I recently read the results of a survey on how much the average new
condo owner in Guadalajara spent on their furniture. This survey was conducted in February 2022,
and the participants were those that purchased a new condo that cost $200,000
to USD 500,000. Those with a two-bedroom
condo paid on average $20,000 to USD 25,000.
Those with a one-bedroom condo paid on average $15,000 to USD
20,000. This amount included furniture,
artwork, and decor; it excluded blinds and appliances. The décor style most often chosen was modern
or contemporary.

The results of this survey did not surprise me since the findings echo
what I see clients in Puerto Vallarta paying for their furniture.

What may surprise some people is that the prices for equivalent quality
and style of furniture in stores in Guadalajara are no longer cheaper than in
Puerto Vallarta. Gone are the days when
traveling to the second-largest city in Mexico will generate huge savings.

If you want to save money on furniture for your home in Puerto Vallarta,
there are two options. One is to buy
furniture made from pine that is rustic in design. This furniture style is low in cost because
pine is one of the lowest-cost wood species available. The downside of this option is that pine is
also one of the most attractive woods for termites. In addition, since pine is a softwood, it
marks very easily. Another reason this
furniture style is low cost is that the quality of the furniture itself is not
good. Although hand-crafted, the joinery
is basic. Many people find this style
uncomfortable with its straight-backed dining chairs and sofas. You can find this style of furniture made by
many local carpenters. One of the other
tricks of keeping the price lower is that instead of using proper stain, used
car oil is spread over the pine wood to give it that rustic look.

The better way to save money on furniture is to purchase items made with
wood veneer. A dresser, dining table or
nightstand made with wood veneer is lower cost than if made with solid wood.

Before we go further, let me clarify that laminate is NOT wood, a veneer
is a wood. Many people confuse the two
materials. Laminates are plastic made to
look like wood, whereas a veneer is a thin slice of natural wood securely
attached to a lower-cost surface of a furniture frame.

People also mistakenly think that solid wood furniture is better quality
than wood veneer furniture. In most
instances, wood veneer outperforms solid wood in manageability, durability, and
strength.

A piece of furniture made with wood veneer looks identical to one made
from solid wood. Whereas solid wood
furniture is more likely to splinter and warp, it is improbable this will
happen with furniture made from wood veneer.
When it comes to cleaning, wood veneer furniture is also easier than
solid wood since it only needs a quick wipe with a slightly damp cloth.

Using wood veneer is also friendlier for the environment. Finally, wood veneer furniture is
environmentally friendly. Because only
the outermost layer of veneer furniture is made from wood, choosing veneer
furniture over solid wood furniture helps conserve natural resources – while
still maintaining the beautiful natural aesthetic found in 100% solid wood.

A wood veneer is available in most types of wood since it is a
thinly-sliced piece of wood. You can get
furniture made in parota, primavera, acacia, oak, ash, and maple veneer in
Mexico.

The only downside to wood veneers is that they are not coated with
surface polish which means liquids can be absorbed easier into the wood layer
and become damaged. The best way to
avoid this is to add a thin and inexpensive piece of protective glass on top of
wood surfaces.

If you want to save money when you furnish your home in Vallarta, the
best option is wood veneer furniture. 

Want to purchase furniture that lasts and is comfortable for your home
in Vallarta? We offer furniture and
furniture packages from over 150 manufacturers and suppliers throughout Mexico
that use the correct materials and processes. Visit us at our Puerto Vallarta store: 363A Constitucion just off Basilio Badillo or our Bucerias store: Heroes de Nacozari 126.If you are not currently in Mexico, email us at furniture@solutionsmexico.com or message us on Whatsapp at +52 322 136 5156.