Sustainable Furniture, Part 1 | Why Handcrafted Matters

Furniture That Lasts | Colorado Design

If the idea of buying cheap furniture with the intent of replacing it within a couple of years when it falls apart is something you’re comfortable with then don’t waste your time with the rest of this post.

Build it right and build it once. Furniture should last generations.

I recently connected with a Colorado design firm with a deep commitment to sustainable design practices. The question from Spark Interiors was what did I do as a furniture maker to help Spark meet their goal of providing environmentally sustainable options to their clients. It’s an interesting and thoughtful question.

In an upcoming series of posts, we’ll explore details of sustainable furniture design:

• Build furniture that lasts

• Environmentally conscious finishes

• Timber sourcing

• Shipping and manufacturing costs

The number one thing is to build furniture that lasts. No matter how benign the finish is, or how locally the timber was sourced, the costs of multiple pieces will always be higher for the environment than doing it right the first (and only) time.

Modern hard wax oils like Rubio Monocoat or Osmo Polyx are safe, durable and effective

Wood finishes are a tremendous source of environmental challenge. Fortunately, the options for less and less toxic products that perform great continue to expand.

Source Local Artisans | Details Matter

Where the wood for furniture comes from is a big deal. It’s often imported from other continents. There are whole programs designed to foster a sustainable timber industry.

And where the furniture is made is also a big deal. As well as how it gets to you. Have you ever seen the pile of cardboard and plastic after assembling an Ikea piece? Holy cow. There’s sometimes more packaging than furniture.

If you’ve made it this far in the post, we’ll assume you have a passing interest in the topic. Keep in mind that local, artisan crafted furniture is an investment in your ideals. The control over the details is critical. Details matter.