One of the best things about purchasing custom kitchen cabinets is you get to choose every detail, from the wood color and species to the hardware and accessories. But with so many options available, it’s often hard to decide what’s best. Frequently, one of the most difficult decisions customers face is selecting the wood species they want.
So are some woods better than others for kitchen cabinets? Absolutely. Here’s what you need to know.
Some Woods Are More Durable
Your kitchen is hard on wood. Steam from cooking, moisture from washing dishes, and chemicals from household cleaners all take a toll on your cabinets. Plus, there’s all the wear and tear from opening and closing all those doors and drawers. So you definitely need to choose a wood species that is strong enough to handle a kitchen environment.
Close-grained hardwoods like cherry, hickory, and maple are excellent choices for your kitchen. That’s because they’re not easily warped by the wet environment in your kitchen. And they’re strong enough to hold up to years of use without becoming distressed.
Some Woods Look Better Stained
Another factor you need to take into consideration is whether you want the wood grain in your cabinets to be visible. For example, rustic cabinets typically feature natural wood grain, including knots, worm holes, and other unique characteristics. So if you enjoy the natural wood aesthetic, you need to choose a type of wood that looks good stained.
Pine, cherry, hickory, alder, walnut, and oak all look beautiful stained. So think about the color and characteristics of the wood you would like to have in your kitchen. Then, choose a species to match.
Some Woods Are Better for Painting
On the other hand, if you prefer painted cabinets, you need to choose wood that is smooth. Typically, maple works best for painted cabinets. It’s a durable hardwood that will stand up to use in your kitchen. But the grain of wood is small, so it won’t interfere with a smooth finish.
Modern and contemporary cabinets are typically painted, so maple is a great choice if you prefer these styles. Maple also works well for Shaker cabinets, since they are frequently painted, too.
Some Woods Better Fit Certain Cabinet Styles
Custom wood cabinets are a sizeable investment, so you want to be certain you’ll love the finished product. To that end, it’s important to consider the cabinet style you want when selecting a wood species. Some woods better fit certain cabinet styles.
As we mentioned above, maple is typically featured in modern and contemporary cabinets, but it can also be used in Shaker and rustic/country cabinets, too. In addition to maple, country/rustic cabinets often feature hardwoods like oak, hickory, and pine. Shaker cabinets most often feature woods native to the Northeastern United States, like maple, oak, hickory, and cherry. And traditional cabinets make a formal statement with woods like mahogany, cherry, and walnut.
Some Woods Are Easier On Your Budget
Some species of wood, like pine, tend to be cheaper. And other species, like mahogany, tend to be on the more expensive side. So you may need to take your budget into consideration when choosing a wood species.
However, because we use high-grade materials and construction techniques, we find that the type of finish and style of door you choose have the most impact on the price of your cabinets. So before you discount a particular species of wood, it’s worth getting a quote to see whether it fits in your budget after all.
When it comes to kitchen cabinets, some woods are definitely better than others. But don’t worry, we’re happy to help you choose the right species to fit your vision. Give us a call or contact us online to begin the process.