5 High-Maintenance Furniture Choices You Should Avoid, Designers Warn

Falling in love with a particular furnishing is all too easy these days. But sometimes, looks can be deceiving, and maintaining a piece is much harder than admiring it. “A beautiful material loses its appeal if it quickly shows damage or requires constant upkeep,” says Vyanca Soto, owner and principal designer at Market Studio Interiors. “Function always comes first.”

If you’re not sure which pieces should raise (light) red flags in the future, Soto and Thea Bloch-Neal, founder and lead designer of Curated by Thea, are on hand to share the furniture materials that are hard to maintain and what to pick instead. Read on to keep your shopping list in check. 

Furniture Materials That Are Difficult to Maintain 

As you shop for items to incorporate into your home, keep this list of five materials handy to remember that they may be more difficult than others to maintain. You might still want to go for it, but you’ve been warned!

Unsealed Marble

“While undeniably beautiful and luxurious, marble is porous and highly susceptible to staining from water, oils, and acids,” Soto says. “Without proper sealing and regular upkeep, it will etch and discolor quickly.” As alternatives, Soto recommends honed quartzite or porcelain slabs, which require less upkeep. 

Metal Furniture

“These pieces can be a bit high-maintenance—they scratch and dent easily, so it’s not the best choice for busy areas,” Bloch-Neal says. Limit metal furniture to areas that may not get as much foot traffic, like bedrooms, or use them as smaller accents. 

High-Gloss Lacquered Finishes

“The sleek, mirror-like appeal of lacquered furniture is stunning, but it’s prone to scratches, fingerprints, and dust, making it difficult to keep pristine,” Soto notes. Instead of a high-gloss lacquered finish, Soto would use a matte or satin finish for a polished look that’s more forgiving. 

Cognac Leather

“It’s beautiful, but it needs some TLC. It scratches easily and can stain more than other leather tones,” Bloch-Neal says. She always gives her cognac leather pieces a protective finish as soon as she brings them home, though, to help maintain their appearance. 

Raw or Soft Woods

“These natural materials bring warmth and character, but they dent, scratch, and absorb stains easily,” Soto says. “In homes with pets or children, they can quickly look worn.” If you’re not up to the task of maintaining pine or reclaimed wood, Soto suggests white oak or walnut for more durability.

How to Choose the Right Materials for Your Space

While it’s easy to make concessions for a piece you fall in love with, choosing the right materials for your home comes down to practicality. After all, no matter how much you love a piece, you probably don’t want to spend a ton of free time taking care of it.

To make sure that the materials you choose are appropriate for your space, Bloch-Neal says to keep activities in mind. “In a formal living room, you can go for something more delicate,” Bloch-Neal recommends. “There are often great performance fabric options that balance beauty and durability.”

For high-traffic areas like the dining room, Bloch-Neal advises opting for chairs with durable fabrics and minimal creases where food and dirt can collect. “Guest rooms, however, can be a bit more playful since they see less wear, but for your own bedroom, invest in high-quality linens,” Bloch-Neal. suggests. “You use them every day, and you deserve that little luxury.”

Nevertheless, if you end up wanting to keep something even though it might not be the most durable choice, that’s okay too. “There’s something beautiful about well-loved materials that show their history,” Soto says. “For example, I might use unsealed marble in a low-traffic powder room or reclaimed wood in a space where its imperfections add to the charm rather than feeling like a drawback.”

According to Soto, the key is making intentional choices, knowing the trade-offs, and ensuring the material suits the way you live.