BUYER GUIDES

Solid Wood, Veneer or Painted Finish: What to Ask the Factory

2026-10-29 · TY Furniture Factory

Describe the result you want

A photograph of a warm walnut-coloured cabinet does not identify its construction. Tell the factory which colour, grain pattern, edge detail and sheen you want. Ask for the proposed substrate, surface material and finish separately; a colour name is not a material specification.

Understand where each material is used

Solid wood, veneered panels and painted panels can serve different structural and visual roles. Ask which components use which material, including doors, sides, tops, legs and interior faces. Natural wood and veneer vary in grain and tone; a sample is more useful than expecting every panel to match a screen image.

Set expectations for visible variation

Agree what sample or reference will govern the finish and what degree of natural variation is acceptable. If two furniture pieces must coordinate, say so before material selection and note their sample codes together. Lighting and camera settings can make the same surface look different online.

Keep the approval traceable

Request a written schedule identifying each visible surface and its finish. For a painted piece, ask about edge treatment and sheen; for veneer, ask about grain direction and how panels will be arranged. Approve these choices alongside the production drawing, not in a disconnected chat message.

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