READ THE LABEL

When you shop for furniture, be sure to read all of the tag and label information provided by the seller and the manufacturer. Federal Trade Commission guidelines require manufacturers to state whether materials such as vinyl or other synthetics are used to give the appearance of leather, wood or marble. The name of a country, such as "Spanish" or "Danish," cannot be used if the furniture was not made there unless a word such as "style" or "design" is also used.

If a tag or label carries the name of only one wood, all of the exposed surfaces must be made of that wood. If some of those surfaces are veneered the label must tell you so.

For example, "solid maple" means just that, while "maple veneer" alerts you to the use of veneer-a layer of maple wood bonded to another material. Mixed wood construction must be noted, for example, "maple veneer and walnut solids."