How to Choose Wood for Your Kitchen Table

If you’re looking to add a solid wood dining table or even a kitchen table around your space, it’s important to find the perfect wood type that can withstand daily use. But with so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to get the perfect wood for your needs. This quick guide will help point you toward the important factors that you will need to consider to help you choose wood for your new kitchen table. 

Different Wood Species to Choose from

Before anything else, it’s important to understand the different kinds of wood that you can work with. Below are some of the most common types of wood that you can choose from. 

Maple Wood

There is a wide variety of maple wood, ranging from soft hardwood that is rated at 950 on the Janka scale, to hardwood that comes in with a Janka score of 1450. Hard maples are dense and strong, which makes them a popular choice for both floors and furniture; they’re also moderately priced. They’re also relatively easy to work with and will provide you with a modern look when they’re stained.  

Soft maple will be around 25% softer compared to hard maple and come with a similar appearance but will come with a darker color with flecks that look like random lines that give it a unique look. Because they’re easier to work with, soft maple can be a good choice for woodworking projects — they can also be painted or stained to match a wide range of color schemes. Brown maple falls under this category since it has a Janka score of 950. 

Walnut

This option is among the more expensive hardwoods that can be used to create wooden tables; it is a very dense hardwood often used in cabinetry and furniture. Walnut comes with a dark and rich color which is complimented by its smooth finish. Moreover, it comes with a unique grain pattern that makes it popular among high-end dining rooms and can also be a great choice for coffee tables. 

Walnuts are known for their sophisticated look and are often used in mid-century modern furniture thanks to their crisp and clean lines. While this option may be costly at first, it can last forever when paired with a timeless design and a reparable finish. There is a wide range of Walnut trees to choose from, very few are native to the soils of North America.   

Oak Wood

Oak wood is an even stronger option than walnut wood and ranges from 1290 to 1360 on the Janka scale, making this a durable option for families with children. There are two main kinds of oak wood for you to choose from, which are listed below.

• Red Oak: This is a strong, hard wood that’s commonly used inside homes, including tables, doors, and floors. This type of wood comes with lighter tones over natural open grains and can be transformed since it can easily absorb dark stains. Because they typically come at an affordable price, red oak is the best choice for people looking to add hardwood to their kitchens. 
• White Oak: Similar to red oak, this option provides a heavy and strong hardwood that is often used in flooring, furniture, and even outdoor projects. However, the main reason why it’s the perfect choice for outdoor table tops is its resistance to decay and rot. White oak comes in a light to medium brown color and straight grain that’s more prominent compared to red oak. 

Cherry

This is another great type of wood to use when you want a table top that has a reddish-brown color. Cherry wood has become such a popular option for cabinetry and furniture because of its durability, while a closed-grain texture gives it a silky look. Finally, their smooth grain makes them so easy to maintain while keeping them resistant to scratches and staining. 

Pine

This softwood typically comes in a light color and will have a straight grain depending on its quality. Because it can be molded well, pine is well suited for use in rustic furniture and construction; the fact that it’s readily available and affordable is also encouraging for many people who want a new table. While pine is one of the easiest woods to work with, they’re also susceptible to splintering and scratches.  

How to Choose Wood for Your Table 

Below are important factors to consider when you’re in the market and ready to purchase the right wood to use for your kitchen table. 

Appearance

One of the important considerations to consider when you’re building your dining or kitchen table is your personal preference. In terms of your table’s appearance, there are plenty of factors to think about before making your wood selection. Think about the finish you want and the natural beauty of the wood, along with the color, texture, and grain pattern of the wood. 

Hardwoods like oaks, walnuts, and cherries all come with a more prominent grain pattern while softwoods like pine don’t. Some woods will come with a rich grain pattern with a dark brown color while others will have a lighter color and a uniform grain. While you can apply wood stain over your tabletop, you will still need to consider the best type of wood to match the stain you want.  

Durability

When you’re looking for the right option to make your wooden table, durability is an important thing for you to think about. You should look for wood that can withstand dents, scratches, and daily wear and tear; as long as you properly care for solid wood tables, they will stay with you for a long time. If you’re looking to consider different types of wood, you should always depend on the Janka hardness scale, which can indicate the hardness of wood. 

Most types of hardwood will register between 1000 and 3000 on this scale, which means they’re very durable and are a good choice for table tops. On the other hand, softwoods come with a hardness rating under 1000, which makes them less durable but also easier to work with. If your priority is the appearance of your kitchen table, then getting durable wood may not be a big factor to consider. 

Cost

Apart from appearance and durability, the right choice of wood will come down to its cost, especially if you’re on a budget. Walnut wood will be a lot more expensive compared to pine because of its beautiful grain pattern and it’s also more durable, allowing it to withstand heavy use. When you want the best option while staying within your budget, pine can offer the most value, especially if you want to make a rustic table. 

Looking for an option with darker stains can also give your furniture a more sophisticated look — if you’re working on a budget, you can always build wooden tabletops using construction-grade lumber paired with modern styles. However, if the cost isn’t a big issue but you’re still after an affordable hardwood, then Oak is the perfect choice for you. Both white and red oak will fit well inside small spaces and bigger dining areas; while they come with high durability, they’re also among the cheapest hardwood options available. 

As its name suggests, red oak comes with a red tint as a result of the tannins inside the wood but can be easily stained with a dark brown color. However, white oak is more rot-resistant and will be a great choice for outdoor dining areas and for making restaurant tables. Both types of wood can be great for making wood table tops, allowing you to show off the design of your new furniture more than oak wood would. 

Maintenance

Maintaining your wooden table top is the key to ensuring its appearance and longevity, but the kind of wood you choose will also make a difference. Looking for wood that comes with a smooth texture can help prevent liquids and food from getting lodged into the grains in your wood. For example, the wood grain found in red oak has very open pores which allow liquids and crumbs to become trapped over the surface, making it a challenge to clean and maintain. 

Fortunately, you can apply a finish that can fill these pores in, much like polyurethane or any other kind of varnish; this is, however, susceptible to damage and scratches. However, if you look for wood species such as walnut or maple that come with closed pores and smooth grain, you can prevent a wide range of maintenance issues but you will need to spend more. Just keep in mind that no matter the type of wood you choose, try not to use harsh cleaning products or chemicals since these can damage your wood and its finish — always wipe up spills immediately to extend your table’s lifespan.  

What is the Best Kind of Wood for Me? 

While it might seem hard to choose the best wood for your tabletop, the key is to prioritize your needs and preferences. If you’re looking to create a table that comes with form over function or want affordability over durability, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of options available. The best thing to do is to look for an option that will suit your needs and fit your dining room to ensure you’re happy with your creation. 

If you can afford hardwood, we recommend staying away from softwoods; however, you can also get a repairable finish that can help strengthen your softwood. Finally, if you want to give your table a contemporary look while staying within your budget, then oak may be the best choice for you, especially when it gets stained with a darker color. 

Conclusion 

Whether you want to build a new dining table of your own or want to add your own personal style around your dining space, choosing the right wood will be very important. This can be a natural focal point and will be the piece of furniture that the family will rely on the most, so make sure it’s both beautiful and durable. By giving it the proper care it deserves, it should stay with you for many years to come.

Sources 

• tylerbrownwoodworking.com
• arinsolangeathome.com
• renovatedfaith.com