Why Do We Need to Spot Real Corona Furniture?
Did you know that some companies make furniture that LOOKS like Corona but isnt actually proper Corona furniture? My dad says this is because Corona furniture is really popular, so other companies try to copy it. But the copies usually aren’t as good quality and don’t last as long.
When my parents were looking for a new Corona wardrobe for my bedroom, they almost bought a fake one! Luckily, my grandad (who knows LOADS about furniture) came with us and showed us how to tell the difference.
Secret Clue #1: Check The Pine Wood!
The most important thing about real Corona pine furniture is the wood itself. Genuine Corona is made from solid pine wood, not the fake stuff.
How to Test the Wood:
- The Knock Test: Knock on the furniture with your knuckles. My grandad showed me that real Mexican pine furniture makes a solid “thunk” sound, while fake wood sounds hollow or plasticky.
- Look for Knots: Real pine has these cool swirly patterns and darker spots called knots. Every piece of Corona pine furniture has different knot patterns, like a fingerprint! I love looking at our Corona coffee tables and finding all the unique knots.
- Check the Weight: Real pine is pretty heavy! When we were shopping for my Corona bedside tables, my dad had me try to lift different ones. The real Corona ones were much heavier than the fake ones.
- The Edge Test: Look at the edges and corners of the furniture. On real Corona bedroom furniture, you should see solid wood all the way through, not thin veneer with different colored wood underneath.
My teacher said I should make a proper scientific observation, so I looked really carefully at our Corona pine desk at home. The wood has a warm honey color and you can actually see and feel the grain if you run your hand over it!
Secret Clue #2: The Metal Parts Must Be Right!
The black metal parts on Corona furniture are super important for spotting the real thing. My grandad calls these the “hardware” and says they’re one of the most important features of Corona furniture.
Metal Part Check-List:
- Black and Sturdy: Real Corona hardware is always black and feels really solid. On our Corona sideboard, the handles are cool to touch and heavy, not plastic-y or wobbly.
- Corner Protectors: Authentic Corona pine furniture has metal corner protectors on the edges. My grandad showed me how these aren’t just for decoration – they actually protect the furniture corners from getting damaged!
- Proper Hinges: On things like a Corona 2-door wardrobe or Corona chest drawers, the hinges should be black metal and really sturdy. My sister’s fake wardrobe’s door fell off after just a few months because the hinges were cheaply made!
- Studded Details: Real Corona often has those cool little metal studs along the edges or corners. I counted 12 studs on each side of our Corona bookcase, and they’re all evenly spaced.
My mum says that even on painted Corona furniture or Corona grey furniture, the metal parts should still look the same. So don’t be fooled just cause the wood is a different color!
Secret Clue #3: Check How It’s Built!
My grandad says that proper joinery (that means how the pieces are put together) is super important for telling real Corona furniture from fake stuff.
Construction Clues:
- Dovetail Joints: Look inside the drawers of Corona chest drawers or a Corona dressing table. If the corners of the drawers have these cool zigzag shaped joints that look like dove tails (that’s a type of bird!), then it’s probably real Corona. My grandad showed me these on our furniture and said they’re really strong.
- Solid Backs: Cheap furniture often has thin board for the backs, but real Corona pine furniture should have proper solid wood backs, especially on bigger pieces like a Corona pine dresser or Mexican pine wardrobes.
- Smooth Drawers: Try opening and closing the drawers on something like a Corona nest of tables or Corona side table. Real Corona drawers should slide smoothly and not feel wobbly.
- Solid Bottoms: Look underneath tables like the Corona dining table or Corona coffee tables. Real ones have thick, solid wood on the undersides too, not just on the parts you can see.
I did an experiment with my dad where we checked all the joints on our Corona bedroom furniture. We counted 6 different types of wood joints! Dad says that’s because real woodworkers know that different joints work better for different parts of the furniture.
