Is walnut or cherry wood better?

Author: Ralph Gerlach  |  Last update: Saturday, January 6, 2024

It depends on what you are looking for in terms of strength, durability, and appearance. If you want beautiful wood that is strong and durable, then cherry wood is a great option. But, if you are looking for an easier to work with wood, then walnut might be a better choice.

Is cherry or walnut wood more expensive?

Walnut is often more expensive than cherry. Walnut trees are not as readily available as cherry trees. They also don't grow as tall, producing less wood per tree than other hardwood trees. Walnut wood doesn't usually come in long boards, meaning there are often more knots to work around.

Is cherry wood softer than walnut?

Cherry is another 5% or so softer than walnut. Wood hardness is certainly something you'll want to take into consideration as you make your species selection.

Is walnut a high end wood?

Pros: Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that can take intricate carving. The color can be beautiful. Cons: Some may not like the variation from dark to light that's sometimes found on a single wide board. Walnut is also one of the more costly woods.

Is cherry wood high quality?

Natural cherry wood is perhaps the most prized furniture hardwood in America. Easily our most popular seller, cherry is a smooth-grained, reddish-brown hardwood that comes from the American Black Cherry fruit tree. Cherry is renowned among woodworkers and furniture aficionados for its color and aging process.

Top 5 Woods I Use

What are the disadvantages of cherry wood?

Disadvantages of Cherry Wood
  • Expensive. While cherry wood is desirable, it often comes with a hefty price tag. Cherry wood is considered a premium, fine-grade wood type, and cherry wood is on the pricier side compared to other types of timber, like oak or maple. ...
  • Darkens over time. This one is a bit polarizing.

Is cherry wood outdated?

Many people think that cherry cabinets might be going out of style because they've been around for so long, but the answer to that is that they're here to stay. Designers have even found ways to incorporate them into the modern and contemporary style.

Is walnut or cherry wood harder?

On the Janka scale, walnut receives a 1,010, while cherry gets a 950. Those are respectively strong woods. However, they aren't quite on the same level of strength as hardwoods like maple (1,450) or birch (1,260). While walnut is slightly harder than cherry, the difference of strength is minor.

Which is darker cherry wood or walnut?

The difference between cherry and walnut wood is that cherry is a reddish color, while walnut is a darker brown.

Why is walnut wood so popular?

It's prized by woodworkers for its strength, grain and color. It polishes to a very smooth finish, and the color ranges from creamy white in the sapwood to a dark chocolate in the heartwood. Over the years, natural walnut wood develops a lustrous patina.

Do cherry and walnut go together?

“I would encourage people to mix wood species in the same room because it gives a balanced flavor to the space. The lighter hues of new cherry or even ash will complement the richer tones of walnut. Many pieces that we make at Thos. Moser are a great display of this ebb and flow of light and dark.

Does cherry wood crack easily?

Cherry is often rather brittle and the fibers occasionally fracture while the log is still standing. So it came as no surprise as I worked the curly cherry for the April issue project that I came across a rather wide board that was substantially cracked over a great deal of its length.

Is cherry wood trendy?

One of the reasons that Cherry furniture doesn't go out of style is because this furniture comes in so many colors and can be paired well with many different modern accent styles.

What is the difference between walnut and cherry finish?

Though its grain is very open and more coarse than cherry, walnut still has a beautiful, uniform surface. Noted for its rich, dark, reddish-brown colour, cherry is one of the most luxurious woods you can find for your kitchen cabinets. It has a smooth, closed grain pattern.

What is cherry wood best for?

Cherry is used in a wide variety of applications, including: Furniture: From cabinetry to tables to veneer, cherry is a staple in practically every American woodshop; Millwork: Interior millwork such as doors, moldings and trim; Flooring: Cherry is durable and sometimes used as flooring.

What color furniture goes with cherry wood?

Since cherry wood furniture stands out by itself, neutral tones are a great match. These include colors such as white, beige, grey, light grey, and faded yellow. When decorating your bedroom with this type of furniture, you'll like to see the contrast.

Which is the best wood for furniture?

One of the types of high-quality wood used for making furniture is teak wood as it is durable and highly fire-resistant. Other types of wood include rosewood, deodar, oak and mahogany.

Does cherry wood change color over time?

Yes! Cherry wood naturally darkens over time. At first, natural cherry wood will appear as a light wood with pink tones. Over time and with exposure to the sun, it will naturally darken to a medium, red-toned wood.

What is the strongest hardwood?

Australian Buloke – 5,060 IBF

Known as the hardest wood in the world, this particular type has a Janka hardness of 5,060 lbf.

What is the hardest American wood?

What is the hardest wood in North America? Of locally available woods, Black Ironwood is typically the strongest type of wood you can find in America. It's found in Florida and has a 3,660 lbf (16,280 N) Janka rating. Other strong North American woods include species of hickory, maples, oaks, walnuts, and beeches.

Is walnut better than oak?

Walnut is rated at a 1010 on the Janka Hardness Scale. European Oak is a 1360 on the same scale. This means that Oak is more durable than Walnut and will stand up better against constant use and daily wear and tear. Walnut isn't the best flooring choice for high-traffic areas of the home.

What color wood never goes out of style?

Classic medium-toned browns such as cherrywood, mahogany, oak, maple, walnut, birch wood, and hickory are all timeless colors that never go out of style.

Does cherry wood turn red over time?

As cherry is exposed to sunlight and air, it changes color, shifting from a light salmon to a deep, rich reddish-brown. This transformation begins in as little as six months.

Is cherry wood making a comeback?

For many homeowners looking to build or remodel their homes Cherry cabinets can be thought of as an outdated or even expensive option, but the truth is they are very much still “in,” most notably with today's stain offerings that help to reduce the redness of the wood.

Previous article
What wood is resistant to carpenter ants?
Next article
What shouldn't be cleaned with vinegar?