What Is The Best Hardwood Used For Home Furniture?

Whether you want to build your own furniture (with lots of DIY plans available online, this task is now quite doable and approachable), or want to become a more savvy shopper, knowing what is the best hardwood used for home furniture may prove useful. Choosing the right wood type largely determines the service period of a furniture unit, plus, distinguishing between different types of wood may help you decide if restoring old furniture is truly worth the investment. All in all, the best hardwoods used for building furniture can be subdivided into two categories – cheap and expensive ones. Most modern furniture is constructed using the combination of the above mentioned types, to make it more affordable. While expensive hardwoods are used for beautiful veneers or table surfaces, their cheaper counterparts are meant for hidden or inconspicuous parts – shelves, table legs, etc.

Best inexpensive hardwoods used for home furniture

Beech – beech is extremely dense, which makes it difficult to carve and shape manually, however, it is widely used for hidden furniture parts, such as drawer sides and bottoms, rear walls of display cabinets and sideboards, the sides of cabinet drawers, wardrobe shelves, etc. Beech bends easily, which makes it one of the best hardwoods used for home furniture, and is often stained and dyed to imitate more expensive woods like walnut or cherry.

Ash – ash is, in general, more expensive than beech, but is still considered moderately priced. Unlike beech, it is also quite often used for veneers and table tops. Ash is also very flexible and easy to bend – these characteristics make it stand out among best hardwoods used for home furniture. Its colour usually ranges from light beige to brown.

Basswood – basswood is another common wood type used both for veneers and hidden parts. It is relatively inexpensive and its surface has attractive wooden texture and grain. Basswood colour ranges from creamy to reddish brown.

Best expensive hardwoods used for home furniture

Oak – traditionally, oak is among the best hardwoods used for home furniture, moreover, some oak woods are moderately priced. Extremely durable and hard, oak is one of the most common materials used for solid wood units and veneers. Its characteristics ensure long service period and its colour ranges from light yellowish tint to rich dark brown hues. All in all, oak is one of the most valued woods used for furniture construction. For example, oak dining tables are considered a hallmark of respectability and excellent taste.

Cherry – cherry is used to build some of the most exquisite and elaborate furniture units, such as, for example, elegant benches or stylish cabinets. One of its most memorable characteristics it its rich dark reddish tint and attractive grain.

Mahogany – mahogany is one of the worlds most valued and treasured woods, which, of course, is very expensive. Its outstanding density, durability and aesthetic attractiveness make it worth the investment. Mahogany is usually used to build costly and elaborate hard furniture. Its colour can vary from brown to dark red.

Building your own custom furniture has its own pluses and minuses, and if you want to consider all of them the following guide may prove helpful.

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