Bed materials: is it all wood that looks like it?

Wooden beds are loved by many for their attractive appearance, naturalness, durability and the ability to create a truly comfortable, homely atmosphere. However, is all the furniture that looks like wood really is and possesses the indicated properties? No, not all, because due to the high cost, few decide to purchase furniture from solid wood, but turn to more affordable, thereby more attractive substitutes like chipboard and MDF.

In this article we will try to figure out what modern beds can be made of and what qualities they will possess.
Solid wood beds
Let’s start with solid wood furniture. During its production, high-quality, well-dried wood without knots and cracks is taken, it can be either whole boards or composite boards from separate pieces connected by glue (glued board), which are then ground and varnished. At the same time, so that the bed does not emit harmful substances, it is important that a high-quality, environmentally friendly water-based varnish is used. Beds made of solid wood are valued primarily for the beauty of the texture, hardness, strength, durability. Each breed is distinguished by the individuality and originality of its pattern, shade, tangible aroma and warmth. Among different types of wood, mahogany, oak, beech, ash, birch are considered the best, since they are the ones with the highest strength, do not creak and less loose over time, preserving the beauty and nobleness of the surface for a long time.

Often those who can not afford expensive furniture made of noble wood choose a pine bed, which wins significantly in price. Pine has its drawbacks: it is relatively soft, because the screw joints in such furniture can become loose over time, and over time, even bumps and pits may appear in the drying of pine boards.

The suppleness of natural wood made sure that furniture from it was always decorated with a variety of carvings and patterns, which makes your bed elegant and unique. It is because of this uniqueness that it is recommended to purchase elements of a sleeping set not separately, but immediately the whole set (usually a bed, wardrobe, bedside tables, chest of drawers), because then you may just not find the components that fit the already purchased ones.

However, an array of natural wood is a very expensive material and is accessible not to everyone, therefore such furniture is acquired for many years, or even for a lifetime.

But now many people like to periodically update the interior, and therefore not all need such durable furniture. That is why often in the manufacture of furniture used its cheaper substitutes: particleboard, MDF.
Chipboard
Particleboard (wood chipboard) is obtained from wood shavings or tyrsa, which is glued and then pressed. The composition of the glue used in the production of particleboard is important – some unscrupulous, mostly little-known factories like to save money and use glue that can evaporate harmful substances into the air in your apartment. And therefore, it is important to purchase furniture from experienced, well-established companies in the market. Most furniture, including beds, is now made from chipboard, because this material is very convenient, it does not require much processing effort and is cheap, and a high-quality chipboard can be as strong as pine.

In the manufacture of furniture, chipboard is coated with either veneer or a special film.

Veneer is a thin cut layer of wood that creates the impression that the furniture is made of solid wood.
Chipboard
Another, cheaper coating – plastic or laminated film with a wood pattern, due to which the material becomes similar to natural wood of any noble species and is called laminated chipboard – laminated chipboard. Lamination gives particular strength to the chipboard, such a coating is scratch resistant.

It’s easy to distinguish imitations from solid wood by simply looking at the ends. The fact is that only flat surfaces are produced from chipboard, because the slices are strictly rectangular in shape without any rounding or pattern.
MDF
In addition, in the manufacture of furniture elements from MDF (MDF – Medium Density Fiberboard) can be used. Elements of furniture made of MDF can have smooth curves and imitate wood carving, since it is made from pressed fine wood, and in the process of making the plate, the material is given different shapes.