Which hardwood fits your life and your room best?
[collection-carousel="tv-stands"]
Choosing between oak, maple, teak and cherry is a common question we hear from customers looking for solid wood furniture that will last. We make mid-century modern pieces in the U.S., so this is a practical decision for us and for anyone who wants a table, dresser or bed that lives and wears well. Rather than declare a single winner, we look at appearance, durability, stability, cost and care so you can match a wood to your needs.
How the woods compare at a glance
Here’s a quick snapshot before we dig deeper: oak gives a classic grainy look and strong wear resistance; maple presents a clean, tight grain and high hardness; teak brings moisture resistance and long-term durability; cherry delivers warm colour that ages into a rich patina. For technical numbers, the Wood Handbook is a great reference for Janka hardness, density and bending strength across these species.
Oak
Oak is often chosen for its visible grain and familiar character. Red oak tends to show pronounced rays and an open grain, which gives a rustic, textured look after finishing. It’s resilient against dents and is easy to source at good grade levels. Because of its open grain, oak can react to humidity changes more visibly than maple, so joinery and finish choice matter.
We use oak in dining tables and bedroom pieces where the grain becomes part of the design. If you want a specific example of how oak functions in a dining setup, see our caramel oak dining table and the creamy white oak table. Oak is a fine choice when you like a visible, tactile surface that hides everyday wear.
Maple
Maple stands out for its tight grain and light, consistent colour. Hard maple is one of the harder domestic hardwoods, which makes it a strong option for surfaces that see heavy use. That tight grain also takes smooth finishes very well, which is why maple is popular in modern, minimalist designs.
One practical note: maple can take stain unevenly if not pre-treated, so proper finishing is key. For guidance on how grain affects finishing and stability across species, the University of Tennessee guide is helpful.
Teak
Teak is often chosen for its moisture resistance and dimensional stability. The heartwood contains natural oils that repel water and slow decay, so teak is a frequent pick for pieces that may face higher humidity or occasional wet conditions. That natural oil content makes teak feel different to the touch and often allows for lighter maintenance outdoors or in damp interiors.
From an environmental perspective, sourcing matters. We recommend looking for certified supply chains; the teak sustainability facts resource explains why certified plantations are preferable to untracked imports. Teak is typically more expensive than oak or maple because of its performance and sourcing challenges.
Cherry
Cherry is prized for a smooth, fine grain and a warm tone that deepens noticeably with time. That colour change is one of cherry’s signature traits: new cherry can be pale and pinkish, then darken to a rich reddish brown after exposure to light and air. This ageing process is why many craftsmen and collectors value cherry for heirloom pieces.
We see two practical implications in our workshop. First, if you like the idea of furniture that grows more character with age, cherry is a match. Second, when pieces are repositioned after long sun exposure they can show uneven tones on different faces. Our finishes and design choices try to minimise that effect so the piece ages gracefully whether it’s a bedside or a dining sideboard. For an in-depth look at how cherry changes, read the finewoodworking article on cherry.
Durability and everyday wear
Durability is often expressed with the Janka hardness rating. Hard maple sits higher than red oak, while cherry and teak are lower in that scale, but teak’s oils give it different performance against moisture and decay. A clear primer on these numbers is found in the Janka hardness scale summary, which helps explain why higher hardness adds scratch resistance but can affect machining and finish behaviour.
For furniture that sees daily use - family dining, heavy dressers or beds - we lean toward woods with higher hardness and predictable grading. That’s why oak and hard maple are common in our dining table and bed frame lines. If you want to see how we apply solid hardwood to bedroom design, check the solid wood bed frame.
Appearance and ageing
Appearance is personal. If you want a surface that develops a deeper personality over years, cherry is an excellent pick. We’ve noticed - both in customer feedback and in-gallery pieces - that cherry often becomes a talking point as it ages into richer tones. That same trait means you should plan your room layout so sun exposure is even, or accept some change as part of the piece’s character.
For a clean, contemporary look that stays consistent, maple is often the go-to. Oak offers visible grain that works with rustic or modern-rustic designs. Teak brings warm golden tones that mellow slowly while remaining stable.
Care and finish choices
Finish choices can dramatically affect how a wood looks and wears. Clear oil finishes let cherry glow and accelerate the patina, while robust polyurethane layers can protect maple or oak in high-traffic areas. For anyone concerned about long-term appearance, choose a finish that fits both lifestyle and desired look. We recommend clear finishes for cherry if you want the ageing effect, and tighter, more protective finishes for heavily used tabletops.
