You could take out the drawers and look at the inside to see what the frame is made of. Look at the inside walls of it and the underside of the top.
If it is real wood it will have grains to it, you'll be able to pick them out, even through paint or stain, and there will be natural variances in the pattern of the grains. Generally solid wood is heavier and the price is higher.
-Look at the drawers, solid wood will have dove tailed corners toward the back and the front will have tongue and groove construction.
-If your dresser has a smooth repeating pattern, it is most likely veneer.
-If there are no grains, then it is probably laminate.
The best way to get a picture of the furniture’s makeup is by looking underneath it. If you see a piece of unfinished wood, then it’s most likely a solid wood piece. If you see laminate, it’s most likely a fake wood or composite blend piece. Laminate is often used to cover the furniture when it’s not made of solid wood. This doesn’t mean the piece doesn’t contain wood—most likely, it’s a composite wood and plastic blend.
Feel the grains
In solid wood furniture, you should be able to see the grains if you look closely, even if it’s stained or painted. The grains should be varied if it’s truly solid wood. Real wood has imperfections and natural patterns that make it beautiful. If you have a piece of “wooden” furniture that doesn’t have grains at all, it’s most likely made of laminate. Other wood blends may have manufactured “grains” that are all the exact same pattern, repeated. Pay close attention to the grains, and you should be able to accurately identify the material the furniture piece is made of.
Try to lift the piece
Solid wood furniture is known to be really heavy. A large piece of real wood furniture, such as a dresser, would be nearly impossible to move without at least two very strong people. Fake wood furniture, on the other hand, is much lighter and often easier to carry.
Hello if looking at the sides or underside is not helpful —another idea might be to remove a knob or handle and see with a flashlight what they revealed within the mounting hole might show
I always look at the drawers. No one puts real wood drawers in a particle board frame...or if they do, it's rare. You should also be able to see the inside of the piece when you remove the drawers.
I found this in the curb this morning on my way to work. Needless to say I'm late :) does anyone know anything about this piece? What would you do with it? Paint? Res...
See more
We're remodeling this 1930's house. We have a new red metal roof & plan to keep the white siding. What would you suggest as a front door color? I love bright, bold co...
See more
You could take out the drawers and look at the inside to see what the frame is made of. Look at the inside walls of it and the underside of the top.
If it is real wood it will have grains to it, you'll be able to pick them out, even through paint or stain, and there will be natural variances in the pattern of the grains. Generally solid wood is heavier and the price is higher.
-Look at the drawers, solid wood will have dove tailed corners toward the back and the front will have tongue and groove construction.
-If your dresser has a smooth repeating pattern, it is most likely veneer.
-If there are no grains, then it is probably laminate.
Also laminate and veneers cannot be carved.
Look on inside panels an u shld b able tell difference
For anyone not familiar with what dove tails are in dresser drawers, here is an example:
https://werefinish.net/is-my-furniture-really-antique/
Investigate the underside
The best way to get a picture of the furniture’s makeup is by looking underneath it. If you see a piece of unfinished wood, then it’s most likely a solid wood piece. If you see laminate, it’s most likely a fake wood or composite blend piece. Laminate is often used to cover the furniture when it’s not made of solid wood. This doesn’t mean the piece doesn’t contain wood—most likely, it’s a composite wood and plastic blend.
Feel the grains
In solid wood furniture, you should be able to see the grains if you look closely, even if it’s stained or painted. The grains should be varied if it’s truly solid wood. Real wood has imperfections and natural patterns that make it beautiful. If you have a piece of “wooden” furniture that doesn’t have grains at all, it’s most likely made of laminate. Other wood blends may have manufactured “grains” that are all the exact same pattern, repeated. Pay close attention to the grains, and you should be able to accurately identify the material the furniture piece is made of.
Try to lift the piece
Solid wood furniture is known to be really heavy. A large piece of real wood furniture, such as a dresser, would be nearly impossible to move without at least two very strong people. Fake wood furniture, on the other hand, is much lighter and often easier to carry.
Hello if looking at the sides or underside is not helpful —another idea might be to remove a knob or handle and see with a flashlight what they revealed within the mounting hole might show
I always look at the drawers. No one puts real wood drawers in a particle board frame...or if they do, it's rare. You should also be able to see the inside of the piece when you remove the drawers.
Hi,
Look at the edges?