Best Types Of Wood For Furniture

Are you looking to start an outdoor or interior furniture project? What better material to go with than wood. Wood has been a staple in the furniture-making industry for centuries. Its diversity and immense benefits make it a popular choice for many to date, not to mention the natural feel wood gives to a space. And while wood effortlessly slots into any setting, your selection should be driven by more than just appearance. Understanding the range of colors, density, grain, finishing, and maintenance requirements of different wood species will help you filter your way down to the best-suited type for you and your needs. We look at five of the best types of wood for furniture available in the market today.

5 Top Of The Line Wood Species For Your Furniture

Mahogany

Mahogany is one of the most delicate wood species, famous for its sturdiness and rich color. Widely native in the tropics, mahogany sports straight grain, a medium texture, and weighs moderately heavy. The Mahogany tree grows to astounding large sizes, producing large boards suitable for household and commercial furniture. If you’re looking to create antique furniture pieces that you can pass down for generations to come, mahogany is the way to go. 

Oak

Elegance, diversity, and durability are all wrapped up in one- that’s the oak furniture package. With over 600 species spread out across the northern hemisphere, oak makes dynamic furniture pieces that are remarkably strong. The swirly and striped grains make oak stand out with its tone stretching from light brown to red, fitting for both Scandinavian and rustic themes. Given the proper finishing, oak furniture can serve you a lifetime, not to mention its scratch and stain-resistant features.

Maple

Maple trees are synonymous with great lake regions; this creamy to white wood species is relatively strong and durable- the climatic conditions of maple trees’ native area make them hard and resistant to splitting. Maple trees being versatile, range from wormy to ambrosia, making them perfect for various functions, from wooden furniture works to heavy traffic flooring. The forgiving texture of wormy maple means it’s low maintenance, thus ideal for a young family. Maple wood also notably takes well to staining and all types of finishes.

Walnut

Walnut boasts varying white to dark brown hues. The moderately open walnut grain makes the wood reasonably light; however, it can take a beating, thriving just as well under high impact. If you’re looking to incorporate a dash of darkness and character into your already airy space, a Walnut furniture piece might be just what you need. Walnut also impressively works into ornate woodworking masterpieces perfectly. Consider walnut for your home if you’re down for a bold or moody touch to your space.

Cherry

Cherry trees give us a stunning scratch-resistant number. Ranging from a luscious pinkish-red hue to reddish dark brown, American cherry timber is always a top furniture go-to. Cherry tree wood is moderately hard; its hardwood stiffness and strength guarantee you years of use. Rich-colored cherry wood is generally best for all-around furniture making and steams relatively well. Your cherry furniture is bound to darken with exposure to sunlight, so opt for this beauty for your outdoors, farmhouse, or cottage. Have we mentioned that it’s non-toxic?

Bottom Line

Wood isn’t just wood; several variable features come with each type. The question of how durable, sustainable, or sturdy a piece of furniture is are some of the primary factors one looks into before investing in a piece of furniture for their home. Your household needs may not align with industrial standards for wood; therefore, digging into the characteristics to find the perfect fit for you is always the intelligent alternative. Happy shopping.