How Solid Wood Furniture Can Improve Your Rental Property

If you have a rental property and have decided to go the furnished route, you might be wondering what type of furnishings are the best investment. While some furniture options may look good and save you money initially, poorer quality materials can and will wear down and break. Then you have to figure out replacement costs, and in a long-term rental, this may occur several times.

Solid wood, when cared for and maintained, can last you a lifetime. Not only that, it can also help you attract a better quality of tenant because of its stylish looks and timeless appeal. If you are seriously considering a solid investment, solid wood furniture is a great choice. 

8 Reasons Why You Should Consider Solid Wood Furniture for Your Rental

1: Fits Into Most Styles

The classic lines of solid wood lend themselves to a wide variety of interior designs. Unlike engineered wood or synthetic materials, most people embrace the warm contours of wood, regardless of whether they are minimalists or recreating a baroque palace. 

2: Wood Has a Timeless Appeal

The warmth of mood that well-crafted wooden furniture evokes is undeniable. Each knot and contour is unique, reflecting the life of the tree from which it was made. It even gets better over the years, with many woods gaining a natural patina and enriched color through the influence of light and the environment,

3: Solid Wood Furniture Has a Good Resale Value

Solid wood furniture has a good resale value if properly maintained, while engineered wood and particleboard depreciate over time. 

The quality of craftsmanship can add to this, such as hand traditional joinery methods, such as dovetail and mortise-and-tenon joints. You can often find these classic methods in traditional Amish furniture for sale. 

Also, bear in mind that Less common woods like walnut, mahogany, and oak tend to have the highest resale value. 

4: Repairability

Although wood can sustain a scratch or nick or two over time, wood is highly repairable with techniques like filling cracks and nicks with wood filler, replacing broken parts, and re-gluing loose joints. You can also refurbish and refinish wood, whereas most synthetic materials are done when they suffer damage. 

5: Durability

Well-crafted and quality wood furniture can not only withstand the wear and tear of daily life, but it can also last for hundreds of years if properly cared for. This benefit makes it a savvy investment compared to the average lifespan of mass-produced alternatives. The key is to keep the wood from temperature extremes and the damaging effects of moisture. 

6: Solid Wood Furniture Could Increase Your Rent

People will be willing to spend more on a rental with quality and well-crafted furniture. Solid wood furniture always lends a space a certain elegance that mass-produced furniture items can never imitate. When you show care for the standard of your furnishings, some well-crafted solid wood pieces can help you stage your rental to make the right impression — and attract higher quality tenants. 

7: Better for Health and the Environment

Solid wood furniture can be a far more sustainable option. When responsibly sourced, solid wood is renewable and biodegradable. The fact that it lasts so long when cared for properly reduces the enormous amount of waste created by frequently discarded low-quality furniture. 

The organic nature of solid wood is not only beautiful, but it also releases fewer VOCs (volatile organic compounds) than other manufactured surfaces like particleboard. Therefore, it can offer environmentally conscious tenants a healthier living environment.

8: Solid Wood Surfaces Improve Mental Wellbeing

A review published in Wood Science and Technology about wood and human stress highlighted the positive effects of wood on human stress. Studies show subjects experienced reduced stress and improved certain feelings, like positivity and increased energy. 

What Are the Best Woods to Choose for Rental Furniture?

Hardwoods are the way to go. They are durable and beautiful and can usually withstand some wear and tear, which is ideal for when you can’t be there all the time to supervise your tenants.  

Teak 

Teak is not only gorgeous, but its high resin and oil content make it highly resistant to moisture, rot, and insect damage. It can double as outdoor furniture and also boasts easier maintenance than many of the other hardwoods. 

Oak

Oak is very durable and resists wear, decay, and insects, which makes it a great long-term investment. It is also relatively easy to maintain.

Walnut 

Its rich, warm color belies its durability in a busy home. Its dense grain can withstand daily use and is less prone to shrinking or warping due to temperature fluctuations.

Ash 

Ash offers durability and shock resistance, which makes it an option for high-traffic areas in your rental. It also often comes at a lower asking price than oak or walnut. 

Maple

Maple is one of the strongest of the hardwoods used for furniture and can resist dents and scratches well. It is also native to North America, making it a very sustainable option.

Conclusion 

Quality solid wood furniture costs what it is worth. It is not an option for every property owner when suitable furniture can be had for a quarter of the price.  However, one must remember the durability of well-crafted solid wood pieces as well as their potential resale and factor in how many cheaper furniture options will need to be replaced repeatedly. Its beauty, durability, and longevity will pay you in the long term, and may even attract you a higher quality of tenants.