Wood Guide
Choosing the wood for your furniture can seem intimidating, but don't worry — we're here to help. The guide below explains the grain, durability, color and style of every species we build in: Red Oak, Brown Maple, Cherry, Quarter Sawn White Oak, Hickory, Hard Maple and Walnut — including the Rustic and Sap variations we offer on several of them. Read through it below, or give us a call to talk with a specialist.
Already figured out your wood choice? Click here to view our stain options.
Looking for inspiration? Check out our Inspiration Gallery to view past projects and examples.
Compare our wood species at a glance
A note on hardness: the Janka Hardness Scale measures how well a wood resists denting and wear — the higher the number, the harder the wood. Our QW hardness score boils that rating down to a simple 1–10 scale for everyday furniture use.
| Wood Species | Janka Rating | QW Hardness Score | Grain Character | Common Styles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Oak | 1290 | 9 / 10 | Strong, deep "cathedral" arches | Traditional |
| Brown Maple | 950 | 6 / 10 | Smooth and subtle, with brown mineral streaking | Contemporary, shaker, Victorian |
|
Cherry Rustic & Sap Cherry available |
950 | 6 / 10 | Deep, wide and exotic | Victorian, modern, shaker, traditional |
|
Quarter Sawn White Oak Rustic QSWO available |
1335 | 10 / 10 | Very tight, with horizontal "tiger stripe" flakes | Mission, traditional, shaker |
|
Hickory Rustic Hickory available |
1820 | 15 / 10 | Distinct and deep, with strong color variation | Rustic, traditional |
| Hard Maple | 1450 | 10 / 10 | Very smooth and clear, few imperfections | Contemporary, shaker, all styles |
|
Walnut Rustic Walnut available |
1010 | 7.5 / 10 | Wavy character with immense depth of color | Contemporary, all styles |
Click any wood name above to jump to its full description.
Red Oak
Grain
Red Oak has a strong grain pattern, commonly called "cathedral" because of its large arch shapes. Oak has been widely used over the past several decades for good reason: the beauty of that grain, its durability, and its relatively low cost compared to other American hardwoods.
Durability
One of the reasons Red Oak has been so popular is how dense and hard it is. With a rating of 1290 on the Janka Hardness Scale, Red Oak garners a QW hardness score of 9 out of 10. Oak also wears very well over years of tough use, and its wide, deep grain hides minor dents and wear.
Color
For many years, Oak was almost exclusively finished in Natural, Light (Golden) and Medium finishes. While we still build a lot of lighter Oak furniture, we're seeing a strong trend toward medium and dark tones on this wood type. QW staff favorites on Oak include Seely, Michael's Cherry, Asbury and Earthtone.
Style
Typically, the Oak grain pattern lends itself to traditional styling.
Best For
Customers who want a durable, time-tested hardwood with a prominent grain pattern and excellent value. Red Oak is especially well suited for traditional furniture and for households that want a wood that does a great job of disguising everyday wear.
Brown Maple
Grain
In terms of grain, Brown Maple is very much the opposite of Red Oak. Red Oak has a strong, deep grain pattern, while Brown Maple's is smooth and subtle. Why is it called Brown Maple? Because Brown Maple contains a brown mineral pattern running through the wood. If you decide to go au naturel (Natural finish) on Brown Maple, be prepared to see that mineral pattern in the finished product. If you select a stain, the darker you go, the more uniform the final product will be.
Durability
Brown Maple checks in on the Janka Hardness Scale with a rating of 950 and garners a QW hardness score of 6 out of 10. That's very similar to another familiar American hardwood: Cherry. As with Cherry, we recommend being a little more careful with products made in this species. Let's be clear — Brown Maple is still very much an American hardwood. But if furniture in your household takes a beating every now and then, we may recommend an upgrade to Brown Maple's big brother, Hard Maple.
Color
Typically, we finish our Brown Maple furniture on the medium to darker side of the stain spectrum. We certainly can and will finish Brown Maple in a light or even Natural finish, but we recommend medium to dark tones because of the brown mineral streaking in the grain. QW staff favorites on Brown Maple include Seely, Michael's, Asbury and Earthtone.
Style
The smooth grain pattern in Brown Maple lends itself to contemporary and shaker styles. Brown Maple is also found on Victorian style furniture as a less-expensive alternative to Cherry.
