Buying a home and furnishing it with our favourite furniture pieces are some of the most expensive purchases we’ll ever make in our lifetime. In order to ensure that our home lasts us a long time, homeowners must learn how to pick out the most durable furniture. Although interior aesthetics are important, quality furniture should still be our top priority. Hear from an online furniture shop in Singapore on some of the most durable materials to look for when furniture shopping. 

1. Full Grain or Top Grain Leather

Leather sofas are among the most sought after furniture pieces for their durability and easy maintenance. Although most genuine leather types are relatively durable, full-grain leather and top-grain leather are the most durable options. Their amazing durability, however, comes with high price tags. 

When shopping for furniture, you may see many online furniture shops offer full leather or half leather sofas online. These terms simply indicate where genuine leather is used on the sofa. “Half leather” refers to genuine leather being used only on areas that come into contact with the body, while other areas, such as the bottom, back and sides of the sofa, are lined with polyvinyl chloride or artificial leather. These sofas are less expensive than full-leather sofas. "Full leather" sofas are more expensive because the entire sofa is made of genuine leather. With half leather sofas, you get to enjoy the quality of genuine leather without having to fork out the money for a full leather sofa.

2. Polyester

Polyester is not only one of the most affordable fabrics, but it is also one of the strongest fabric textiles. Its synthetic fibre is extremely strong, preventing it from tearing, stretching, or pilling as easily as cotton and other natural fibres. Because of this strength, polyester furniture can withstand abrasion from everyday use, resist discolouration, maintain its quality and beauty, and does not require special care.

Furthermore, polyester furniture, such as sofas and armchairs, is breathable, which helps you stay cool. However, because polyester is synthetic, it may not be a popular choice among environmentally conscious consumers.

3. High Pressure Laminate (HPL)

High Pressure Laminate (HPL) are produced by saturating multiple layers of kraft paper layers which are bonded together by melamine and phenolic resins. These layers are all fused together with high heat and pressure and glued to produce a single laminate sheet that not only looks good, but also has exceptional durability and impact resistant. It is easy to maintain, resistant to liquids, oils, fats, heat, stains, scratch & UV.

4. Solid Wood

As the name implies, solid wood is a natural product obtained by felling trees. For centuries, handcrafted wood furniture has been the preferred choice of furniture not only for its strength and durability, but also for its beauty, timelessness, and versatility.

Solid wood is a natural polymer made up of a variety of substances that contribute to its natural durability. These substances provide structural support to the wood as well as some resistance to microbial attack. Furthermore, wood has the ability to absorb and release moisture and is resistant to many chemicals and environmental conditions that are harmful to steel and concrete. However, due to the change of moisture content within it, solid wood may crack. This is not a defect but the natural characteristics of solid wood.

When made into furniture and properly sealed, wooden furniture can last longer and easily withstand daily wear and tear. Besides, any scratch or chip can even be easily repaired. 

5. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel furniture is extremely strong and long-lasting. They are also visually appealing, safe, environmentally friendly, and easy to maintain. Stainless steels are alloys, which are composed of multiple elements tightly bonded together, preventing atoms from easily sliding over one another. This means they can't be bent, dented or chipped easily. They come in different grades, each with different properties that make them desirable. 

6. Sintered Stone

The current most durable surface available on the market is sintered stone. It is a mixture of minerals that has been heated (without melting) to form a solid impenetrable mass with a surface that cannot be etched, scratched, burned, or stained. Because it is so strong and non-porous, you can place hot pots and pans on your sintered stone dining table or countertop without fear of damage. Furthermore, it is a non-porous and food-safe material, so you don't have to worry about bacteria and germs becoming trapped in it.

Many online furniture shops sell a wide range of furniture pieces of varying durability, some of which are stronger than others. It is critical to understand how these materials work in order to find the most durable dining table or sofa online. With this knowledge, you can now build a long-lasting home without breaking the bank.

Star Living is an online furniture shop that offers a variety of designer furniture to homeowners in Singapore. Shop with us today.