At Avocado, we craft our premium furniture with the same values that guide our mattresses — quality, sustainability, transparency, and long-lasting performance. Every piece is made from solid wood (never veneers) and finished with premium, low-VOC coatings that cure to a stable, inert surface — designed to protect, nourish, and highlight the material's natural beauty. This guide outlines the woods we use and the finishes applied across our furniture collections.
Wood Species Used in Avocado Furniture
We use five primary solid wood types across our collections: Alder, Poplar, Walnut, and Oak, plus reclaimed wood. Each kiln-dried solid wood is selected for durability, beauty, and responsible sourcing.
Alder (Red Alder) | Walnut (Black Walnut) | Oak |
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Note: FSC® certified Poplar (FSC 156318) is used only on the Kids Bed Frame in the version painted white.
Wood Durability: Janka Hardness Test Ratings
Each wood species we use offers a different balance of hardness, character, and finish. The Janka hardness scale measures how well a wood resists denting and wear — the higher the number, the harder the wood. We use it here as a general durability reference across our three primary species.
Wood Species | Janka Hardness (approx., in pounds-force / lbf) | Character |
Oak | ~1,290–1,350 lbf | Very hard and dense, with pronounced grain — ideal for heirloom-quality pieces |
Walnut | ~1,010 lbf | A rich, medium-hard hardwood prized for its depth and grain variation |
Alder (Red Alder) | ~590 lbf | A lighter hardwood valued for its smooth, even finish and clean, modern look |
Poplar (Yellow Poplar) | ~540 lbf | A lighter hardwood with a fine, even grain that takes paint smoothly — used for our painted white kids' furniture |
A higher Janka rating means greater resistance to surface dents and scratches, but it is not a measure of overall quality or lifespan. Softer woods like alder are chosen for how beautifully and evenly they take a finish, while denser woods like oak and walnut offer exceptional wear resistance. All are solid wood, sourced from North America, and built to last with proper care.
Finishes Used on Avocado Furniture
We use three primary finishes across our collections. These are chosen for their safety, performance, and ability to enhance the wood's natural character.
Renner® Clear Sanding Sealer and Clear Topcoat | Walrus Oil® Hand-Rubbed Finish: |
Water-Based, Applied via Spray | Hand-Rubbed Application |
Used on:
Renner® Clear Sanding Sealer is a professional-grade, water-based sealer applied before the topcoat to prepare the wood for a smooth, refined finish. It:
Renner® Clear Topcoat (Highly Revived Water-Based Top Coat) is a professional-grade, water-based finish applied over the sealer for durability and a refined final surface. It:
| Used on:
Walrus Oil® is a plant-based, food-safe-grade wood finish made from natural oils that:
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Renner® White Paint System |
Used on:
Renner® White Primer and Renner® White Topcoat together create the smooth, durable painted-white finish on our kids' furniture. Applied via spray in a professional setting, this two-part system:
As with any factory-applied coating, the safety precautions on the finish suppliers' data sheets apply to the wet product during manufacturing, not to the cured furniture. |
Note: We previously used an ECOS® spray clearcoat on some walnut pieces. We’ve since upgraded to a more labor-intensive, hand-rubbed finishing process using Walrus Oil®. This method brings walnut and oak to life with a more beautiful, lustrous, and elevated finish. All new furniture now ships with this upgraded finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wood is Avocado furniture made from?
Every piece is made from solid wood, never veneers. We use alder, walnut, and oak across most of our wood furniture collections, with reclaimed wood in select items. All of our wood is sourced from North America and selected for durability, beauty, and responsible sourcing.
Is Avocado furniture made with veneers or particleboard?
No. Every Avocado piece is built from solid wood, with no veneers, no particleboard, and no MDF cores. Our walnut pieces, for example, are made from solid walnut throughout, creating heirloom-quality furniture designed to last.
What finishes does Avocado use on its furniture?
We use professional-grade finishes chosen for performance and safety. Our clear pieces are finished with a Renner water-based clear sanding sealer and clear topcoat, applied by spray. Our white-painted kids' furniture uses a Renner water-based white primer and white topcoat. And our walnut and oak pieces receive a hand-rubbed Walrus Oil finish. We name our actual finish suppliers because we believe you should be able to see exactly what goes on your furniture.
Is the finish on Avocado's kids' furniture safe?
Our kids' furniture is finished with professional-grade, water-based coatings that are sprayed and fully cured before each piece ships. Once cured, the finish forms a hard, stable surface in which the coating components are locked into the film. We use water-based rather than solvent-based formulas, and our clear and white topcoats are not classified as hazardous products. As with any factory-applied coating, the handling precautions on the manufacturers' safety data sheets apply to the wet product during manufacturing, not to the finished, cured furniture you receive.
Are Avocado's furniture finishes low-VOC?
Yes. We use water-based coatings that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), rather than solvent-based finishes. Our clear and white water-based topcoats are not classified as hazardous products, and our Walrus Oil® finishes are made from natural, plant-derived oils. All finishes are professionally applied and cured before the furniture ships.
Does Avocado furniture contain any California Proposition 65 substances?
Our clear water-based topcoat and our Walrus Oil finishes are not listed under California Proposition 65. For any specific piece or finish, we are glad to share the relevant manufacturer documentation on request.
Is Avocado furniture finished by hand or sprayed?
Both, depending on the piece. Our clear and white finishes are spray-applied in a controlled, professional setting for an even, durable surface. Our walnut and oak pieces receive a more labor-intensive, hand-rubbed Walrus Oil finish that brings out the depth and character of the wood.
How do I care for and refresh my Avocado wood furniture?
Our Walrus Oil-finished pieces are easy to maintain and can be reconditioned over time to refresh their appearance. See our guide on caring for your Avocado furniture for step-by-step instructions.