Best For
Customers who prefer a smooth, subtle grain and a clean, refined appearance. Brown Maple is especially attractive in medium to dark finishes and works beautifully with contemporary, shaker and transitional furniture.
Cherry, Rustic Cherry & Sap Cherry
Rustic Cherry vs. Cherry vs. Sap Cherry
One of the most commonly asked questions at QW Furniture is "What's the difference between Rustic Cherry and regular Cherry? And what is Sap Cherry?" The difference comes down to grain variation. In Rustic Cherry, more variation is allowed — small grain burls and even some knots. Because there is less waste using Rustic Cherry, the cost is lower than regular Cherry, and in many cases our customers want that variation and cost savings. Sap Cherry is similar to Rustic Cherry but doesn't have as many knots; it contains boards from both the outer part of the Cherry tree and the "heartwood" at the center, resulting in more color and grain variation.
Grain
Cherry is widely considered one of the most beautiful American hardwoods. With a deep, wide and exotic grain pattern, it's easy to see why.
Durability
Cherry checks the box on the Janka Hardness Scale with a rating of 950 and garners a QW hardness score of 6 out of 10. As with Brown Maple, we recommend being a little more careful with products made in this species. Let's be clear — Cherry is still very much an American hardwood. But if furniture in your household takes a regular beating, we may recommend a change to Hard Maple, Red Oak or QSWO.
Color
Cherry looks fantastic in a variety of colors, from light to dark. A Natural finish highlights the natural color and grain variation of the wood. A darker finish like Asbury or Earthtone blends the color of the grain together while keeping that gorgeous pattern visible.
Style
Over the years, builders have created many different styles out of Cherry. It's very common on Victorian style furniture, works beautifully in modern and shaker styles, and adds a unique, attractive twist to traditional pieces.
Best For
Customers who appreciate a rich, distinctive grain and a wood that develops even more character with time. Regular Cherry offers a more refined appearance, while Rustic Cherry and Sap Cherry are excellent choices for those who enjoy greater color and grain variation.
Quarter Sawn White Oak & Rustic Quarter Sawn White Oak (QSWO)
Rustic QSWO vs. QSWO
Just like with Cherry, we can build furniture out of regular Quarter Sawn White Oak (QSWO) or Rustic Quarter Sawn White Oak. The difference again comes down to grain variation: in Rustic QSWO, small grain imperfections, burls and even some knots are allowed. Rustic QSWO usually costs less than regular QSWO, and many of our customers prefer it for both the character and the savings.
What is Quarter Sawn White Oak?
This is another common question at QW Furniture. The term "quarter sawn" refers to how the log is milled: the log is cut once, then turned a quarter turn and cut again. The resulting grain pattern on White Oak is very tight, with horizontal flakes called tiger stripes. This grain pattern has been widely preferred for generations.
Grain
QSWO is often considered the counterpart to Cherry, and many customers choose it over Red Oak. The grain is very tight and deep, with the hallmark of the quarter sawn milling process: those horizontal tiger stripe flakes that accentuate the beauty of White Oak. You'll find this grain pattern on furniture dating back to the turn of the century.
Durability
QSWO rings the bell on the Janka Hardness Scale with a rating of 1335 and garners a QW hardness score of 10 out of 10. Plain and simple: furniture made out of QSWO will last for generations.
Color
Like Cherry, QSWO has been popular in a broad spectrum of finishes over the years. Current trends lean toward medium brown and red tones. QW staff favorites on QSWO include Seely, Michael's, Lite Asbury and Asbury.
Style
The most popular style of furniture ever created out of QSWO is, without question, mission. QSWO also looks great in traditional and shaker styles.
Best For
Customers who want exceptional durability and a distinctive grain with the unmistakable character of quarter sawn "tiger stripes." QSWO is particularly well suited for mission, craftsman and traditional furniture, while Rustic QSWO adds knots and additional natural variation.
Hickory
Grain
Like Oak, Hickory has a distinct and deep grain pattern. It's available as Rustic Hickory, for those who want more grain variation and visible knots, or as regular Hickory.
Durability
Hickory blows up the Janka Hardness Scale with a rating of 1820 and garners a QW hardness score of 15 out of 10. Plain and simple: furniture made out of Hickory is guaranteed to be heavy, and it will last for generations.
