Have you ever wondered what type of wood you should use for your kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities and still stay within budget? I’m going to give you some information on just that!Let’s look at Alder wood first. Alder is a beautiful wood characterized by reddish undertones and a light brown hue. It has a straight even-textured grain with a surface stable enough to take stain well. You may have heard of Rustic Alder as well. It has a more dramatic grain and may contain a variety of pin holes, knots that are open or closed, bird pecks and grain variations. Larger holes will need to be filled on this type of wood. Both Alder and Rustic Alder are softer woods and light in weight. They can dent easily so using them in a light traffic area is probably best.
Oak has been used in fine furniture for many years and makes beautiful cabinetry at a price within most of our budgets. Oak ranges in color from white to pink and reddish tones. I prefer the red oak. It is characterized by prominent straight lines, arches and points. Red oak cabinets stain easily just like the alder. Some rustic versions of the red oak can have intense color, knotholes and pronounced graining. The wood’s variations are more noticeable with the lighter finishes. Oak will stand up to every day use and is a harder wood than alder. Both are beautiful woods, but if you have an active family, then the best wood to use is oak.