Maple cabinets are slightly more expensive than oak, although prices tend to vary over time.
Hard maple is a fine-grain and light-color wood slightly more expensive than oak but less dense. A popular choice for semi-custom and custom cabinets, maple can be stained, but it is most often dressed with a clear or natural finish to achieve a light, contemporary look.
Oak is still a strong and durable hardwood choice for kitchen cabinets. But, if you were to put maple and oak to the test to see which one would resist denting and scratching, hard maple would perform slightly better. Ultimately, you're really splitting hairs when it comes to durability.
Because it grows natively across the United States, pine is more affordable than many other natural woods. In general, pine wood cabinets will be significantly less expensive than the tier of oak, maple, and birch.
Easy to refinish – Oak accepts stain and paint well, so if you do eventually want a change, this wood works well. Less expensive – At a 20% lower cost than other hardwoods such as cherry, maple and birch, white oak is well worth the investment.
Oak is generally slightly more expensive than Maple, the cost of the floored depends on the width and length of the floorboards, the grade of the lumber and several other factors.
But they're long from outdated. In more recent years, more modern and contemporary designs have popped up all over the world with new ways to use oak cabinets.
Solid Wood Cabinets
Solid natural wood cabinets are the gold standard when it comes to strength and longevity.
The 5 best and most popular woods for kitchen cabinets are pine, oak, hickory, cherry, and maple. Pine, oak, and hickory are cheaper and easier to get. Cherry and maple look luxurious and cost more than the others.
The least expensive material you can use to make kitchen cabinets is particleboard. This material is made from compressed wood chips, though it doesn't have the same strength and density as MDF or HDF.
Oak cabinetry often features an orange finish that can make your kitchen appear outdated. To tone down the warmth and create a modern kitchen with oak cabinets, outfit the rest of the kitchen in cool refreshing tones such as blues or greens.
Maple wood kitchen cabinets are incredibly versatile! And far from outdated. They're one of the most durable woods used in kitchen cabinets, and with the right finishes, they can fit in perfectly with any look, whether it's a traditional, modern, rustic, or contemporary kitchen.
Maple will never match oak. And why would we want it to? Maple and oak have different grain, different patterns, and different natural colors.
Nowadays oak cabinets are making a comeback in the kitchen. In some cases, homeowners are refacing their old honey oak cabinets to give them fresh new life. They're replacing dated cabinet doors with new Shaker style cabinet doors.
White oak is one of the most expensive cabinet materials on the market and can be roughly 40% more expensive than its red-oak counterpart. There are two key reasons for such a stark contrast in pricing.
Custom cabinets are the most expensive and the price varies according to the style and design you choose.
A light beech, warm cherry, or dark walnut in a suitable stain should lend a timeless look to your kitchen. Bamboo is another excellent choice for modern kitchens, and hickory has a rustic aesthetic.
Arguably, the most timeless kitchen cabinet color is white. Bright white cabinets suit a variety of beautiful kitchens, including modern, contemporary, and farmhouse styles. Brilliant whites work to give kitchens a light and airy feel, and off-white options, like the White Dove shade, provides warmth.
If you're looking for a bargain, wait until the end of summer or early fall to buy kitchen cabinets – many stores offer discounts to clear out inventory before new models are released.
Shaker-style cabinetry is a timeless design that fits any budget, whether it's small or unlimited.
'In terms of material, either solid oak or walnut for a wood finish, or tulipwood for a hand-painted finish will provide maximum longevity,' says Louisa Eggleston, creative director of Humphrey Munson.
Wood cabinets are back in a big way in 2023, continuing the trend we've been seeing over the past couple of years. These aren't your honey oak cabinets from the 1980's…
Colours such as white, cream, grey, dark blue, and black are popular options, and can match with a wide variety of kitchen countertop shades. While homeowners look to save money when making a large purchase, investing in quality countertops from reputable manufacturers such as Caesarstone is always the best move.
Maple: This wood species is a light, creamy color to contrast your dark oak cabinets. Birch: This softer hardwood comes in various tones, from light to medium, but the most popular is yellow birch. If you'd like to create a color contrast between your dark oak cabinets, you may want to get birch flooring.