You’ll learn how to choose the best wood for your dining or kitchen table in this article. We have eight standard wood types, and this post will outline the essential characteristics of each to assist you in selecting the best wood for your needs. The beauty of made-to-order furniture is that you get to choose the materials and stains for a truly fantastic result. We can help you choose the best type of wood for your dining table, whether your style is contemporary or traditional.
Not only will the type of wood you choose for your tabletop affect its appearance and how it fits into your room, but it will also affect its durability and usability. For more information visit chairforce.com.au today!
Three Things To Think About When Choosing Wood For Your Table
While the type of wood you use for a dining table is nearly limitless, there are three key considerations you’ll want to focus on above all else to make the best decision for your home.
1. Is it better to have a softwood or a hardwood tabletop?
If you’re buying or building a kitchen table, dining table, or even restaurant tables, The first consideration should be whether you prefer softwood or hardwood.
A tabletop made of hardwood, such as oak, walnut, or mahogany, is preferable to one made of softwood. They have a more compact grain structure and are more resistant to wear and tear, making them ideal for kitchen and dining tables.
The Janka hardness test (a hardness measurement – see the durability section below for more information) gives hardwoods a much higher score, making them more durable. Of course, there are exceptions: Yew is a softwood with a high Janka hardness score.
This option may or may not be necessary to you, depending on your needs. Pine tabletops (and pine dining room furniture in general) are frequently used in country style, and farmhouse aesthetic designs and pine is one of the softest softwoods available. If you do choose softwood, keep in mind that it may require a hard finish such as polyurethane to help it last longer.
2. With Style, Are You Looking for a Traditional or Contemporary Table Top?
Another important consideration is the style you want to achieve. Most woods can make tables in various types, but some lend themselves to specific looks.
Walnut, for example, looks fantastic in midcentury modern designs but doesn’t work as well in more traditional or farmhouse settings. On the other hand, hard maple or oak can be used for both farmhouse and modern table designs.
Consider the natural aesthetics of the wood species you’re working with to understand which style that material is best suited for. It all boils down to how the wood is used and finished.
3. Tables made of hard, long-lasting wood will last longer (And Require Less Maintenance)
As a rule, you’ll want your dining table to be as strong and durable as possible. No, you don’t need a restaurant table that can seat hundreds of people every day of the week, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but you do need something that can withstand daily use – especially if you have a lot of visitors or small children.
As previously stated, the wood type you select for the wood tabletop will significantly impact the hardness and resiliency of this piece of furniture. A tabletop with a tight grain pattern is more resilient and durable, whereas one with a more open grain pattern is more prone to dents, dings, and scratches. Another factor to consider if you’re making your table is that the wood must be workable. Significantly hardwoods may make your job much more difficult!
The Janka hardness test, which measures how well a piece of wood resists denting, is used to determine the hardness of woods.
For durability and a beautiful red hue, choose a red oak wood tabletop.
Because of its hardness and durability, red oak is one of the most popular hardwoods for wood table tops (and it also makes a lovely coffee table).
With a slightly orange or reddish hue (when finished naturally), you can quickly bring out the “fire” in this material for a more lively look – all without compromising the material’s resiliency.
In addition to its lovely colour, the grain pattern of this wood is much more open than that of traditional hardwood, allowing it to absorb a lot of stains. That makes it a breeze to finish, though you must be careful not to overdo it.
However, this type of wood is a little on the heavy side. Compared to more contemporary options, it works best in more traditional furniture styles.
What kind of wood is best for an outdoor dining table?
When it comes to outdoor furniture, you want to choose durable wood and resistant to warping. Hickory, for example, is a tough wood that cracks and warps easily in high humidity. So, not only is it prohibitively expensive to use outdoors, but it also wouldn’t last long. I prefer to use treated pine and an excellent outdoor clear coat for outdoor furniture.
What is the best dining table wood finish?
On most of my furniture, I prefer a satin finish. Matte finishes are becoming more popular, but the shinier the finish, the longer it will last. As a result, I like a satin finish as a compromise. A semi-gloss finish will be more durable if you don’t mind a little more shine, and a gloss finish will have far more polish than you need for a tabletop.
What is the ideal thickness for a tabletop?
A wood tabletop should be at least 1 inch or 1.5 inches thick to provide maximum stability and prevent warping in high humidity conditions.
What is the strongest but lightest wood?
Pine is the strongest but lightest wood. Even though it lacks the hardness of other hardwoods, you can use a clear coat to protect the finish from surface damage. Pine’s workability makes it easier for screws and nails to grip, resulting in stronger joints.
What type of wood is the most expensive for furniture?
The most expensive woods are specialty woods like acacia and mahogany. Because of the depth of sound it produces, mahogany is frequently used in musical instruments.