What is veneer?

Unlike many years ago when solid wood was used to manufacture all parts of furniture, times have changed. With the exception of perhaps Pine and some Oak, most furniture is made of a particle board and then ‘veneered’. To reduce the costs and environmental impact, many office furniture manufacturers apply a veneer to give the appearance of solid wood furniture. Veneering is effectively a very thin slice of real wood, expertly applied by professional veneerers, and hand matched so that grain direction matters. Expert veneer work can include ebony inlay detailing (a black line) and exotic veneers to create a very special effect. Real wood veneer tends to be slightly softer, so more prone to damage and fading. Some veneers are more prone to this than others. Because veneer can be marked more easily than MFC, it tends to be used in executive suites, boardrooms, meeting rooms, reception desks and reception counters.