Types of Wooden Cabinets

Have you ever walked into a big box home improvement retailer and been immediately overwhelmed by how many different types of wooden cabinets are on the market today? With so many varieties of wood species (and varieties therein) to choose from, it’s no surprise that cabinet makers are offering more options, wood types and stains to choose from than ever before.

Are all of these different species of wood created equal, or are some superior to the other? The answer to that question mainly relies on your personal preferences, taste, and budget.

The majority of the cabinets we offer at Lily Ann Cabinets feature face frames and doors made of one of the following wood types: Maple, Birch, Oak, and Walnut. Other typical types of wood used for cabinets include Cherry, Alder, Hickory, Pecan, and many others.

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Wood Types Used in Cabinets and Furniture

The types of wood used in cabinet and furniture making are often classified as either hard or soft, depending on the tree and its natural properties. However, these terms can be misleading and don’t directly indicate the actual hardness of the wood. The hardwood flooring industry, for example, relies on what is known as the Janka hardness test to determine that. Janka data for almost any wood imaginable can be found online and is a more accurate way to gauge the hardness of a given wood type.

Moreover, it is likely that you will be more concerned with the wood’s aesthetic and how it will compliment your home’s decor than how hard the wood is. Remember, cabinets do not typically need to be as resilient as hardwood floors do. If you choose a reputable cabinet retailer, the odds are good that they are using wood that is well-suited for cabinet making.

However, it is important to make sure you are dealing with a cabinet maker that doesn’t take shortcuts or skimp on wood quality to increase their profits. Remember to be wary of any cabinet company that substitutes particle board or cheap fillers in lieu of “real” wood.

Knowing this, it is important that you choose a type of wood that offers a grain type and color that you like. Remember, installing new cabinets in your kitchen or bathroom is going to have a dramatic effect on the overall feel and personality of your home.

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Attributes to Look for When Selecting Wood Type for Your New Cabinets

• Color
• Grain/Texture
• Workability
• Odor

Wood Types Used In Our Cabinets

• Maple Cabinets: Kitchen cabinets made from Maple are a great choice. Maple is a relatively versatile type of wood, allowing it to fit in amongst many different styles of home decor. It is available in a variety of colors and known for its smooth texture.
• Oak Cabinets: There is a certain timeless and rustic quality to a cabinet made of high-quality Oak. Oak’s distinctive and distinguished aesthetic fits in traditionally decorated homes but also adapts to the demands of modern design trends with ease. Oak is usually available in a number of colors ranging from dark red to lighter reds depending on the exact type of oak and whether or not a stain has been applied.
• Birch Cabinets: Birch cabinets are usually a very light to creamy colored yellow, but darker varieties are available. Birch cabinets will feel smooth to the touch and have a strong and unique grain pattern.
• Walnut Cabinets: Walnut cabinets are known for their dampened brown hues and smooth, ranging from dark browns to redder, lighter browns. Walnut boasts calming wood grains that typically feature parallel grain lines of varying thickness.