Best Woods for Custom Cabinetry and the Effect of Different Woods

When it comes to the materials that cabinets are made from, not all woods are alike. In fact, there are significant differences which you will need to be aware of so that you make the right choice for the room in which they will occupy.

The Two Types of Woods

While there are many different trees where the wood is chosen from to make cabinets, there are really only two types of wood that is available, hard and soft.

While each type of wood has its advantages, the hardwood variety is generally longer lasting and more resilient to the moisture that the wood may be exposed to over time, particularly in areas of the home like the kitchen or bathroom. Plus, hardwoods tend to last longer and need less in the way of maintenance than their soft wood counterparts.

The Best Wood for Custom Cabinetry

Cherry: One of the most common woods for cabinetry, cherry has a very smooth grain and interesting color pallet which only gets better with time. Exposure to bright light will actually soften the colors somewhat, but that can be controlled by staining or other processes.

Maple: This is a medium to hard wood that is quite popular in creating custom cabinetry. It is shock resistant and highly durable as well. The uniform appearance and clean look is very smooth even when stained. Plus, it can be finished to resemble other types of wood such as cedar or cherry. Maple is also a great choice for the kitchen thanks to its moisture resistance and light, almost airy nature.

Oak: This is the classic hardwood that many people are familiar with. It offers a coarse grain with distinctive patterns as well as being quite hard and timeless in appearance. Because of its nature, oak is the perfect wood for many different home décor styles and is found in white and red varieties as well. However, it is one of the more expensive woods, but it is also one of the longest lasting as well.

You can choose from a number of different types of woods that will make your custom cabinetry really stand out. Be sure to look over the different types and pick the one that best accents the room décor as well as holds up over time. When choosing the best type of wood for your new cabinets, be sure to look over all the choices first so that you can get the right one for your home.