Different types of wood for furniture (both hardwood and softwood) are available in the market. Each type comes with a different set of characteristics in terms of color, density, grain, and finishing. Picking the right wood for furniture is critical as it helps you to determine the exact price of your unit. It will also be a deciding factor when you want to restore, resale, or discard a piece of furniture.
Although you can use any type of wood to make furniture, not all woods are made equal. That’s why you need to choose it carefully.
Why it’s great: The butcher-block-style Coaster Home Furnishings Damen Dining Table is one of Amazon’s best sellers and has high customer reviews. Despite being one of the cheapest solid-wood tables we’ve found, it’s well made and sturdy, with a varnished solid-wood top that feels like it will last. The price includes delivery (through Amazon Prime), making it a good alternative if you want an inexpensive wood table and don’t live near an IKEA store (or have a car to get there). The oak tabletop on this model should be more durable than the pine that IKEA uses on its solid-wood tables (although it will still dent and scratch easily). The piece’s small scale helps it work well for an apartment, as a kitchen table, or even as a desk or craft table. The narrow, widely spaced legs offer maximum seating capacity. You could tone down the country-kitchen look by using more-modern chairs or, down the line, painting the table; it also comes in an unpainted version. We found the Damen easy to assemble—we just needed to attach the legs. One person was able to put it together in around 15 minutes.