How to Choose Bedroom Furniture That's Appropriate for Lowland Philippine Climate

If you live in the Philippines, chances are that you know all too well the challenges of living in a tropical climate. Outside of certain mountain areas like Baguio and Tagaytay, the weather tends to be humid and uncomfortably hot throughout most of the year. The lowland areas of the Philippines are generally characterized by constant high humidity, which, if not properly managed, can cause some kinds of furniture to deteriorate quickly.

What’s more, Philippine lowlands are generally sunny, with bright sunlight constantly beating down even during the wet season. This means that furniture and fixtures that are not kept out in the dark will be exposed to high levels of ultraviolet light. This constant exposure can result in the premature fading or structural failure of some types of materials, over time.

Keeping these things in mind, it’s important to be deliberate about the furniture you choose to keep in your bedroom. Here are some tips on how to pick bedroom furniture that is well suited for the climate of the Philippine lowlands.

1. Avoid MDF, Particleboard, and other Humidity-Sensitive Materials

Furniture made from engineered wood materials like medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and particleboard are now quite popular in the Philippines. However, the only reason they’re popular is their low price and their passing resemblance to wood. Generally speaking, furniture made from these materials will eventually absorb the ambient moisture, after which, they will warp, swell up, or even crumble, particularly if they’re carrying a heavy load.

Cheap bed frames made from MDF and particleboard are especially problematic as they will invariably warp from the weight of the mattress and the users. In addition, the options for repurposing or reselling them are rather limited due to their heavier weight and reduced structural integrity compared to comparable solid wood, plywood, or even wrought metal bed frames. As such, while not exactly disposable, you can’t expect bed frames and other furniture made from these materials to last much more than a decade.

Thankfully, bed frames made from these materials aren’t your only options. You should be able to find many high-quality preloved solid wood bed frames and other pieces on buy-and-sell online marketplaces like LookingFour. With some patience and a bit of luck, you’ll find quality secondhand and heirloom pieces that will elevate your bedroom.

2. Look for Proper Ventilation

Good ventilation is crucial for bedroom furniture in tropical climates, as the lack of airflow can cause health-threatening mold to propagate in your home. This mold can be especially harmful in our bedrooms as we spend a significant part of our day in them. What’s more, mold can damage furniture and fabrics, often permanently. When possible, choose furniture that has gaps, holes, or slats as these features will allow air to circulate freely, reducing the possibility of mold or mildew growth.

3. Use Natural Fibers for Bedding

Natural cotton and linen beddings are usually the best choices for bedding in a Philippine setting, particularly if you don’t use air-conditioning. Not only are these materials reasonably affordable, but they’re also breathable and can help regulate temperature and humidity, keeping you from getting hot at night. While synthetic materials like polyester or rayon may be cheaper, they can trap significantly more heat and moisture than natural materials, leading to sweating, discomfort, and poor sleep quality.

4. Avoid Plastic and Vinyl Furniture

When possible, avoid furniture made of polymers like plastic or vinyl in favor of solid wood or metal alternatives. Polymer furniture may be cheap, but they’re not good choices for several reasons. 

The most obvious issue is their lack of durability and repairability. Important bedroom furniture like bed frames and cabinets are often used every single day. Plastic and vinyl furniture, particularly the cheapest types, tend to be brittle and hold up poorly to daily use. When these cheaper furniture pieces do break, your options for repairing them are rather limited. Wood and metal furniture, on the other hand, is almost certainly repairable.   The lack of repairability also makes polymer furniture less sustainable. When plastic and vinyl furniture breaks or becomes worn out, they’re difficult to sell or even give away. What’s worse is that they aren’t always recycled, which means your broken furniture will inevitably end up as trash in a landfill or in the country’s waterways.

Lastly, the Philippines’ high amounts of sunlight will eventually discolor or degrade most polymers, including ones that are commonly used in furniture. While you could avoid this by keeping your bedroom dark, this is a bad idea, as a lack of sunlight may contribute to dangerous mold and mildew. Given all this, you should probably choose furniture wood, metal, and other materials that don’t readily degrade in UV light.

5. Invest in Quality

The Philippines’ hot tropical climate is not kind to poor-quality furniture. If you want your bedroom furniture to last, you may want to skip the cheapest options in favor of better-built alternatives—even if they do come at a premium. The good thing about purchasing furniture with high-quality materials and craftsmanship is that they are invariably cheaper in the long term, as you won’t have to replace them nearly as frequently.

In addition to the usual factors like style, size, and functionality, bedroom furniture for the lowland Philippine climate requires suitably durable materials, proper ventilation, and quality craftsmanship. By following these guidelines, you'll be able to create a comfortable bedroom that can withstand whatever the country’s harsh climate throws at it.