A Comprehensive Guide to Wood Types in Furniture

While nearly any wood can be used in furniture construction, certain woods have long been preferred for their visual appeal, durability, and ease of crafting. Before the 1900s, furniture was commonly crafted from woods like walnut, oak, mahogany, rosewood, fruitwoods, and exotic wood veneers and inlays. American Colonial furniture, shaped by local resources, predominantly used maple, oak, walnut, birch, cherry, and pine. The readily available premium woods were commonly used, while less desirable woods were relegated to hidden areas of the furniture. As a result, pre-1900 furniture is generally highly valued for restoration.

As these traditional woods have grown scarcer and more costly, furniture makers have turned to more abundant materials; the once-popular woods are now rare. Today, the majority of furniture is crafted from woods like ash, pine, gum, and poplar, with cheaper woods such as pine and fir being used for concealed sections. Rare woods are reserved for high-quality pieces and are often paired with more affordable alternatives.

Being able to recognize the type of wood in your furniture can reveal its true worth. Identifying wood can often be the key factor when you're unsure whether a piece is worth restoring or should be discarded. For example, an old, worn-out dresser may have been crafted from a rare wood now considered valuable. In this article, we will guide you on how to inspect a piece of furniture and what specific details or marks to look for in order to identify the wood used. Understanding basic wood characteristics, such as hardness, grain, and color, will be essential.

Wood Characteristics

Hardness: The most common way to categorize wood is by labeling it as either hardwood or softwood, though this can be misleading: not all hardwoods are hard, and not all softwoods are soft. The hardwood/softwood distinction is botanical — hardwoods come from flowering trees, while softwoods are from conifers. Although most hardwoods tend to be harder than softwoods, there are exceptions.

In general, hardwoods are more sought-after than softwoods due to their rarity. However, this isn't always the case — gum, for example, is a hardwood that is priced similarly to softwoods. A more reliable method for identifying wood is by examining its grain and color.

Wood grain and color: The cell structure of a tree, unique to each species, defines its grain. Hardwoods contain tubular cells called vessels, which appear as pores in the wood. If the vessels are large, the wood texture is rough or open; a filler may be necessary to smooth it. If the vessels are small, the texture is smooth, and these woods, known as close-grained, don’t need filling. Oak, walnut, ash, mahogany, rosewood, and teak are open-grained woods, while beech, birch, maple, cherry, satinwood, gum, and poplar are close-grained. Softwoods lack vessel cells but are typically close-grained as well.

Each tree has distinct annual growth rings formed by the cells created during its yearly growing season. These cells’ arrangement and type determine the wood's visual characteristics. Some woods feature subtle grains, while others display bold and clear grains. You may find straight grains, stripes, swirls, waves, curls, ripples, eyes, and mottled effects. The color spectrum spans from white and pale yellow to red, purple, and black. Every species has a unique combination of grain and color, and while these traits can vary from tree to tree, they are often reliable indicators for identifying the wood.

Furniture woods are selected based on the distinctiveness of their grain and color. Hardwoods typically possess a more refined and denser grain compared to softwoods, though rich grain patterns can be found in both. Woods with unique and pronounced patterns are generally more valuable than those with softer, more uniform grains. Weaker-grained woods are frequently stained to enhance their appearance. For this reason, it is essential to completely strip the old finish to properly identify the wood used in a piece of furniture.

How to Assess Wood

Identifying the type of wood in your furniture may initially seem daunting, but with practice, it becomes easier. Over time, you’ll likely learn to recognize various woods not just by touch and smell but also by their color and grain. To start, consider asking yourself a few essential questions:

After examining your furniture closely, you may observe that it is constructed from veneer (thin layers of wood) or a mix of different woods. This is a common practice in furniture manufacturing.Wood combinations: In modern furniture making, it is common to use two or more types of wood to reduce costs. Exotic woods are often used for visible areas like table tops, while more common woods are employed for less noticeable parts such as table and chair legs. This mixed-wood construction may not be obvious until the old finish is stripped away — for instance, a table you believe to be walnut may actually have gum legs, stained to match the walnut’s appearance.

