Using wood in your kitchen, living room, bedroom, and the bathroom is a classic and timeless choice. Wood gives you so many options as each type of wood has different characteristics, colors, textures, and hues. Whatever your decorative style, natural wood materials will give your home instant appeal. Let’s look at three popular wood choices for cabinets and built-in home furniture.
Common wood types for home decor
Three of the most popular wood choices for the home (or anywhere) is oak, maple, and walnut. Each type of wood has different characteristics that make them distinct, but the biggest sales point for using wood is that they are a natural material. There are engineered materials that will recreate the look and appeal of wood, but nothing beats the real thing in appearance, quality, and style.
Characteristics of oak
There is both red and white oak, and each has different physical characteristics. The most obvious difference is in the color. White oak will give you the classic golden blonde hues, whereas red oak will have dominating reddish brown tones. Choosing between the two depends on your taste and the rest of the decor and color palette in your home. The grain pattern in oak is also very subtle and beautiful, ranging from linear to the classic “cathedral” grain pattern depending on the cut of the wood. Oak is also popular due to its strength and durability, both important qualities in cabinetry and built-in furniture. If you have a specific color in mind for your cabinets, white oak is easier to stain than red oak.
Characteristics of maple
For a light, airy, and modern design, maple is a perfect choice. Maple ranges in colors from almost white to golden tones. The grain is smooth and delicate, so it won’t be too distracting if you choose to use maple for all of your cabinets. Because of the light colors, maple is also easy to stain in any color you desire, or you can enhance the natural tones and textures of the wood with a clear finish.
Characteristics of walnut
Walnut has a wide range of colors and textures. If you are going for a rustic farmhouse style, then walnut is a great choice of wood. The colors range from golden brown to dark brown, and the grain is more pronounced than oak and maple. The grain gives the wood more texture, which will give it more of an antique and aged look. You can use a clear stain to celebrate the natural variances in the wood tones, or you can even out the color differences with a colored stain.
Kitchen showroom in Denver
For the best choice for cabinets and built-in furniture, visit our kitchen showroom in Denver. See for yourself the effect of the type of wood, and what to choose based on your style and budget.