Whether you are making or buying your new table, the choice of the wood it will be made from is crucial to ensure your new acquisition is fit for the job you will give it. There are many different functions for a table that lend themselves to different types of wood for various reasons like aesthetics, durability, cost and workability.
What’s the difference between hardwood and softwood?
The most basic choice for any woodworking project is hard or soft wood. Generally hardwood comes from deciduous trees and softwood comes from evergreen trees; it’s slightly more complicated than that but it works as a general rule of thumb.
The growing process of a deciduous tree is more cyclical, producing a denser, harder, more durable wood. Whereas evergreen trees have a continuous growing cycle which produces quicker-growing but lighter and softer timber.
| Feature | Hardwood | Softwood |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Deciduous trees like oak, birch and cherry | Evergreen trees like pine, spruce and larch |
| Cost | Mostly more expensive | Mostly cheaper |
| Durability | Generally denser and more resilient | Generally softer and more vulnerable to damage |
| Looks | Darker with denser complex grain patterns | Lighter with fainter, uniform grain patterns |
| Workability | More difficult | Easier |
For most applications where a level of resistance to wear and tear is required, the choice tends to be a hardwood. Pine (above) is the general exception to this rule as it is cheap and versatile and often used for tables and furniture design in general.
Popular woods for table designs
Here is a list of the most popular types of wood used in table design. The hardness of timber is classified using the Janka scale and the majority of the timbers used for tables comes from higher up that scale.
Cherry
The red tones to the colour of this wood make it a popular choice for tables especially dining and occasional tables when the rich and warm hue matches the decor of the rest of the room.
Cherry is durable but easy to carve or shape and it develops a rich, deeper patina over time, enhancing its natural beauty. It is on the more expensive and softer scale so it needs to be cared for and kept safe.
Walnut
One of the more expensive options, its rich, dark brown colour and beautiful, flowing grain pattern exudes elegance and sophistication.
Walnut tables are known for their luxury and are suitable for both modern and traditional aesthetics. Key considerations include choosing solid wood for premium quality, and deciding on finishes like lacquer or oil to protect it and prevent fading.
Pine
Using pine makes your table affordable but being a softwood, it is softer and more prone to dents and scratches than harder timbers. For a durable pine table, especially for dining and other demanding conditions, use furniture-grade wood (not construction lumber), and consider a strong finish/varnish to protect the surface from wear and moisture.
Oak
Oak is among the most popular materials to make tables out of as it is very strong, durable and generally more affordable than cherry or walnut.
It has a distinctive, visible grain pattern that takes stains well. White oak is particularly rot-resistant, making it a good choice for outdoor or high-moisture conditions such as eating/dining areas.
Maple
Maple is exceptionally dense and resistant to scratches and dents, making it ideal for kitchen or high-traffic tables.
It has a light colour and a fine, understated grain that lends itself well to modern or minimalist designs and takes light stains evenly. Maple is generally mid-priced so it is often a happy medium between woods on the more extreme ends of the scales.