Furniture made from multiple types of wood will eventually require special refinishing. If you own such a piece, you may need to stain and refinish the more common wood to match the more visible or prominent wood on the surface.

Once you are familiar with the color, grain, and construction style of your furniture, you can use this knowledge to determine the exact type of wood or woods used. Check out the next section for helpful tips on how to easily identify common woods used in furniture.

Common Furniture Woods

Just like every person has unique fingerprints, common furniture woods possess their own distinctive traits. Below are some details that can help you easily recognize the various types of furniture woods.

Ash (white ash): Ash is a durable hardwood known for its remarkable flexibility, making it ideal for bentwoods and furniture parts that need maximum strength. Ash veneers are also frequently used. The color of ash ranges from creamy white or gray with a light brown hue to dark reddish-brown. It is moderately priced.

Basswood: Basswood is a common hardwood, often paired with rare woods like walnut and mahogany. Its color spans from creamy white to creamy brown or reddish hues, with wide rays and occasionally darker streaks. The grain is straight and uniform, with fine pores. Basswood is inexpensive.

Beech: Beech is a hardwood that bends easily, though it lacks the visual appeal of ash. It is commonly paired with pricier woods, especially in hidden areas such as chair and table legs, drawer bottoms, and the sides and backs of cabinets. Beech absorbs stains well and is often treated to resemble mahogany, maple, or cherry. It is hard, heavy, and challenging to work with using hand tools. Beech is inexpensive.

Birch (yellow birch): Birch is a commonly used hardwood in furniture construction. It has a light yellowish-brown color, closely resembling maple in both appearance and grain. The grain is attractive, and the wood is fine-grained. Birch is moderately priced.

Butternut: Often referred to as white walnut, butternut closely resembles walnut in many ways. Its light brown color is often streaked with darker or reddish hues. The grain is prominent and leaf-like. Butternut has a coarse texture with visibly open pores, which are typically filled. The wood stains well, often being treated to resemble dark walnut. It is light in weight and easy to work with hand tools, making it moderately expensive.

Cedar (Eastern red cedar): Cedar is a softwood mainly used in the creation of chests and closets, prized for its distinctive scent and insect-repelling qualities. The wood displays a light red hue with streaks and knots, and the grain is attractive. Cedar is fine-grained and should not be bleached or stained. When used for storage chests, the interior should remain unfinished, while the exterior can be treated with a clear finish. It is moderately priced.

Cherry (black cherry): One of the most sought-after hardwoods, cherry is commonly used in high-end furniture and cabinetry. Its color ranges from light brown to dark reddish-brown and features a striking, often mottled grain. Cherry is fine-grained and does not require fillers. A subtle stain may be applied to enhance its color. Cherry can be challenging to work with hand tools and is considered expensive.

Elm (rock elm, American elm): Elm is a hardwood prized for its excellent bending qualities, commonly used in various furniture types, particularly for bentwoods. It ranges in color from light brown to dark brown, often featuring red streaks. Elm’s grain is distinct, with rock elm showing contrasting light and dark areas. Due to the devastation caused by Dutch elm disease, elm is now considered rare, making it harder to find and more expensive.

Gum (sweetgum, red gum): Gum is a hardwood often utilized in veneers or combined with rarer woods and is also found in some moderately priced furniture. Its even brown color, tinged with red, sometimes shows darker streaks. Gum is priced moderately to low.

Hickory (shagbark hickory): Known for its strength, toughness, and hardness, hickory is used in making rockers, Windsor chairs, lawn furniture, and certain veneers. Its color ranges from brown to reddish brown, with a straight, subtle grain. Hickory is open-grained, very heavy, and challenging to work with hand tools. Its price is moderate.

Lauan (red lauan, white lauan): A hardwood resembling mahogany, lauan is commonly used in lower-priced furniture and is frequently marketed as Philippine mahogany. The wood's color ranges from tan to brown to dark red, with a ribbon-like grain pattern similar to that of true mahogany. Red lauan tends to be pricier than white.

