Many things change
Walnut is lovely wood, especially when carefully air dried so as to preserve the rich chocolate, purple and black tones in the best of it. HOWEVER, It fades like mad in sunlight. Furniture is touched by sunlight. Therefore, the lovely colors of the walnut go away — and it doesn't take centuries.
Of the primary woods Chilton offers, walnut is the most different in its aging process. Rather than darkening over time, walnut begins as a beautiful, rich dark brown color and over time will gradually lighten, taking on notes of honey throughout.
Unlike cherry, maple, and oak (which all darken in color as they age), walnut wood will actually lighten slightly over time.
For example, the elements frequently darken pale wood and brighten dark wood, so years of sun exposure will typically lighten walnut wood furniture. While some people stain walnut wood to preserve the darker hue in perpetuity, it is commonly clear-coated or oiled.
New walnut has a consistent dark-brown color but as it gets older, two changes occur. 1: Unlike maple and cherry, it gets lighter. 2: A rich honey color starts to come through the grain.
The kernel of a young, only torn walnut has a light color, after lying for several days, the kernel it darkens a little. This is a natural and normal process. After drying, the kernel takes on its permanent color.
Special Walnut by Minwax (also available here!) is a lighter, brown walnut color. I found it to be similar to Early American but with more muted brown tones and no red tones. I've seen it used on flooring and it's another very versatile stain color.
Walnut is a darker wood with shades that range from pale browns to dark browns.
Direct exposure to sunlight over a long time will change the coloring chemicals of walnut and cause the reduction of their dark brown color. Also, the level of exposure will increase the speed of the color shift from dark to pale. However, walnut furniture fades like mad in sunlight.
The color of walnut heartwood varies, from greenish to dark brown when first cut. As the wood ages, initially it turns to a chocolate brown color and then darkens even more. We can certainly start an argument, but my opinion is that some of the best colored walnut comes from Missouri and the surrounding areas.
Walnut wood can change color depending on the way it's dried or its age. The heartwood usually is a dark brown color and the sapwood is a light yellow color.
Species such as maple and walnut dry at an intermediate rate, ie a 1” walnut board air dried in the south in the summer time will dry in about 120 days, and species such as oak, mesquite, and hickory dry very slowly (ie 1” per year).
In addition to its natural beauty, walnut wood is a popular choice for flooring due to its rich and warm colour. It also boasts natural resistance to termites and moisture, and can last for a long time.
You can tell walnuts are turning old if they are rubbery or shriveled. They have turned rancid if they have a strange odor similar to paint thinner. Throw away rancid walnuts! Store shelled or unshelled walnuts safely in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
You might pair Cordovan Brown with Blank Canvas—a soft, warm white—which Behr chose as its 2023 Color of the Year for interiors. The paint firm PPG also chose a deep brown stain as its 2023 Stain Color of the Year: Chestnut Brown. The rich brown tones may be part of the resurgence of 1970s design styles.
Grade: First and Seconds (FAS)
This is the highest grade, and NHLA states for all lumber the following: 83.3% clear of defect on both faces.
Walnut is a fantastic choice for a lot of reasons… first, it's gorgeous but because it has a slight purple undertone to it — walnut can work best with both warm or cool undertones.
Though walnuts can be eaten as it is by removing the outer shell, the best way to have them is by soaking overnight. Just soak 2-4 walnut pieces overnight in a cup of water and have them first thing in the morning. Soaking walnuts helps in reducing the bad cholesterol levels in the body.
Walnut wood offers rich, brown colors that range from light to dark brown. The sapwood (outer part of the tree log) is pale yellow to white and the heartwood (center of the tree log) has brown shades that vary from light brown to dark chocolate brown with some dark brown streaks.
Color/Appearance: Heartwood can range from a lighter pale brown to a dark chocolate brown with darker brown streaks. Color can sometimes have a gray, purple, or reddish cast. Sapwood is nearly white. European Walnut can occasionally also be found with figured grain patterns such as: curly, crotch, and burl.
Staining walnut isn't necessary, unless color is uneven. Then, aniline dyes won't cloud the grain. The best finish for walnut is a clear one. Several coats of Danish oil provide clarity.
Dark Walnut stains look great with other dark colors, like plums, blues, greens, and dark reds. Alternatively, lighter colors like off-white, light grays, and other neutral shades can pleasantly contrast the eyes. Don't be afraid to mix different shades of stained wood and different types of wood in a room.
No, tung oil darkens the natural hue of walnut wood not at all. However, you can use its darker variant to bring out the full extent of its color. If used correctly, pure tung oil can further accentuate the gorgeous grain patterns of walnut wood and will not discolor or become dull with age.