PICKING THE RIGHT WOOD FOR MY CABINETS

New custom cabinets are a great addition to your home. They offer lasting beauty, a touch of class, and they can subtly pull together the entire aesthetic of your home if done right. Of course, when you’re having cabinets installed, you want to consider the other furniture in your home and the materials they are made of, and make sure that your cabinets will match the overall look. But there are a few other things to consider as well.

When choosing the type of wood for your cabinets, you want to think about the characteristics of the wood, including hardness, color, and grain. You also need to think about the availability of the species you choose. This can influence your decision in different ways including uniqueness and price. You’ll probably want to consider the styles that the wood is best suited for, whether it be traditional, modern, or exotic and so on. And you probably want to consider the type of finish that you will use on the wood. Wood cabinets must be finished in order to withstand warping caused by humidity.

It’s likely that you already know some information about certain species of wood that is used in cabinetry. For example, Maple is extremely hard with a fine, smooth grain and colors that range from nearly white to creamy. It’s readily available, and can be used in traditional, transitional, modern, and contemporary ways depending on the surrounding design elements and the style of doors. Because of it’s fine grain, it can be finished or painted beautifully.

Some other common types of wood used for cabinetry are Walnut, with its significant grain and color. Then there’s also Red Oak, which is durable and strong, offering a staggering number of subspecies to choose from. Cherry is a softer hardwood that has a beautiful, rich red color to it. Oak is a very hard wood with an uneven color and grain. Is mostly associated with outdated styles, but a lower price point is helping it to gain popularity again.

Not all cabinetry species are hardwoods, though. Knotty Alder is a relatively soft wood that features knots throughout. Because of this, and also the nicks and dents that accumulate over time with use, it is a popular choice for rustic look. Each species of wood has a color and grain that is affected by the environment in which it grew. It may range from fine and soft to more rugged and dramatic. It’s this variation that makes natural wood so desirable in the first place.

When the time comes for you to choose a species of wood to use in your cabinetry, remember to consider all aspects. These include availability, style, characteristics, and finishes. Remember that the wood’s color and grain may not be consistent throughout the cabinetry, but this is one of the things that makes it desirable. Whatever species you end up choosing, make sure that it fits your style and sense of expression. Work with a local custom cabinet maker to get the best results possible. They know the industry and the trends. They can help you make the decision that best suits your needs!