Maple, Cherry, Oak, oh my! When renovating your kitchen, you may become overwhelmed with all of the decisions you have to make, one of those being the type of wood to use for your kitchen cabinets. Don’t fret, we’re here to help make that decision a little easier! Below are the top five types of wood we recommend for kitchen cabinets and some important details to know about each type of wood.

• Maple

The color of this wood can range from nearly white to cream-toned and has a fine, smooth grain. Because of its fine grain, maple takes stain and paint very well.  If you are looking for painted kitchen cabinets, we suggest using maple. Maple is one of the hardest woods you can use which makes it very durable, yet it is more affordable than other hardwoods such as cherry or mahogany.

• Hickory 

Photo Source: Candlelight Cabinetry

If you are looking for a rustic kitchen design, hickory is well-suited for this style. The color of hickory can range from white to shades of dark brown and there is great variation and contrast in this wood. When you apply a natural or light stain to hickory you will still see that beautiful color variation, but if you are looking for less color variation, applying a darker stain to this wood can help make it look more consistent. Hickory is a mid-range priced wood, is readily accessible due to the large abundance of this material, and is one of the sturdiest woods you can find!

• Cherry

Cherry is a beautiful wood that is a very common choice for kitchen cabinets. The color ranges from blond to reddish brown and depending on how much sunlight your kitchen gets, the color of your cherry kitchen cabinets will darken over time. The straight, fine grain is a great advantage of this wood type and although it is considered a hardwood, it is softer and more versatile than most hardwoods. The price range of cherry tends to be more on the expensive side, but if you are looking for high quality cabinetry that will stand the test of time, this type of wood is a great option.

• Oak

There are two different types of oak typically used for cabinetry: red oak and white oak. The color of red oak can range from light brown to a pinkish red and has a swirling, fluid pattern in the grain. White oak has a more golden tone and a more consistent grain pattern which can be emphasized by using stain. Oak is strong, durable, readily available, and is on the less expensive end of the spectrum. Oak takes any color stain very well which allows you to achieve basically any color you want.

Walnut

Last but not least, there’s walnut. Walnut is a strong, stable hardwood that is on the more expensive side. Its color can range from chocolate brown to yellow and it has a unique grain pattern with a lot of variation. Due to its significant color variation, a light stain can be used to emphasize this look. However, a dark stain can be used to reduce the color variation and give your kitchen cabinets a classic & timeless look.

Ultimately, any of these wood options will give you a high quality kitchen that will last for years to come. When deciding on what wood to use in your kitchen, be sure to consider the price, durability, and how the wood takes stain or paint. If you have more questions about the types of wood you should use for your kitchen cabinets, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our kitchen designers!