In each case, substitute materials were used to make furniture that was less expensive but also less durable than the solid wood pieces that previous generations bought. "In the 1980s, you could buy a sofa for $399. You could probably still buy a sofa for $399," Koehler said. But choosing a more expensive piece isn't necessarily a guarantee of better quality, Koehler said. You can also check the furniture description to see whether it is made from solid wood or particle board under a veneer.

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Persons: CoCo Ree Lemery, Lemery, Mark Schumacher, Koehler Organizations: Purdue University, Home, CNBC, telltale