Choosing the Right Wood for Your Furniture

When it comes to custom furniture, few decisions matter more than the type of wood you choose. It affects everything — from the look and feel of the piece, to its durability, weight, and even how it ages over time. But for most people, choosing a wood species isn’t something they do every day, and the options can get overwhelming fast.

At M2 Furniture Company, we help customers through this process all the time. Whether you’re dreaming up a dining table, a conference table, a mantle, or a set of nightstands, understanding the characteristics of different woods will help you make the right choice for your space and lifestyle.

1. Hardwoods vs. Softwoods — What’s the Difference?

Let’s clear up one of the biggest misconceptions right away: “hardwood” and “softwood” don’t necessarily mean what they sound like.

• Hardwoods come from deciduous trees (those that lose their leaves each year) like oak, maple, cherry, and walnut. They’re typically denser and more durable — perfect for furniture that needs to stand up to daily use.
• Softwoods come from conifers (evergreens like pine, cedar, or fir). They’re lighter, often easier to work with, and great for certain rustic or decorative applications.

In general, if you’re building a piece meant to last for generations, hardwood is the way to go. But softwoods can still be excellent choices for specific styles or budget-conscious builds.

2. Popular Domestic Woods and Their Characteristics

We’re fortunate here in the Southeast to have access to a wide variety of beautiful, high-quality domestic hardwoods — many of which we personally mill and dry in-house. Here are some of our most popular choices and what makes each one unique:

Walnut

Rich, dark, and timeless — walnut is prized for its deep chocolate tone and elegant grain pattern. It’s strong yet workable and develops a beautiful patina over time. Ideal for dining tables, desks, and statement pieces that need a touch of refinement.

Cherry

Cherry starts out as a warm pinkish tone and gradually deepens into a rich reddish-brown as it ages. Its fine, smooth grain gives it a polished look that pairs perfectly with traditional or modern designs. A favorite for heirloom-quality furniture.

White Oak

Known for its durability and water resistance, white oak has a prominent, bold grain that adds visual texture to any piece. It’s a versatile favorite for everything from dining tables and mantles to custom cabinetry and built-ins.

Red Oak

Red oak has a slightly more open grain and warmer hue compared to white oak, making it a classic American furniture wood. It’s strong, affordable, and takes stain beautifully — a perfect option when you want durability with a bit of character.

Ash

Ash is light in color, with a grain pattern that resembles oak but a softer, more modern feel. It’s strong, flexible, and a favorite among designers who want a clean, minimalist look with a touch of natural texture.

 

Hickory

Hickory offers dramatic color variation — from pale cream to deep brown — giving each piece a rugged, rustic personality. It’s incredibly tough and impact-resistant, ideal for furniture that needs both strength and natural beauty.

 

Maple

Maple comes in two main types — Hard Maple and Soft Maple — and both make excellent furniture wood.

Hard Maple is one of the hardest domestic species available, known for its light, creamy color and smooth, consistent grain. It’s a great choice for modern or minimalist designs, especially for tabletops, desks, or countertops that need to stand up to daily use.

Soft Maple, on the other hand, tends to show a little more color variation and interesting grain figure — perfect if you want a piece with more visual character. And despite its name, Soft Maple is still plenty strong and durable for solid wood furniture of all types.

3. Exotic Woods — When You Want to Make a Statement

Exotic species like Monkeypod, Sapele, or Other Imports can add a completely different personality to a space. These woods often have striking colors, unique grain figures, and excellent strength properties — but they also come at a higher cost.

We source exotics responsibly and use them selectively when a customer is looking for something truly one-of-a-kind — like a statement conference table or a live-edge slab dining piece.

4. Choosing Based on Aesthetics, Not Rules

When it comes to hardwood furniture, there really aren’t strict rules about which wood should be used for what. Once you’re working with a quality hardwood, any species can perform beautifully in almost any application — it’s more about the look, tone, and character you want than the function itself.

Some people are drawn to the bold, dramatic grain of white oak or hickory. Others love the warmth and glow of cherry, or the rich sophistication of walnut. The right choice often comes down to the mood and personality you want the piece to have in your space.

So instead of worrying about whether a certain wood is “right” for a dining table or a desk, think about what style fits your vision — light and modern, warm and classic, or dark and refined. From there, we’ll guide you toward the hardwood that brings that vision to life. To learn more about various styles, check out our Furniture Styles Blog post.

5. Consider How It’ll Be Finished

Different woods react differently to stains, oils, and finishes.

• Open-grain woods (like oak or ash) have more texture and absorb more finish, highlighting the grain pattern.
• Tight-grain woods (like maple or cherry) take finishes more evenly and result in a smooth, polished appearance.

At M2, we use professional-grade spray finishes that bring out the natural beauty of the wood while offering exceptional protection and clarity. For customers who prefer the natural warmth of an oil finish, we can absolutely do that too — but we’ll always guide you on where those finishes are best suited (for example, on mantles or shelving rather than tabletops that see food and liquids). Learn more in our Blog post for Finishing 101

6. Sustainability and Sourcing

We take pride in sourcing most of our lumber locally — often milling and drying it ourselves right here in the Upstate of South Carolina. That means we know exactly where the wood comes from, how it was dried, and that it’s been handled with care from log to finished piece.

This not only supports local forestry but also reduces waste and ensures each tree that’s used finds its highest purpose — becoming a piece of furniture that’ll last generations.

7. Final Thoughts

Choosing the right wood is as much about personality as it is about practicality. Each species tells a story — through its color, grain, and how it ages over time.

When you work with M2 Furniture Company, we’ll walk you through every step of the process — from selecting the species to designing the perfect piece — so that what you end up with isn’t just furniture, but something truly meaningful that fits your life and space perfectly.