Antique vs. Fast Furniture: Study Shows Millennials Take a Sustainable Stance

A growing interest in home decor and sustainability has millennials rethinking how they decorate their spaces and what materials they use. When it comes to fast furniture, millennials want something different – more durable, unique and kind to the planet. Antique and reclaimed wood have continued to fill people’s homes, impacting the style and feel of rooms and reducing their carbon footprint. Here’s how millennials have taken an environmentally friendly approach to furniture design.

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Mass-produced furniture – usually referred to as “fast furniture” – is manufactured rapidly and inexpensively and sold at big-name retailers or online. Often, the materials are of lower quality and prone to breaking or other damage, resulting in frequent repairs and excess waste.

Fast furniture typically contains less sustainable and durable materials, such as a particle board console with a laminate coating, which is difficult to fix. Lumpy or flat furniture cushions are easier to replace. Fast furniture may also contain harmful chemicals and carcinogens like formaldehyde, benzene and vinyl acetate. 

Cheaply-made furniture is not meant to last very long – desks and beds from major retailers have a lifespan of about five years, on average. Of course, this results in overflowing landfills. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, in 2018 furniture accounted for 4.1% of landfill waste (12.1 million metric tons), compared to 2.2 million metric tons in 1960. 

Millennials have moved away from such materials to furnish their homes. According to research, this demographic of homeowners now leans into the “grandmillennial style” – an integration of clean, contemporary design and older interiors reminiscent of a grandmother’s home. This helps them create a sense of familiarity and nostalgia in their space.

Sustainability is also at play. According to one study, 62% of millennials prefer to buy from sustainable brands, while 68% are willing to spend more on environmentally friendly products. 

Anna Brockway – the co-founder of online vintage furniture retailer Chairish – correlates the findings with a consumer study conducted by her company. She says 58% of millennials agree the resale market is sustainable. Antique furniture is also about 80% less expensive to furnish your home with unique, older items. 

Benefits of Antique and Reclaimed Materials

There are numerous reasons why millennials opt for antique or reclaimed materials to furnish their houses. Salvaged wood adds warmth, comfort and rustic charm to any space. Sometimes, these materials also maintain historical significance, making a great conversation starter. Above all else, their sustainability is most important to people and the environment.

Ecological Impact

Forests maintain significant commercial value. Raw wood materials are used throughout construction and manufacturing, yet their extraction contributes to widespread deforestation. This has been particularly detrimental to global warming impacts and biodiversity loss.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 2010 and 2020, the net loss in forests globally was 4.7 million hectares per year. However, deforestation rates were much higher. FAO estimates that 10 million hectares of forest are cut down each year.

Unfortunately, much of deforestation occurs in the tropics, where rich species have intricate relationships with the ecosystem and are greatly affected by human logging. Brazil is responsible for 136 cubic millimeters of global industrial wood production, including furniture construction. About 12.9 cubic millimeters are derived from native forests, while an additional 34%-95% come from illegal logging.

More on the topic: 10 Deforestation Facts You Should Know About

Using antique and reclaimed wood materials for furniture and finishes prevents further deforestation of the world’s most precious woodland ecosystems. Giving older natural materials a second life in design also reduces waste and decreases the amount of carbon dioxide released from timber extraction and transportation.

Durability

Reclaimed and antique furnishings are popular among millennials because of their durability. For instance, antique wood materials produced from trees 100-300 years ago came from forests left unspoiled for centuries.  

Wood’s dense fibers and tight tree rings are attributed to its long natural growth period, making it more resistant to termites and rot. Wood has also undergone numerous cycles of expansion and contraction from humidity fluctuations – a reason why reclaimed plank flooring withstands warping better. 

Overall, millennials feel assured that salvaged wood materials will last a long time with proper care, avoiding the need to replace their furniture repeatedly.

Unique Aesthetics

Because today’s homeowners want to fill their homes with unique pieces, salvaged and historic wood materials allow them to build customized furniture from whatever is available. Subtle aesthetic designs could include reclaimed wood for a fireplace mantel, open shelves or a headboard. They might also install old wood beams on the ceiling.

The unique textures, grains and other imperfections add warmth to each space, much more than today’s mass-produced finishes. This leaves millennials with the one-of-a-kind appearance they want. 

How to Take a Sustainable Stance on Home Furniture

You can also choose a sustainable stance on furniture by avoiding fast production like so many millennials have. Leaning into antique and reclaimed wood materials will enhance your interior style’s timeless appeal and sustainability. Here are three ways to utilize environmentally friendly wood in your furniture options. 

1. Make Conscious Purchasing Decisions

Do your research when buying antique lumber, including where and when it originated, how it was processed and whether it has been labeled by the Forest Stewardship Council or Cradle to Cradle. These certifications ensure the wood is sustainable, of premium quality and made to last.

Always examine the materials’ condition before purchasing. Are there signs of structural deterioration? You should also check for pest damage, such as woodworms. While these are not deal-breakers when buying salvaged materials, they may require restoration or treatment to return the wood to its former glory without compromising its character.

1. Source antique and reclaimed materials locally

Lumber accounts for 34% of carbon emissions when shipped from the manufacturer to the consumer. As such, you will want to source antique and reclaimed wood furniture materials locally. Nearby antique stores are a treasure trove of unique pieces, while salvage yards, barns and industrial buildings often have abundant reclaimed, affordable options, such as doors and window frames.  

You can also find plenty of antique and reclaimed wood furnishings online, through social media or online auctions. Don’t forget the power of word-of-mouth recommendations, connecting with local artisans and attending community craft fairs to find the best sustainable materials.

2. DIY with sustainable materials

There are endless possibilities for do-it-yourself furniture using reclaimed and antique wood materials. For example, you could use old wooden doors to make a headboard or reclaimed wood planks to build a coffee table. 

Salvaged metal and glass can inspire other types of home decor and furniture, even when used to embellish wood pieces. Antique glass bottles could make beautiful vases, while recycled glass can be used to create mosaic or epoxy tabletops. 

3. Buy second-hand items

You can always invest in actual antique furniture for your home. Reusing a secondhand piece is one less newly manufactured furnishing. 

Antique malls, thrift shops and consignment stores are ideal places to find beautifully curated items in your community. Flea markets, garage sales and fairs are other sources. 

Remember to check out online marketplaces for antique furniture or tools, such as Facebook Marketplace, to see who sells antique treasures nearby. 

Antique and reclaimed wood furniture delivers the quintessential rustic charm for a pleasing aesthetic while saving the planet. Although there is nothing wrong with modern flair, taking a stance on the small aspects adds up and helps create a more eco-conscious world.