If you need answers to your storage problems, a chest of drawers should be on your list of solutions. But what should you look for when finalizing your decision? Well, one major aspect is the material used to construct the chest of drawers.

As with any furniture piece, you want your chest of drawers to have a long lifespan. While the furniture should be fashionable, it shouldn’t be disposable. That’s why many opt for a solid wood chest. Wood is the most common material used in furniture construction due to its durability. However, many may find solid wood to be a bit pricey.

There are wood veneer chests in a variety of colors and styles available, but you may be hesitant to try one. Just hearing the term “wood veneer” can conjure thoughts of cheap and thin materials. However, wood veneers have come a long way and are much stronger than they once were.

Wood veneers are a much more affordable option for your chest of drawers as it’s a thin layer of natural hardwood bonded to a composite base material. Not only is it more affordable, but it’s also environmentally friendlier than a solid wood option. Since it’s one piece of solid wood sliced into multiple pieces, more chests can be made from a single piece of wood. That means fewer trees are being cut down to make furniture. You can find one of these chests of bedroom drawers on 1StopBedrooms.

Another great aspect of wood veneers is that the thin quality of the wood allows for different designs and arrangements that you cannot achieve with solid wood. Wood veneer chests are not prone to warping like solid wood chests, and will with proper care, your piece will last a long time.

Cleaning wood veneer surfaces is simple, just use a soft, damp, lint-free cloth, and wipe in the same direction as the wood grain. Regularly dust and use non-ammonia glass cleaner to wipe down tougher stains left by food and drink. Don’t use furniture polishes with wax or silicone.

Wax leads to build-up over time and causes the chest to have a cloudy, uneven appearance. Silicone leaves white, streaky residue behind that will ruin the chest’s finish. The safest thing you can do is read the ingredients of the cleaning products you will use on the chest. Stay away from abrasive cleaners and cloths so that you don’t damage the surface.

Should you get any light marks or scratches, try using high-quality furniture polish to conceal blemishes. Also, protect your chest by keeping it out of direct sunlight. If left there for long periods, the chest color will start to fade. Use shades as protection if your room’s layout doesn’t allow you to keep the chest away from the windows.

Wipe up any spills quickly with a clean towel or dishcloth. You want to soak up all of the moisture to prevent it from causing any real damage down the line.