What is metal in furniture?
The Wood Guide · Materials
MaterialWhat is metal in furniture?
Usually steel or iron: strong enough to carry a frame with thin profiles, and protected against rust with a powder coating. Here you can read what that means, and what it cannot do.
- Strong in thin profiles
- Rusts without protection
- Often combined with wood or MDF
Metal in furniture in brief
It is often under the top, in the legs or as an edge: a frame that does the work, while wood or MDF is the visible part.
When a furniture description mentions "metal", we usually mean steel or iron. Steel is iron with a small amount of carbon, and that makes it considerably stronger and stiffer than pure iron. That is why a frame of narrow tube or thin sheet metal can carry a tabletop or a cabinet, where in wood you would need a much thicker leg.
The big weak point of steel is rust. Iron reacts with oxygen and moisture, and the layer of rust that forms does not protect the metal underneath: it flakes off and the metal keeps corroding. That is why steel in furniture is almost always finished, usually with a powder coating, sometimes with a zinc layer.
Powder coating is a closed layer that keeps moisture and oxygen away from the steel. If that layer is damaged down to the metal, rust can still start there. Touching up small scratches in good time is therefore more than a matter of appearance.
- What
- usually steel or iron, sometimes aluminium
- Strength
- high, even in thin tube or sheet
- Rust
- yes, if the metal is not protected
- Finish
- powder coating or a zinc layer
- Weight
- heavy for its thickness
- Feel
- cold indoors, warm in the sun
- In furniture
- frames, legs, edges, brackets
To be honest, a metal frame is only as good as its coating. A deep scratch or a broken corner and the metal underneath is no longer protected. And metal feels colder than wood and weighs more than you would expect from a thin profile.
What metal does in a piece of furniture
| Property | What it gives you | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Strong and stiff | a thin profile does not bend easily, so a slim frame can carry a lot | slim legs under a tabletop, a frame under a cabinet |
| Heavy | steel is about three times as heavy as aluminium by volume, which feels stable but is less easy to lift | a sturdy base, a piece of furniture that does not tip easily |
| Conducts heat well | metal feels cold to the touch and gets hot quickly in the sun | a metal chair in the garden, a cold edge under your hand |
| Formable and weldable | tube can be bent and parts can be welded together | curved frames, backrests with curls |
| Prone to rust | without a finish, iron or steel starts to rust as soon as it gets damp | which is why almost every metal piece of furniture has a coating |
| Sturdy for years | an intact frame lasts a long time with normal use, though scratches and knocks need attention | frames that carry the same cabinet or table for years |
How a powder-coated frame is generally made
This is the usual process for a powder-coated steel frame, not a description of one specific factory.
- Tube or sheetThe frame starts as steel tube or sheet, sawn or cut to size and bent where necessary.
- WeldingThe parts are welded together or joined in another way, so that one rigid whole is created.
- DegreasingThe metal is degreased and cleaned. A coating does not stick well to dirt or grease.
- Spraying on the powder coatA fine coloured powder is sprayed onto the metal. The powder is given an electric charge, so that it sticks to the frame.
- CuringThe frame goes into an oven. The powder melts and becomes one closed, hard layer in the desired colour.
Powder coating gives a hard, even finish in a single layer without drips, in almost any colour. In places such as edges and corners it is thinner, though, and it wears first. That is where scratches usually start.
Steel, stainless steel and aluminium
Three metals you come across in furniture. The big difference lies in how they react to moisture.
| Metal | Rust? | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Steel / iron | yes, unless protected | strong and inexpensive to use, which is why it is the standard for frames. Protected with powder coating or a zinc layer (zinc-plated or galvanised). |
| Stainless steel | much less readily | steel with chromium, which itself forms a thin protective layer. It stays attractive even without a coating, but is more expensive and not indestructible, certainly not with salt. |
| Aluminium | no, although it does oxidise | much lighter than steel and corrosion-resistant. You can read all about it on the page about aluminium. |
Metal in our furniture, from frame to edge
With us, metal is almost always a frame or an accent under and around wood or MDF. Below are a few examples, with what the product page itself says.