Mahogany (New World mahogany, African mahogany): This hardwood is a classic choice for high-end furniture and is one of the most revered furniture woods globally. It is widely used in veneers as well. Mahogany ranges in color from medium brown to deep red-brown and dark red, with a highly distinctive and attractive grain. It is a very expensive wood.

Maple (sugar maple): Maple is a strong, dense, and visually appealing hardwood, commonly used in furniture and butcher blocks. Its color is light brown with a reddish hue, and its grain is generally straight, though it can also feature bird's-eye, curly, or wavy patterns. Maple is difficult to work with hand tools and is typically costly.

Oak (red oak, white oak): A highly valued and abundant hardwood, oak is renowned for its strength and visually appealing grain. It is commonly used for solid furniture and veneers in modern designs. White oak has a rich grayish-brown hue, while red oak is similar but with a more noticeable reddish tint. Both varieties are distinctively grained, featuring prominent rays or streaks. The wood is open-grained. It is moderately priced, with red oak usually being more affordable than white.

Pecan: This southern hardwood is known for its strength and is frequently used in dining and office furniture, as well as pecan veneers. The wood ranges from pale brown to reddish-brown, with some darker streaks, and has a strong, pronounced grain. It is challenging to work with hand tools and is priced moderately.

Pine (white pine): This softwood was commonly used in Colonial furniture and remains a staple in modern furniture. It's featured in nearly all types of furniture and is particularly popular for unfinished furniture. The wood ranges in color from cream to yellow-brown, and its growth rings are clearly visible. The grain is fine and compact. Pine is an affordable choice.

Poplar (yellow poplar): Poplar is a moderately soft hardwood, often found in budget-friendly furniture and used alongside more expensive woods. It has a brownish-yellow hue with a unique greenish tint and a soft, subdued grain. Poplar is close-grained and accepts stains well. It is relatively light and easy to work with hand tools, making it a cost-effective option.

Redwood: Known for its distinct appearance, redwood is mainly used in outdoor furniture due to its natural resistance to decay and insects. It is rarely finished and features a deep reddish-brown color with distinct growth rings. The wood is moderately hard and easy to work with using hand tools. Its price can vary depending on the region.

Rosewood (Brazilian, Indian, or Ceylonese rosewood): Known for its beauty and luxury, rosewood is one of the most esteemed hardwoods used in furniture, and it is also a favorite choice for veneers. The wood varies from dark brown to a deep purple, with striking black streaks. It is difficult to work with using hand tools and is considered very expensive.

Satinwood (East Indian satinwood): Satinwood is highly regarded for its use in fine hardwood veneers, and it's also a popular choice for intricate inlays and marquetry. The wood ranges in color from bright golden yellow to a darker yellowish brown, with a unique, eye-catching mottled or ribbon-like stripe pattern. It is very costly.

Sycamore: This hardwood is commonly found in budget-friendly furniture and veneers. It is known for its resistance to splitting and is also a popular choice for butcher blocks. The wood ranges from pinkish to reddish-brown, with closely spaced, prominent rays and a distinctive grain pattern. It is relatively easy to work with hand tools and is moderately priced.

Teak: Teak is a highly sought-after hardwood for furniture, valued for both solid pieces and veneers. It ranges in color from a rich golden yellow to deep brown, with contrasting dark and light streaks. It is known for its high cost.

Walnut (black walnut, European walnut): Walnut has long been a staple in fine furniture making and continues to be in high demand. It is commonly used for veneers as well. The wood is a deep chocolate brown, occasionally with dark or purplish streaks, and features an incredibly striking grain. It is very expensive.

Other woods: While the woods listed above are commonly used in furniture making, a variety of other woods are also employed in furniture construction.

In addition to the woods previously mentioned, other materials used in furniture production include alder, apple, aspen, chestnut, cottonwood, cypress, fir, hackberry, hemlock, holly, koa, laurel, locust, magnolia, pear-wood, spruce, tupelo, and willow. Each type of wood should be treated based on its unique characteristics.

Furniture often reveals important indicators that help identify the quality of the wood used in its construction. The trick lies in understanding how to evaluate the wood and which features to examine.

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