Think only clothes can be victims of fast fashion? Think again. The 2020s are seeing the rise of “fast furniture,” or mass-produced pieces made of poor-quality materials. They’re particularly popular because they’re cheap, and brands like IKEA and Wayfair offer them in countless trendy designs. Yet these products are fragile, which is terrible for your wallet and the environment. The Seattle Times notes the average lifespan of fast furniture doesn’t extend beyond five years. Once they break, they’re thrown out—and since they can’t biodegrade, they start clogging up our landfills. In fact, Americans throw away over 12 million tons of furniture a year.
Doing your research before buying furniture can thus be highly cost-efficient and eco-friendly. Wondering where to begin? Carefully look at the materials the pieces you want are made out of. By making the right choice, you can purchase more durable and sustainable products that are still stylish enough to elevate your home. Here’s a quick list of the best materials to get you started:
Wood
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There are many reasons why wood is one of the most trusted materials used for furniture. It’s sturdy and can be carved into simple and complex designs, meaning you can get unique, bespoke pieces to grace your home. Of course, wood is also sustainable. You can refurbish it once it starts looking old to make it look brand-new. Living Spaces offers a dining set with bench and chair seats made of mixed materials like solid birch and natural rattan in their Mariko model, which even patinas and darkens over time, enriching the pieces. More furniture brands are also sourcing their wood from responsible sources, like managed forests. Pieces made from this material are ultimately timeless in more ways than one.
Metal
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This is another long-lasting material you can consider when buying new furniture. Though arguably as durable as wood (if not more), metal stands out because it’s also moisture-resistant and can withstand heavy loads despite being lightweight. It can also give home decor a more luxurious feel. Metal furniture finished in shades like gold and silver can give off a more elegant aesthetic, pieces made of brass have a more vintage appeal, and plain metal or steel furniture can help your living space look more classy and modern. This LinkedIn article adds that metal boasts a major style factor: it can be manipulated in various ways when heated so that it can be wrought into even more intricate designs. That also means pieces made of this material can be repurposed later on!
Glass
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Though it sounds fragile, glass is made to be highly durable when used in furniture. When tempered, it becomes resistant to stains, scratches, and moisture. Meanwhile, the light, clean, and aesthetic glass furniture can make rooms look more spacious. They can even be blown into designs perfect for everything, from coffee tables to light fixtures. If you want furniture that will make your home look attractive for longer, glass pieces can thus help enhance open space layouts and subtly illuminate your living space—two recommendations in our article.
Leather
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Leather is one of the most popular fabric materials used in furniture because it doesn’t wear out quickly, is hard to tear, and is ultimately easy to clean and maintain. That’s why you’ll often find it leveraged as upholstery for pieces like couches and chairs— a point of interest, leather upholstery is especially suitable for pet owners. Leather furniture is also considered quite classy. It’s often used in professional settings like home studies, schools, and offices, and you may find this aesthetic a good fit for your home. If you’re looking for a more sustainable option, you can opt for plant-based leather or pleather. This material provides the same benefits as regular leather without using animal products.
Cotton
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For a softer fabric option, cotton is the best choice for furniture. It’s naturally abrasion-resistant, and How Stuff Works highlights that tightly woven varieties with a higher thread count, like Egyptian cotton, are incredibly durable and hard to tear. Cotton upholstery comes in different styles, textures, and patterns that you can experiment with when buying durable furniture to build your home’s overall aesthetic. You may even appreciate that cotton fibers are natural and not made of plastic like polyester. More importantly, they’re highly breathable, providing additional comfort for furniture you use often—like couches and beds—without wearing out easily.