TL;DR – Why Modern Furniture Doesn’t Last & What to Do About It

Mass-produced furniture isn’t built to last like it once was. Here’s why and how custom furniture offers a better solution:

  • Cheap Materials – Solid hardwood has been replaced with MDF and particle board, which weaken over time.
  • Weak Construction – Flat-pack, consumer-assembled furniture lacks the durability of traditional joinery.
  • Planned Obsolescence – Fast furniture is designed to be replaced, not repaired, leading to waste and frequent repurchases.
  • Custom Furniture is the Solution – Built from solid wood with superior craftsmanship, custom pieces last for generations.
  • Worth the Investment – While pricier upfront, custom furniture outlasts multiple replacements of mass-produced alternatives, making it a smarter long-term purchase.

Why Modern Furniture Doesn’t Last—And What to Do About It

"They just don’t build ’em like they used to." That saying applies to many products, but perhaps none more than furniture. Decades ago, purchasing a table, dresser, or cabinet was an investment in a piece meant to last a lifetime—sometimes even generations. Heirloom-quality furniture was built with durability, craftsmanship, and timeless materials.

Today, many furniture pieces struggle to last even a few years, let alone survive a move to a new home. Scratches, broken parts, twisted drawers, and joinery failures are all too common. What happened?

The Shift to Disposable Furniture

Several factors have led to the decline in furniture quality. A major driver is the rise of mass-market retailers like IKEA, West Elm, and Wayfair, which have prioritized affordability and fast production over longevity. Their success has put pressure on even so-called high-end retailers to find cheaper materials and production methods, sacrificing the craftsmanship that once defined well-made furniture.

Here are some of the biggest changes that have impacted durability:

The Shift from Solid Wood to Engineered Materials

Furniture used to be crafted from solid hardwoods like walnut, cherry, oak, and mahogany. Today, much of what is sold in big-box stores is made from MDF (medium-density fiberboard) or particle board with a thin veneer layer. While these materials may look nice initially, they lack the strength and longevity of solid wood.

  • Veneered particle board can be visually appealing, but its structural integrity is weak. Over time, screws pull out, joinery loosens, and the piece becomes unstable.
  • MDF absorbs moisture easily, leading to swelling, warping, and eventual breakdown.

Flat-Pack Assembly Weakens Structural Integrity

Another major shift has been the transition from fully assembled furniture to flat-pack furniture. While shipping unassembled parts reduces costs, it significantly weakens durability.

  • Pre-assembled, hand-crafted furniture is made with joinery techniques like mortise-and-tenon or dovetails, which reinforce strength.
  • In contrast, furniture designed for consumer assembly often relies on cam locks, cheap screws, and weak adhesives, making it more prone to loosening, wobbling, and eventual failure.

Planned Obsolescence and the Fast-Furniture Industry

Retailers have capitalized on trends and "fast furniture"—pieces designed to be replaced rather than repaired. Much like fast fashion, this approach prioritizes affordability and aesthetics over longevity.

  • New styles cycle in and out, encouraging customers to replace rather than restore their furniture.
  • Lack of repairability means that once something breaks, it’s often cheaper to replace than to fix—a stark contrast to heirloom furniture that can be refinished or re-glued over time.

The Solution: Investing in Quality and Craftsmanship

If you want furniture that lasts, the best solution is to invest in handmade, solid-wood furniture built with time-tested techniques. This is where custom furniture shines.

Why Custom Furniture Is Worth It

  1. Built to Last – Custom pieces are made from solid hardwood and crafted with strong, traditional joinery, ensuring durability for decades.
  2. Designed for You – Unlike mass-produced furniture, custom furniture is tailored to your exact needs—dimensions, wood species, finishes, and design details.
  3. Sustainable and Repairable – Rather than ending up in a landfill, solid-wood furniture can be refinished, re-glued, and passed down through generations.
  4. Better Value in the Long Run – While custom furniture requires a larger upfront investment, it outlasts multiple replacements of cheaply made alternatives, making it a smarter long-term purchase.

What About Cost?

It’s true that custom furniture isn’t cheap, but it offers unmatched value. You can optimize costs by choosing locally sourced wood species, prioritizing key features, and working with an experienced craftsman who understands your budget.

When you invest in custom furniture, you’re not just buying a piece—you’re acquiring something that will stand the test of time, just like in the good old days.