If you’re weighing options for a dining surface, see our guide on wood type for tables and our deep dive on best wood for dining.
[collection-carousel="dining-table"]
Cost and sourcing
Cost usually reflects availability and demand. Maple and oak are widely available in U.S. markets and often give the best balance of price and performance. Teak is more expensive because of its tropical origins and the need for traceable supply chains. Cherry can be pricier per board foot depending on grain quality and colour acceptance.
We prioritize responsibly sourced material and have guidance for customers who want traceable options; read about our approach to sustainably sourced wood. If you want to talk through custom options or specific sourcing questions, please get in touch and we’ll help.
Which wood should you pick
Match the wood to the room and how you live. Pick oak if you want a visible grain and forgiving wear. Choose maple for a bright, clean surface that stands up to knocks. Pick teak for damp rooms or if you want lasting moisture resistance. Choose cherry if you want a piece that develops character and a warm patina over time.
We encourage customers to think about finish and placement when choosing cherry - its deepening colour is widely loved, but it can create contrast if one face gets more light than another. We build our cherry pieces with that lifecycle in mind, using finishes that complement the natural change and joinery that handles seasonal movement.
Practical next steps
If you’re narrowing options for a particular piece, look at our product pages to get a feel for how each wood reads in real designs. For dining pieces specifically, our range can help you compare directly: consider the caramel oak dining table for grain-forward aesthetics or explore our sleepers and bedframes to see how oak finishes carry through a home. When you’re ready to ask about stock, lead times or bespoke finishes, get in touch and we’ll walk through samples and care options with you.
If you prefer a quick guide, we offer personalized advice on wood choice, finish and expected ageing based on your household. Our team ships from the U.S. and supports customers from purchase through delivery and setup.
Further reading
If you want technical background on wood properties, the Wood Handbook is technically thorough. For practical finishing tips and how different woods behave during staining and aging, the University of Tennessee guide and the Janka hardness scale overview are useful. For cherry-specific colour change and finish behaviour, read the finewoodworking article on cherry, which we reference when advising customers about placement and finish type.
If you want a tailored recommendation for a dining table or a whole-room look, reach out - our goal is to help you choose a wood that looks great and stands up to the life you lead.
Oak vs Maple vs Teak vs Cherry - Which Wood Is Best?
Which hardwood fits your life and your room best?
[collection-carousel="tv-stands"]
Choosing between oak, maple, teak and cherry is a common question we hear from customers looking for solid wood furniture that will last. We make mid-century modern pieces in the U.S., so this is a practical decision for us and for anyone who wants a table, dresser or bed that lives and wears well. Rather than declare a single winner, we look at appearance, durability, stability, cost and care so you can match a wood to your needs.
How the woods compare at a glance
Here’s a quick snapshot before we dig deeper: oak gives a classic grainy look and strong wear resistance; maple presents a clean, tight grain and high hardness; teak brings moisture resistance and long-term durability; cherry delivers warm colour that ages into a rich patina. For technical numbers, the Wood Handbook is a great reference for Janka hardness, density and bending strength across these species.
Oak
Oak is often chosen for its visible grain and familiar character. Red oak tends to show pronounced rays and an open grain, which gives a rustic, textured look after finishing. It’s resilient against dents and is easy to source at good grade levels. Because of its open grain, oak can react to humidity changes more visibly than maple, so joinery and finish choice matter.
We use oak in dining tables and bedroom pieces where the grain becomes part of the design. If you want a specific example of how oak functions in a dining setup, see our caramel oak dining table and the creamy white oak table. Oak is a fine choice when you like a visible, tactile surface that hides everyday wear.
Maple
Maple stands out for its tight grain and light, consistent colour. Hard maple is one of the harder domestic hardwoods, which makes it a strong option for surfaces that see heavy use. That tight grain also takes smooth finishes very well, which is why maple is popular in modern, minimalist designs.
One practical note: maple can take stain unevenly if not pre-treated, so proper finishing is key. For guidance on how grain affects finishing and stability across species, the University of Tennessee guide is helpful.
Teak
Teak is often chosen for its moisture resistance and dimensional stability. The heartwood contains natural oils that repel water and slow decay, so teak is a frequent pick for pieces that may face higher humidity or occasional wet conditions. That natural oil content makes teak feel different to the touch and often allows for lighter maintenance outdoors or in damp interiors.
From an environmental perspective, sourcing matters. We recommend looking for certified supply chains; the teak sustainability facts resource explains why certified plantations are preferable to untracked imports. Teak is typically more expensive than oak or maple because of its performance and sourcing challenges.