Secret Clue #4: The Finish Feels Special
Another super important way to spot real Corona furniture is by checking the finish – that’s the coating on the outside of the wood.
Finish Detective Work:
- Wax Not Plastic: Traditional Mexican pine furniture should have a wax finish that feels smooth but not plastic-y. My grandad taught me to touch the surface of our Corona console table with my eyes closed – real Corona feels warm and natural, while fake stuff feels cold and artificial.
- Even Color: The honey-colored stain on Corona pine furniture should be even, but you should still be able to see the natural wood grain underneath. When we were shopping for a TV unit Corona, my mum showed me how the fake ones had blotchy coloring.
- Paint Quality: If you’re looking at Corona grey furniture or other painted Corona furniture, the paint should be smooth without bubbles or drips. My aunt has a painted Corona bed and the paint is super smooth and doesn’t chip off.
- Smell Test: This might sound weird but my grandad always does the smell test! Real pine wood has a nice natural woody smell, even after it’s been made into furniture. Fake wood often smells like chemicals or plastic. I did this test in the furniture shop and my mum was so embarrassed!
I noticed that our Corona furniture at home gets a bit darker over time in a really nice way. Dad says this is called “patina” and it’s a sign of good quality wood.
Secret Clue #5: Check the Price and Where It’s From
My dad says that price can be a clue too – if something is SUPER cheap, it might not be real Corona furniture.
Price and Shop Clues:
- Too Good to Be True: If a Mexican pine bedroom set is way cheaper than all the others, it might be fake. Dad says good furniture costs money to make properly.
- Trusted Shops: Buy from shops that specialize in Corona furniture UK. We got our Corona furniture from a proper furniture shop, not a random website.
- Ask Questions: My grandad always asks the shop people loads of questions about how the furniture is made. If they don’t know the answers about their Corona sideboard or Mexican pine sideboard, that might be suspicious!
- Corona Brands: Look for known Corona furniture makers. Some even have special tags or marks somewhere on the furniture, like underneath the Corona bedside tables or inside drawers.
My Corona Detective Checklist
I made this checklist to help you spot real Corona furniture just like a detective! Take it with you when you go furniture shopping:
- [ ] Solid pine wood with natural knots
- [ ] Makes a solid sound when knocked
- [ ] Heavy for its size
- [ ] Black metal corner protectors
- [ ] Strong black metal handles
- [ ] Dovetail joints in drawers
- [ ] Smooth drawer movement
- [ ] Natural wax finish (or smooth paint)
- [ ] Nice pine wood smell
- [ ] Solid wood backs
- [ ] From a trusted Corona seller
My Favorite Tests on Different Corona Pieces
I tested all these methods on different pieces of Corona furniture in our house! Here’s what I found:
For Corona Wardrobes:
Check that the doors hang straight and don’t sag. Real Corona wardrobes have strong hinges that hold heavy doors properly. My Mexican pine wardrobe doors close perfectly even when they’re full of clothes!
For Corona Dining Tables:
Look underneath to see solid wood supports. Fake tables often have thin legs that wobble. I can even hang from the edge of our Corona table (when mum’s not looking) and it doesn’t tip over!
For Corona Bookcases:
Check that the shelves are thick and don’t bend, even with heavy books. I put all my science encyclopedias on one shelf and it didn’t bend at all!
For Mexican Pine Dressers:
These big pieces should have reinforced corners and backs. My grandma’s dresser has lasted for 25 years and still looks amazing!
Being A Corona Expert Is Fun!
Now that I know how to spot real Corona furniture, I feel like a furniture expert! My dad even asked for my help when they were picking out a new Corona console table for our hallway last month.
The coolest thing I’ve learned is that real Corona pine furniture is made with real craftsmanship and attention to details. It’s not just about how it looks – it’s about how it’s made and what it’s made from.
Now when my friends come over, I show them all the special features of our Corona bedroom furniture and tell them how to spot real Corona! Maybe you can become a Corona furniture detective too!