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Fewer Better sustainability

Why It’s Time to Choose Fewer, Better Things

Pompanoosuc Mills | June 9, 2025

5:12

Let’s be honest: most new furniture just doesn’t hold up. If you've ever replaced a “good enough” sofa after only a few years, you’re not alone. Across the country, Americans are waking up to the reality that much of what’s sold today isn’t made to last—it’s made to move fast. Cheap materials, trendy looks, and cut corners have become the norm. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

At Pompanoosuc Mills, we believe in a different kind of furniture—a different kind of home, really. One that’s grounded in quality, intentionality, and longevity. That’s why we advocate for a simple, powerful idea: choose fewer, better things.

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The Furniture Industry Is Failing Consumers

The numbers don’t lie. According to a Consumer Affairs meta-analysis of over 75,000 furniture reviews and social media posts, satisfaction with furniture purchases has plummeted in the last decade. In 2011, 80% of reviews were 4 or 5 stars. Today? Fewer than 10% reach that level, while 90% of reviews are now 1 to 3 stars.

consumer affairs chart That’s a staggering collapse in trust—and it’s not just about comfort or looks. It’s about durability, craftsmanship, and whether that “new couch” can even survive a couple of years in a real home.

The Washington Post recently covered the trend, noting that even expensive sofas and tables are falling apart far too soon. The article shares stories of people who spent thousands on what they thought were heirloom-quality pieces, only to watch them break down in less than five years. One designer summed it up bluntly: “It’s fast furniture at slow furniture prices.”

In other words, people are paying more, but getting less.

Over 66 Million Pounds of Furniture Are Thrown Away Every Day

Here’s the environmental cost: 66 million pounds of furniture are discarded in the U.S. every single day, according to reporting from The New York Times. That’s not a typo. Most of it ends up in landfills. And much of it was never meant to last—particle board, plastic veneers, and staples instead of joinery.

Meanwhile, big-box furniture brands have followed in the footsteps of fast fashion. They offer new styles constantly, push seasonal “drops,” and cut costs wherever possible. The result is a glut of pieces that are cheap to make, easy to ship, and destined for the curb by the time your next lease is up.

Forever Furniture, Made in Vermont

That’s never been how we do things at Pompanoosuc Mills. For over 50 years, we've been handcrafting furniture from sustainably harvested North American hardwoods in our Vermont workshop. Our makers are builders, not assemblers. They don’t rush. They don’t cut corners. They work with real maple, cherry, oak, walnut—materials chosen to age gracefully, not fall apart.

ORDER FREE WOOD SAMPLES

Our customers see the difference, and they live with it every day:

This kind of longevity isn’t just about good materials. It’s about timeless design and real joinery. It’s about a dining table that becomes the heart of the home, or a dresser that gets passed down instead of pushed out.

We build forever furniture—pieces that are made to live with, and made to last.

Fewer, Better Isn’t Just a Tagline—It’s a Lifestyle

This isn’t about minimalism or perfection. It’s about intention. When you choose fewer, better things, you’re saying no to clutter and disposability, and yes to quality, beauty, and sustainability. You’re investing in things that matter.

And the best part? It feels good. Like the Bolgatz family told us:

That joy, that sense of enduring value—it doesn’t come from mass-produced, box-packed pieces. It comes from knowing you brought something into your home that was made with care and built to last.

It’s Time to Expect More

Whether you're furnishing your first home or replacing something that didn’t live up to its promise, we hope you’ll consider a different approach.

Invest in furniture that lasts. Furniture with a story. Furniture that’s made in America, by hand, from real wood, by people who care deeply about their craft.

Because in a world of too much, fewer, better is the only way forward.