Lightest weight of the hardwoodsĬlosed and usually straight, sands flat and smooth Light pinkish tan when cut but darkens to reddish brown over time And if you want to just let them be, time and age will only add more character.īelow we’ll look at what three of the most popular choices of solid hardwood have to offer.

Hardwoods can be sanded and stained over and over. Softwoods can certainly be beautiful, but they aren't nearly as durable. Not only will you NOT have furniture that could potentially fall apart in a few years time, you will have a piece that will last, is sustainable and can be passed down for generations. While this may be a deterrent to some, the investment will absolutely pay off. This means the growth rings are closer together, making them more dense, and when sustainably harvested, more expensive. Unlike softwoods, hardwood trees are slow growing. While also commonly used in furniture making, they simply don’t hold up as well over time. Ash, pine, fir, spruce and conifer trees are included in this category. Softwood trees known as gymnosperms, have needle-like leaves that continue to cover their branches year-round. Hardwood trees growing in the United States include oak, cherry, maple, aspen, sycamore and birch.

It is wood that comes from a dicot tree which has broad leaves, produces either a fruit or nut, and often drops its leaves and goes dormant in the winter. That's why these are our most popular choices for lifetime-quality furniture. Plus, with sustainable harvesting it's extremely eco-friendly. Oak wood, cherry wood and maple wood have a natural character that just can't be matched by any synthetic materials. Almost any type of wood can be used to build furniture, but hardwoods are favored for both their beauty and durability.

Maple wood for furniture