Kitchen cabinets made of wood and wood products are popular both in terms of appearance and durability and performance. The color acceptability of cabinets made of wood and wood products is very suitable: therefore, these types of cabinets can usually be used in all design styles. However, wooden cabinets are very expensive. If you cannot afford to buy a wooden cabinet, some wooden products can be a good substitute for natural wood. Depending on your budget, style, and durability, there are several ways to achieve wood-look cabinets. In general, there are two types of cabinets made of wood and wood products.
Natural wood: natural wood pieces that are cut and carved for the cabinet. This type of cabinet shows the natural beauty and strength of wooden parts.
Engineered wood: Engineered wood refers to wood products that are made from wood fibers or other lignocellulosic materials, wood pieces, wood layers, etc. through engineering processes, and with the help of commonly used adhesives in the wood industry, such as urea formaldehyde, wood glue, etc. Products such as MDF, chipboard and plywood are types of engineered wood. Engineered wood is usually supplied with two types of coating; Some of them have natural wood coating and others have artificial coating such as melamine, high glass, etc.
Types of cabinet wood
Common woods used in the construction of wooden kitchen cabinets include alder, hickory, fir, maple, oak, cherry and walnut. Note that the most suitable wood for the cabinet should have sufficient strength in addition to beauty. In addition, the wood of the kitchen cabinet must have a high density so that it can last longer. It should be noted that in order to have a cabinet with the appearance of maple, cherry, walnut, etc., there is no need to make a cabinet of natural wood (massio) of these species. You can have a look similar to natural wood by using the coating of these types of wood. In the following, we will introduce the common woods used in cabinet making and their characteristics.
Beech wood cabinet
Beech wood is one of the best options for making wooden cabinets. Among the characteristics of this wood, we can mention high strength, beautiful appearance and veins, and suitable malleability. One of the reasons for the popularity of beech wood in Iran's cabinet making industry is its beautiful and attractive texture. Because of its appearance and natural veins, beech wood is widely used in classic style cabinets.
Maple wood cabinet
Maple wood offers a relatively uniform appearance with fine texture, light color and minimal color variation. Natural and transparent polishes are often used on this wood to make its bright color more prominent. However, those maple wood cabinets can also be rusted. Maple is very durable and can withstand temperatures better than other hardwoods.
Cherry wood cabinet
Cherry is a hard and strong wood that has a soft and delicate texture. This wood is very beautiful both natural and painted. The color of cherry wood is between red and reddish brown. The unique feature of cherry wood is that it gets darker with age and exposure to sunlight. Cherry wood is often stained to give it a completely uniform look.
Walnut wood cabinet Walnut wood has a uniform and smooth texture with rotating and wavy fibers. Its color varies from deep chocolate brown to light reddish gray. As the walnut tree ages, its wood color becomes softer and lighter and becomes one of the best choices for cabinets. Hickory wood cabinet Hickory wood is very strong and durable and has a texture similar to oak. The color of this wood varies from pale cream to reddish brown and even black. The hickory pattern is highlighted with a bright, natural finish. Oak wood cabinet Oak is a very hard, strong, durable and relatively expensive wood. Generally, there are two types of oak wood: white oak and red oak. Red oak has smooth and curved fibers and veins. Red oak is compatible with all kinds of styles and designs. If this wood is stained, it will still show its texture and grain. Compared to red oak, white oak wood has finer fibers with a more golden tone. It is as durable as red oak but stronger. That's why it's a little more expensive. Staining this wood is not recommended because it creates too much contrast in its texture. Alder wood cabinet Alder wood has a fine texture and smooth veins and looks very similar to cherry and maple. Alder is a low-density hardwood that is light brown in color with a reddish tint. It is easy to work with this wood and you can easily make a cabinet from it. Alder wood has good dyeability, but you can also use its natural color and texture. Birch wood cabinet Birch is a durable wood with fine fibers. This wood can be used for various applications. The color of birch wood is slightly darker than maple wood. This wood has a good finish and can be given a very luxurious look like cherry or maple. The color of birch wood is white, yellowish or cream, and in some cases, brown streaks can also be seen in it.