Cherry
Cherry is prized for a smooth, fine grain and a warm tone that deepens noticeably with time. That colour change is one of cherry’s signature traits: new cherry can be pale and pinkish, then darken to a rich reddish brown after exposure to light and air. This ageing process is why many craftsmen and collectors value cherry for heirloom pieces.
We see two practical implications in our workshop. First, if you like the idea of furniture that grows more character with age, cherry is a match. Second, when pieces are repositioned after long sun exposure they can show uneven tones on different faces. Our finishes and design choices try to minimise that effect so the piece ages gracefully whether it’s a bedside or a dining sideboard. For an in-depth look at how cherry changes, read the finewoodworking article on cherry.
Durability and everyday wear
Durability is often expressed with the Janka hardness rating. Hard maple sits higher than red oak, while cherry and teak are lower in that scale, but teak’s oils give it different performance against moisture and decay. A clear primer on these numbers is found in the Janka hardness scale summary, which helps explain why higher hardness adds scratch resistance but can affect machining and finish behaviour.
For furniture that sees daily use - family dining, heavy dressers or beds - we lean toward woods with higher hardness and predictable grading. That’s why oak and hard maple are common in our dining table and bed frame lines. If you want to see how we apply solid hardwood to bedroom design, check the solid wood bed frame.
Appearance and ageing
Appearance is personal. If you want a surface that develops a deeper personality over years, cherry is an excellent pick. We’ve noticed - both in customer feedback and in-gallery pieces - that cherry often becomes a talking point as it ages into richer tones. That same trait means you should plan your room layout so sun exposure is even, or accept some change as part of the piece’s character.
For a clean, contemporary look that stays consistent, maple is often the go-to. Oak offers visible grain that works with rustic or modern-rustic designs. Teak brings warm golden tones that mellow slowly while remaining stable.
Care and finish choices
Finish choices can dramatically affect how a wood looks and wears. Clear oil finishes let cherry glow and accelerate the patina, while robust polyurethane layers can protect maple or oak in high-traffic areas. For anyone concerned about long-term appearance, choose a finish that fits both lifestyle and desired look. We recommend clear finishes for cherry if you want the ageing effect, and tighter, more protective finishes for heavily used tabletops.
If you’re weighing options for a dining surface, see our guide on wood type for tables and our deep dive on best wood for dining.
[collection-carousel="dining-table"]
Cost and sourcing
Cost usually reflects availability and demand. Maple and oak are widely available in U.S. markets and often give the best balance of price and performance. Teak is more expensive because of its tropical origins and the need for traceable supply chains. Cherry can be pricier per board foot depending on grain quality and colour acceptance.
We prioritize responsibly sourced material and have guidance for customers who want traceable options; read about our approach to sustainably sourced wood. If you want to talk through custom options or specific sourcing questions, please get in touch and we’ll help.
Which wood should you pick
Match the wood to the room and how you live. Pick oak if you want a visible grain and forgiving wear. Choose maple for a bright, clean surface that stands up to knocks. Pick teak for damp rooms or if you want lasting moisture resistance. Choose cherry if you want a piece that develops character and a warm patina over time.
We encourage customers to think about finish and placement when choosing cherry - its deepening colour is widely loved, but it can create contrast if one face gets more light than another. We build our cherry pieces with that lifecycle in mind, using finishes that complement the natural change and joinery that handles seasonal movement.
Practical next steps
If you’re narrowing options for a particular piece, look at our product pages to get a feel for how each wood reads in real designs. For dining pieces specifically, our range can help you compare directly: consider the caramel oak dining table for grain-forward aesthetics or explore our sleepers and bedframes to see how oak finishes carry through a home. When you’re ready to ask about stock, lead times or bespoke finishes, get in touch and we’ll walk through samples and care options with you.
If you prefer a quick guide, we offer personalized advice on wood choice, finish and expected ageing based on your household. Our team ships from the U.S. and supports customers from purchase through delivery and setup.
Further reading
If you want technical background on wood properties, the Wood Handbook is technically thorough. For practical finishing tips and how different woods behave during staining and aging, the University of Tennessee guide and the Janka hardness scale overview are useful. For cherry-specific colour change and finish behaviour, read the finewoodworking article on cherry, which we reference when advising customers about placement and finish type.
If you want a tailored recommendation for a dining table or a whole-room look, reach out - our goal is to help you choose a wood that looks great and stands up to the life you lead.