Cabinets add character to your room. The refined look and sophisticated feel lent by the cabinet wood to the décor of the room reflects your lifestyle and taste. However, choosing the best type of wood to make a cabinet is often very confusing. But keep in mind that whatever wood you will choose and make a cabinet, it will go a long way. You will be seeing it everyday. So make something that you won’t regret, but cherish for a long time.
Choosing the wood type
Wood is categorized based on its colour, grain and type.
Hardwood is obtained from trees with foliage like oak, birch, hickory, maple and cherry. Evergreen trees like cedar, pine and spruce that bear needles provide softwood.
Variegation is observed throughout the wood, even within the same plant. Lighter hues which gradually go on to assume darker shades are inherent in trees and contribute to increasing the appeal of your cabinets.
Grain indicates the primary alignment, surface feel and different patterns that characterize the wood. The unique design of the cabinet can be attributed to the distinctive grain pattern and marks inherent in the chosen wood. The grain types are fine, where the patterns are not prominent or readily visible; cross, where the lines appear parallel to the wood’s edge; straight or vertical, wavy, spiral with swirling patterns; arch, which has inverted patterns, and circular.
The distinctive look and feel of the cabinet that would perfectly complement the room décor can be best accomplished with the wood types discussed below.
Birch: This smooth hardwood features wave like, straight or circular grains. It exhibits superb shock resistance which makes the impact of stain causing agents less. The colour of the wood varies between light yellow and cream. The wood in the centre of the tree is of a dark reddish brown hue and can lend attractive colour blending to the cabinet. The wood is perfect for building cabinets for casual as well as formal settings.
Maple: The wood strength varies from medium to hard. It has vertical, wavelike or circular patterns. The wood is highly durable and can resist shocks. People with refined tastes will prefer the light, consistent appearance that gives rise to a smooth and fresh look when stained. The wood can be finished to assume an appearance similar to costlier woods like cherry. Maple wood is perfect for cabinet construction in airy kitchens.
Hickory: This is the heaviest hardwood and is adorned with haphazard streaks that can accentuate special areas of the cabinet. The spectrum of colours ranges from light cream to reddish brown. These colours can be intensified with natural stains. So if you are looking for light counters, hickory would be a great choice for cabinets.
Cherry: It has a smooth texture, and a consistent grain pattern that softens and takes on deeper shades with age. The mellowing effect intensifies upon being exposed to bright light. The cabinet wood will assume varied shades over time, contingent on the amount of exposure to light. The wood is expensive and is used for making top of the range cabinets. The dark colour will imbue your room with warmth and elegance of the highest degree.
Oak: This heavy hardwood comes with a coarse grain striated by straight or arch patterned streaks that lend oak its distinctive appearance. The wood is available in white and red variations, has timeless appeal, blends seamlessly into the background and suits many variations of room design.
The woods discussed above are perfectly suited to serve as building blocks for cabinets that will impress others with their inherent natural beauty.
