smaller accents: perhaps a solid wood chair set in a waiting room, or a solid wood reception desk. These are lower cost investments that can add a classy look to any office space. If cost is an issue, used pieces of wood furniture can be found, and sometimes the used, weathered look of a piece can complement its beauty.

Discussion Comments

Rundocuri

@spotiche5- If you don't need large pieces of office furniture and you want to save money, you should buy fabricated pieces that require some assembly. Though not as large or durable as hard wood office furniture, fabricated pieces are convenient and inexpensive, and not too difficult to put together when you follow the instructions.

Heavanet

@spotiche5- You don't have to spend a lot of money to furnish your home office. Instead of buying new pieces, you can get discount home office furniture prices when you buy used items.

Though not new, you will most likely find office furniture that is nicely maintained for a fraction of the price of a new desk, cabinets, and drawers.

To begin your search for used office furniture, you should visit antique shops, thrift stores, yard sales, and pawn shops. You may have to purchase pieces separately, but you may also find a complete home office furniture set at one of these locations.

In addition to finding prices that are already low, if you negotiate, you may be able to save even more money on your office furniture than you had expected. Just be sure to take your time, shop around, and ask questions so you will get exactly what you need at prices that will make you glad you bought used office furniture.

Spotiche5

I'm looking for tips for furnishing a home office on a budget with discount home office furniture. I need a desk, cabinets, and some storage space, but I do not have a lot of money to spend on this furniture.

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    • Businessman with a briefcase
      Businessman with a briefcase