While particle-board furniture may look like the real wood it's designed to emulate -- especially if covered in a wood veneer finish that masks the guts -- its strengths and weaknesses are a bit different from that of furniture constructed solely of solid wood. Particle-board furniture, in many cases, offers an inexpensive alternative to similar wood furnishings. To determine the best type of furniture for your room, consider how you will use it and the conditions it will be subjected to.

Solid Wood's Superior Points

Furniture made from quality wood, with beautiful grains, carved details or even inlays, is impressive decor in any room, unmatched by even the nicest particle-board furnishings. Solid wood has a strength that stands the test of time, especially if the piece is made from hard wood like maple. Real wood stands up to modifications, such as sawing legs down or repositioning hardware, while particle board may fall apart if drilled or sawed. Sturdy construction such as dovetailed joints holds some wood furniture together, while particleboard pieces may be slapped together with glue, staples or screws.

Solid Wood's Setbacks

Solid wood furniture, especially pieces made from rare or beautiful wood such as ebony, burled maple or European beech, may be quite expensive because the wood itself is pricey. A large piece of solid wood, such as a tabletop made from one wide board, may warp over time, as many woods expand and contract with changes in the humidity.

Particle Board's Perks

Aside from generally being less expensive than a similar piece made of solid wood, particle-board furniture does have a few positive traits. It will not warp, expand or contract like real wood, as long as the original laminate finish is still intact. It is quite durable under regular use and doesn't dent as easily as some soft wood such as pine. It is also paintable, so if you don't care for the existing veneer, prime the piece with a primer designed for laminates, then paint the furniture to your liking.

Particle Board's Drawbacks

A particle-board piece of furniture, viewed side by side with a similar solid wood version, may not look quite as nice, upon close inspection. Drawer bottoms and backs of storage-based pieces may be made of flimsy materials. If any part of the laminate or veneer peels away, the exposed particle board begins to crumble. If the base of a particle-board piece gets wet and the laminate is damaged, the particle board absorbs the water, behaving more like layers of wet corrugated cardboard, expanding to several times its original size. Once water is damaged to that extent, the particle board itself is not repairable. A long, exposed expanse of particleboard, such as a shelf on a bookcase, is brittle enough that it can snap.