A metal piece of furniture
The Bistro de Paris is made entirely of metal, with a visibly curved frame. Here the material is also the design.
Metal under MDF
On the Ribbel storage cabinet the black metal frame does the carrying, while the cabinet itself has an oak look in MDF. You can read more about that material at what is MDF.
A metal edge or accent
The Nola wall shelves have a black metal edge. According to the product page, that edge keeps items on the shelf.
Metal for building
According to the product page, the post holder with a spike is galvanised: the metal therefore has a zinc layer instead of a powder coating.
The combination is so popular because the materials make up for each other's weaknesses. The metal provides strength in a slim frame, wood or MDF provides warmth and a large, calm surface. Would you like more cabinets or tables on a metal frame? Take a look at our cabinets, coffee tables and wall shelves.
What metal does well, and what it does not
Strong and slim
Why almost every piece of furniture with a slim base has metal in it.
- Strong and stiff, even in thin tube or sheet
- Slim legs and a light look
- Even finish in almost any colour
- A coating is easy to keep clean
- Goes well with wood or MDF as a warm top
Rust, cold and weight
What you have to accept honestly.
- Rusts as soon as the coating is damaged
- Feels colder than wood
- Heats up quickly in the sun
- Heavier than you would think from a thin profile
- A deep scratch can be touched up, but stays visible
Caring for a metal frame
A powder-coated frame needs little. It comes down to keeping it clean and not leaving small damage unattended.
Day to day
Wipe with a damp, soft cloth. Then dry it off, especially in places where water can collect.
No abrasives
Do not use scouring pads or harsh cleaning products. They scratch the coating, and then moisture can get in.
Keep moisture away
Do not leave a metal piece of furniture standing in a puddle and wipe up spilled water. Moisture in a scratch is how rust starts.
Touch up a scratch
Clean and dry the spot. If there is already some rust, sand it away carefully. Then touch up with a suitable touch-up paint for metal in the same colour.
Not every piece of metal furniture is made for outdoor use. A garden chair such as the Bistro de Paris is listed on the product page as outdoor furniture. For a cabinet on a metal frame, such as the Ribbel, the product page says nothing about outdoor use: so count on it being for indoors. For every product, read what it is intended for.
Frequently asked questions about metal in furniture
Why does steel rust?
Iron reacts with oxygen and water and thereby becomes iron oxide, in other words rust. That layer of rust is crumbly and does not protect the metal underneath, so the corrosion carries on. A coating or zinc layer keeps oxygen and moisture away from the metal.
What is powder coating?
A finish in which a fine coloured powder is sprayed onto the metal and then cured in an oven into one closed, hard layer. It gives an even finish in almost any colour and keeps moisture away from the steel.
What is the difference between steel, stainless steel and aluminium?
Steel is strong but rusts if it is not protected. Stainless steel contains chromium and rusts much less readily. Aluminium is much lighter than steel and does not rust; it forms its own protective layer. More about that on the page about aluminium.
Can I touch up a scratch in a metal frame?
Yes. Clean and dry the spot, carefully sand away any rust and touch up with touch-up paint for metal in the same colour. A perfect colour and gloss match is not always achievable, but you do seal the metal again.
Why does metal feel cold?
Metal conducts heat much better than wood. When you touch it, it quickly draws heat away from your hand and feels cold. The same applies the other way round: in the sun it absorbs heat quickly.
Why do furniture pieces combine metal with wood or MDF?
Because the materials complement each other. A metal frame is strong in thin profiles, wood or MDF gives the top or cabinet a warm look. You can read more about that board material at what is MDF.
Looking further
Metal is rarely the only material in a piece of furniture. Also read about the materials it is combined with.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.