Which wood is best for furniture, mahogany, maple, beech, pine or oak?

Available in a variety of colors, grains, and hardnesses, solid wood has always been a preferred material for fine furniture. Shock-resistant and durable, it's also a sound investment, increasing in value over generations. Different parts of the world produce different types of woods, each with its own set of characteristics. And because each tree yields lumber with its own grain patterns and markings, each piece of genuine wood has its own unique personality.

Hardwood vs. Softwood

Solid woods can be classified as hard or soft. A hardwood is derived from a broad-leefed tree (without needles), such as maple, cherry, oak, ash, walnut, or mahogany. Hardwoods usually offer greater strength and stability. Softwoods come from needle-bearing evergreen trees, such as pine, spruce, redwood, or cedar, and are preferred for intricately carved pieces. Softwoods are more susceptible to marks and dings, but this can often result in an appealing weathered quality.

Below are some distinguishing traits of 5 types of wood most commonly used to construct fine furniture, sorted by their quality for furniture (from best to worst, in term of strength, stability, shock-resistant, and durability etc.). I don't include some less popular types of wood, such as cherry and walnut, both of which are regarded as material for luxury furniture.

Mahogany is a tropical medium-to-hard wood indigenous to S. America, Central America, and Africa. Mahogany's strength makes it an excellent carving wood. It has a uniform pore structure, a medium grain, and less defined annual rings. Mahogany ranges from tan to reddish-brown in color. It is a durable species, and maintains its shape against swelling and shrinkage. Its stability and resistance to decay makes the wood ideal for high-quality cabinetry and furniture.

As the girth of the tree is broad furniture makers were able to use a single cut of wood for a table top. Furniture made from mahogany became very popular in Britain from mid 18 th Century, followed by the rest of Europe.

Oak is the wood most commonly used for finer, more durable furniture. It is a very hard, heavy, open-grained wood that grows from deciduous and evergreen trees in the States, Canada, and Europe. It's found in both red and white varieties. Red oak (a.k.a. black oak) has a pinkish cast and is the more popular of the two. White oak has a slightly greenish cast. Prominent rings and large pores give oak a coarse texture and prominent grain. It stains well in any color.

Maple is a very light-colored medium-to-hard wood, abundant in the E. America. Known for its shock resistance, maple has diffused, evenly-sized pores that give the wood a fine texture and an even grain. Maple is highly durable and take any stain well. It can be finished to resemble walnut, cherry, or other more expensive hardwoods.

Beech

Found primarily in northeast America and Canada, beech is a heavy, pale-colored, medium-to-hard wood used widely for chairs and stools. It has a fine, tight grain and large medullar rays, similar in appearance to maple or birch woods. Beech wood has a high shock resistance and takes stains well. It is a hard, strong material, but it does not endure like some hardwoods do. Beech polishes well. It is used in general purpose fabrications as well as in furniture, toys, and floors.

Pine is a softwood that grows in many varieties in various parts of the world. In the States, Eastern White Pine, Ponderosa Pine, and Sugar Pine are some of the types used to make furniture. Pine's "knotty" characteristics provide warmth and individuality to each crafted piece. Usually light-yellow in color, the wood has a broadly spaced striation pattern. It is ideal for children's rooms, family rooms, beach cottages and anywhere you'd like an airier, lighter feel. Its natural grain and shades ensure that no piece is exactly alike. Excellent for staining.