Guidebook: Solid Timber vs. Veneer
Your furniture’s lifetime is significantly influenced by the materials it’s crafted from. Making a considered choice is about so much more than appearance only; a considered choice is about ensuring your new piece is durable enough to last for years to come.
At The Modern we craft using honest materials, including solid timber and thick timber veneer. Our customers often tell us that understanding what each material offers, and how they work together, gives them confidence in their choices and appreciation for the unique beauty it brings to their home.
Let’s unpack it together.
Solid Timber.
Solid timber is a single piece of natural wood, cut and crafted to create your furniture. It’s durable, long-lasting, and each piece is uniquely beautiful thanks to its natural grain and subtle variations in colour and texture. Over time, solid timber develops a character of its own, earning a unique patina that you’ll appreciate for generations to come. Pieces made from solid timber are perfect if you value durability, timeless style, and a deeper connection to natural materials in your home.
Benefits & Considerations.
Solid timber is beloved for its durability and timeless appeal, making it the perfect choice for furniture you want to last. While solid timber can be heavier and may require occasional care to maintain its finish, its longevity and ability to be refinished or repaired make it a worthwhile investment for key pieces in your home like dining tables, dining chairs, or coffee tables.
Timber Veneer.
Timber veneer is a thin layer of real wood applied over a stable core, giving the appearance and warmth of solid timber without the same weight or cost. Veneer allows for greater design flexibility, such as larger surfaces or intricate shapes, while still offering the beauty of natural wood. We use thicker-than-average veneer, making it more durable and resilient than standard options you’ll find at many other retailers. This ensures that your furniture looks and feels substantial, while still being practical and long-lasting.
Benefits & Considerations.
Timber veneer offers the beauty of natural wood with added versatility and design flexibility, allowing for larger surfaces or intricate shapes that would be difficult to achieve with solid timber alone. At The Modern, we use thicker-than-average veneer, making it more durable and resilient than standard options while still lightweight and practical for everyday use. Timber veneer works beautifully in larger pieces like sideboards or chests of drawers, keeping them lighter without compromising on beauty. For example, our Arna Sideboard features a solid timber body and smooth-sliding doors intricately crafted using veneer.
Is Solid Timber or Timber Veneer Better?
The truth is, neither is “better.” Both solid timber and timber veneer have their own strengths, and they often work beautifully together in a single piece. Both options are natural materials that bring warmth and texture to your home. The choice is ultimately about what works best for your space and lifestyle.
Solid timber excels in longevity and can be repaired or refinished over time, making it perfect for pieces that see daily use, like dining tables or coffee tables. Timber veneer, especially the thicker variety we use, provides versatility and beauty while being lighter and more stable in larger pieces, such as sideboards or chests of drawers. Together, both materials create furniture you’ll cherish for years to come.
Explore our material library or step into our showrooms to touch and feel our timbers for yourself. We can’t wait to see you soon.
