Who hasn’t heard the stories of how our parents, and their parents before them, came to acquire their prized collections of furniture? They put together ideas from catalogues and magazines, poached designs from friends’ houses, and interviewed dozens of carpenters before finding the perfect workers. Then they followed lengthy price negotiations, personally handpicking the materials, supervising the work and nit-picking on quality. Months of blood, sweat and tears would go into the making of one exquisite piece of furniture. In their eyes, buying mass-produced furniture was nothing short of a crime! But in this day and age, you do not have to go through the same arduous process to get yourself some quality furniture.
We’re here to debunk all the age-old myths on factory-made furniture. Let’s straighten out the facts right now!
MYTH 1: Factory-made Modular Furniture Uses Low-quality Material
Reputed kitchen and modular furniture providers use high-quality MDF and pre-laminated water-resistant ply as the core material for their cabinets. Not only are these materials high on quality, but they are also very durable and can withstand humidity and heat.
So why do people believe that MDF and pre-laminated ply are low-quality materials? It’s because if a carpenter is asked to work with pre-lam boards, he will not be able to do a good job! The material will chip and break apart if old-fashioned hand tools are used to work on it. These chips and breaks cannot be filled in, like with traditional wood furniture. And thus, a misconception is born – MDF/Pre-Lam is low on quality because it chips easily.
But when these boards are worked on in a factory, using specific tools and machines, you can get products of the highest quality that have been made to exacting standards and finished well. So, there you have it: these boards were designed to be used in factories and not worked on by hand.
MYTH 2: Factory-made Furniture Is Not Strong and Durable
We’ve all heard this story. Your neighbour or friend could have ordered some cabinets made out of MDF for their kitchen and had them fitted by a small-time carpenter. While the cabinets looked good in the beginning, in a few weeks, the hinges became loose, and in a few months, the shutters fell apart.
Does this mean that all MDF furniture will not last? Well, of course not. The installation of the unit is just as crucial as the fabrication. Most of the time, modular furniture comes apart because it has not been installed well. The ‘screw holding capacity’ of modular furniture differs from traditional wood furniture, and the fixing details are different too. If your carpenter uses the wrong screws to put your cabinets up on the wall, they are going to come out sooner rather than later.
The solution? Give the responsibility for the installation to an expert team. Rest assured, your cabinets will last a good many years!
MYTH 3: If You’re Buying Modular, Only Plywood Makes Sense
While solid wood is always given the topmost priority, plywood is the second choice for most traditional-minded people. It’s been around for many years now and has gained an excellent reputation. However, newer materials like MDF and pre-laminated boards can also easily hold their own against plywood in the strength department. Rest assured that reputed modular kitchen providers use only heavy density particle boards and MDF that is durable and sturdy. Also, let’s not forget; these are also eco-friendly options!
MYTH 4: Modular Kitchens Will Not Last Long Due to Low Moisture Resistance
All woods and plywoods expand and contract due to temperature differences, and exhibit some degree of shrinkage over a long period. Water-resistant MDF and pre-laminated boards, on the other hand, are engineered woods that are bonded using high-quality resins and binders and do not change their properties even when exposed to high degrees of humidity.
If you are worried about the moisture and heat in the kitchen (but still want to keep your budget in check), there are alternatives. Your designer can swap out the materials and provide a cost-effective solution that uses the highest grade of moisture-resistant wood close to the sink and stove, and budget-friendly materials elsewhere.
MYTH 5: Modular Is Just a Trend and Will Pass
Well, that’s where you’re wrong. The modular design concept is almost a century old. From the Eames Chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956 to today’s contemporary houses, modular furniture has co-existed and even bested other design trends. With a bit of smart thinking, there is no reason why you cannot make your modern furniture co-exist with your vintage pieces, and make your house a culmination of all your design fantasies!
There’s no doubt that modular furniture is here to stay! So do rid your mind of all these myths and embrace the new standards in global design. You can take your pick from a wide variety of stunning designs, eye-popping colours and textures; and get your customised home design put together by the talented teams at HomeLane.
