We all like to have objects that accompany us for a lifetime. When you put on a sweater you’ve worn since you were a teenager, or when you use a dresser that’s been passed around for three generations… you get a sense of security. It’s reassuring in a world that’s constantly changing.
Sometimes they need to be replaced. You have reached the end of your beautiful life! Unfortunately, we live in the age of fast fashion and planned obsolescence, where what we sell is rarely made to last.
The main principle
How do we make our objects durable? Well, it’s not as impossible as it seems! All you have to do is choose the right materials, whether it’s manufacturing or purchasing.
As the saying goes, “You have to be rich to buy cheap things”. This saying also applies to objects and furniture. Most of the materials we recommend cost a little more to buy, but last a lot longer!
Here are some tips for durable furniture, items, and clothing.
1 FOR INDOOR FURNITURE
Melamine, a smooth material that is lightweight and tactile, is clean and relatively inexpensive. But it ages very badly and you can’t screw it on and off or it will be damaged.
We recommend plywood (Russian cherry or PureBond poplar). It is a much stronger material that can be disassembled, recut and sanded without concern and will last a lifetime.
2 FOR WOODEN ARTICLES
Photo courtesy of François Mathieu
Solid wood is king here: maple, cherry, oak, walnut, ash. These woods are not only durable materials, but become more and more beautiful with the patina that time gives them.
You just have to be careful when using it: if the object is likely to get wet (like a cutting board), use cherry and maple instead, which tolerate water well.
3 FOR GARDEN FURNITURE
Red cedar is indispensable for your garden furniture. It resists water much better than pine and requires less maintenance to last. You can also look for certain exotic woods that are very beautiful, like Ipe, but mostly quite expensive…
4 FOR CLOTHING
Photo courtesy of François Mathieu
For your clothes, natural materials are often the most durable: cotton, wool, linen. Easier to repair than synthetics, they evolve with you and are more resilient to changes in fashion too!
5 FOR DEVICES
Photo courtesy of François Mathieu
For home appliances, from toasters to coffee makers to washing machines, there are two main rules. #1: The fewer electronics, the better! As with a car, all screens and electronic triggers are more fragile than mechanical and electrical elements. #2: The more screws the better. Look under your kettle before you buy it. The more removable it is, the easier it will be to fix. On the contrary, the more the elements are glued together, the greater the risk that everything will break during disassembly.