Pros and Cons of Different Wood Types
Wood is the backbone for many kinds of furniture as it is easily sculpted and durable, for human needs.
Knowing the different kinds of wood that exist can help you make a good decision when it comes to custom furniture. Wood has composed furniture for as long as humans have been crafting tools and homes. It’s easy to sculpt, and while it may not be the most durable substance on the planet, it works well for making beautiful furniture. Here are the pros and cons of different wood types to help you make the best decision for your custom furniture.
Pine
Pros – It is the least expensive wood used for furniture making. Reclaimed pine is used for rustic looking pieces and it is a great way to reuse a natural resource.
Cons – It’s a soft wood, so scratches and dents are an all too real possibility. Pine can have knots that bleed through if the furniture has a painted finish.
Maple
Pros – Affordable and ultra durable. It can take a beating and look great for many years to come. Because it takes dark stains well, maple is often used to mimic more expensive woods.
Cons – Because of its ability to mimic pricier woods, it puts maple trees at risk from deforestation. Maple does not have much grain variation so some people think it is not a very interesting wood.
Walnut
Pros – It’s a strong and stable wood that allows for intricate and complex carvings. The color and shading is beautiful. It is almost a pity to put stain on it at all. More often than not we just use a clear coat finish.
Cons – Some people don’t like the variation of light to dark that’s found on a single board. It’s also one of the more expensive woods.
Oak
Pros – Very strong and dense. When it is quarter sawn it has a very linear grain pattern that is highly desirable for modern furniture.
Cons – Some people think of Oak as old fashioned or passé. They are most likely remembering the open grain, pickled Oak furniture from the 70’s.
We hope this guide of different woods can be beneficial when choosing your own custom piece of furniture. If you want your very own piece of custom furniture, don’t hesitate to contact us. We at La Bella Cosa, located in Culver City, CA, know that you want the very best custom furniture and we’re here to provide exactly that. We service areas all over Southern California, including the South Bay area, San Fernando Valley, Ventura County, Orange County, Santa Barbara County, and more!