Color
When most people think Hickory, they picture Rustic Hickory kitchen cabinets in a Natural finish. That combination is distinct and fits beautifully with rustic themes, but Hickory with a stained finish is very attractive as well and has been gaining popularity. QW staff favorites on Hickory include Natural, Seely, Michael's, Asbury and Earthtone.
Style
Hickory furniture is typically associated with rustic or traditional styles. That said, Hickory is a very versatile species and would complement a home in almost any style.
Best For
Customers who prioritize exceptional hardness, durability and bold natural character. Hickory is an excellent choice for active households and for those who appreciate a strong grain pattern, dramatic color variation and a more rustic appearance.
Hard Maple
Grain
Much like its soft Maple counterpart, Brown Maple, Hard Maple has a very smooth and understated grain pattern. The grain isn't meant to distract from the overall decor in a room — it's meant to quietly complement it. Hard Maple has a clearer grain than Brown Maple, which carries the brown mineral pattern described above.
Durability
Hard Maple sits at the top of the chart on the Janka Hardness Scale with a rating of 1450 and garners a QW hardness score of 10 out of 10. It's a heavy, substantial wood, and furniture made out of Hard Maple will last for generations.
Color
Hard Maple looks excellent in any finish, from Natural to Ebony. Also known as "clear Maple," it's very common on kitchen cabinets with a Natural finish because of its clarity and lack of grain imperfections. If you're trying to achieve a very light, consistent color, Hard Maple is an excellent choice. QW staff favorites on Hard Maple include Natural, Seashell, Asbury and Almond.
Style
The smooth grain pattern in Hard Maple lends itself to contemporary and shaker styles. It's a versatile wood, though, and looks great on all styles of furniture.
Best For
Customers who want exceptional durability with a smooth, understated grain. Hard Maple is particularly well suited for clean, contemporary and shaker designs, and is an excellent choice when a light, consistent appearance is desired.
Walnut & Rustic Walnut
Rustic Walnut vs. Walnut
Just like with Cherry and QSWO, we can build your furniture out of regular Walnut or Rustic Walnut, and the difference again comes down to grain variation. The first thing to expect from Rustic Walnut is knots — noticeably more of them, and larger, than you'll see in regular Walnut, along with burls and small grain imperfections throughout the boards.
The second difference is sapwood. Rustic Walnut includes more of the pale, cream-colored outer wood of the tree, set against Walnut's dark chocolate heartwood. Between the knots and that light-and-dark contrast, Rustic Walnut has a great deal of character: some customers love exactly that, while others prefer the cleaner, more consistent color of regular Walnut. In many cases, Rustic Walnut also costs less.
Rustic Walnut: the pale sapwood on the right-hand boards runs against the darker heartwood, creating the light-and-dark contrast Rustic Walnut is known for.
Grain
Walnut is considered one of the premier American hardwoods. The grain pattern is distinct and unique — not as thick or deep as Oak or Hickory, but full of wavy character and immense depth of grain and color.
Durability
Walnut sits in the middle of the spectrum on the Janka Hardness Scale with a rating of 1010 and garners a QW hardness score of 7.5 out of 10. It's harder than many other American hardwoods, including Brown Maple and Cherry, but it does require a little more care than Oak or Hickory.
Color
Walnut's color is wonderfully unique and beautiful. Many have tried to duplicate the coloration of real Walnut in finishes applied to other wood species or veneers, but nothing truly achieves the beauty of Walnut except Walnut. On Rustic Walnut, expect the sapwood to stay noticeably lighter than the heartwood even under a stain, which is exactly the look most Rustic Walnut customers are after. QW staff favorites on Walnut include Natural, Bel Air, Michael's and Earthtone.
Style
The diverse grain pattern and depth of color in Walnut allow for very versatile style selection. Recent trends highlight Walnut in contemporary styles, but Walnut truly impresses in every style.
Best For
Customers who want rich natural color, distinctive grain and an upscale appearance. Standard Walnut is best suited for a cleaner, more refined look, while Rustic Walnut is ideal for those who appreciate knots, sapwood, color variation and more pronounced natural character.
Still deciding? Give us a call and we'll walk you through it — or browse our stain options and Inspiration Gallery to see these woods in finished projects.