Every furniture project requires an individual approach to joinery, design, and construction. However, there are a number of time-tested rules that will help guide you through complex projects.

The Basics:
• Follow conventional wisdom: Woodworking has been around for centuries. Learn from the past.
• Wood moves: You must take into account the expansion and contraction of wood due to changes in humidity.
• Build with integrity: Don’t let design compromise the quality of construction.

Follow conventional wisdom
Furniture making has been around for centuries, and over those centuries, makers have established a basic set of rules for creating functional and stable furniture. While it may be tempting to bend those rules, do it judiciously, as it may mean sacrificing function or stability.

Wood rules
It doesn’t matter how many screws you use, or how much glue you pour into a joint: If a piece of furniture is constructed without taking wood movement into account, it eventually will break. Wood movement is the defining rule behind many construction techniques, such as frame-and-panel construction (where the panel is able to freely expand and contract inside the fixed dimensions of its frame) and breadboard ends. Any joinery or construction technique employed in a project should allow every part to shrink and expand.

Build with integrity
Ensuring the integrity of a piece of furniture is the number one priority in furniture construction. It is important to explore new designs, but in the end, a piece of furniture must be sturdy and built to last.

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