Cherry vs. Maple wood color
Solid Custom Heirlooms
Comparing Cherry vs. Maple color tones
At Solid Custom Heirlooms we are privileged to build furniture from the finest raw materials in the world: Appalachian grown hardwoods. All of our lumber, including Cherry and Maple, is harvested from the United States and in many cases comes from mills within a short drive from our shop. Our 7 wood choices each have their own distinct color and grain pattern that impart a distinct character to the finished piece of furniture.
With so many great options, choosing the wood species that is right for your décor takes some thought. We do our best to show photos of our furniture in a wide variety of wood options and stain choices, as well as offer wood samples so that you can see, touch and feel your options at home.
Is Cherry or Maple the best?
Cherry and Maple wood are both popular domestic hardwoods when looking for a light wood color, warm overtones and a clear straight grain. Both species are high quality furniture hardwoods that are known to be smooth when finished and will last for generations. Cherry and Maple each have their own unique grain patterns and characteristics. Let's dive into the Cherry vs Maple discussion to find out what wood is best for your project!
Cherry wood characteristics
Cherry is darker in color than Maple, featuring red to brown coloration that increases over time.
Cherry is a premium furniture-grade American hardwood valued for its deep reddish brown hues, smooth grain pattern and buttery-smooth finished surface. Cherry comes from the American Black Cherry tree, Prunus Serotina, that grows primarily in the Appalachian Forest region of the United States.
Cherry wood (not cherrywood) has long been one of the most distinctly American hardwoods used in furniture making, cabinetry, flooring and even musical instruments. Vintage Early American, Amish and Shaker furniture were often made from Cherry wood.
How can you tell if wood is Cherry?
The best way to identify Cherry wood is color. Cherry wood typically has a reddish-brown color that darkens over time as it is exposed to light. The heartwood (the darker, inner part of the tree) is usually a deeper reddish-brown than the sapwood (the lighter, outer part of the tree).
Another good way to identify Cherry wood is the grain. Cherry wood has a distinct, fine grain pattern that is often described as "peppered" in appearance. The grain is usually straight, but can also be wavy or curly in some pieces.
Cherry wood darkens over time
The color of Cherry wood is unique in that it darkens overtime - starting out a light pink color and aging to a darker red to brown color. This color transition is a natural process that is a result of exposure to sunlight. The process starts immediately after the lumber receives its final sanding and finish and can take 6 to 12 months to complete.
Is Cherry a toxic wood?
Cherry is non-toxic and food safe which makes it very popular for cutting boards and kitchen accessories. Cherry is also popular for smoking meats! Please note that some woodworkers find Cherry wood sawdust to be a minor irritant.
Cherry furniture with wood stain
Cherry stains nicely as the warm base tones of the wood enhance almost any stain color. Solid Custom Heirlooms offers a Cherry Stain Guide that shows how different stain colors look on Cherry wood.
One our our favorite Cherry wood stains is Dark Walnut, which gives a smooth, warm color that is very close in color to natural Walnut wood. If you are looking for a very consistent grain pattern with Walnut color this can be a very good option.
Maple wood characteristics
Maple is an exceptionally strong hardwood known for its light cream color, subtle grain pattern and smooth finish. Maple wood is very heavy, dense and durable, well known to resist scratching from daily use. Maple is white to yellow in color, sometimes with darker grey or brown streaks.
Furniture makers typically use hard maple wood, Acer saccharum, which is also known as Rock Maple, Hard Rock Maple or Sugar Maple when in tree form. Yes, the same maple trees used for lumber also produce the sap that makes maple syrup!
Unlike other furniture hardwoods, the light, creamy colors of Maple come from the sapwood of the tree rather than the heartwood which is darker in color. Most Maple wood furniture is made from the lighter colored Maple sapwood.
Maple is a very durable wood!
Maple is one of the hardest and most durable American hardwood species. In addition to furniture and cabinetry, Maple lumber has such tightly knit grain that it has long been prized for gyms, dance floors, baseball bats, bowling alleys, butcher blocks and other applications where a super-hard surface is desired.
Does Maple change color over time?
All hardwood darkens over time and maple is no exception. While the transformation is not as dramatic as Cherry, Maple does darken from a very light creamy color to a deeper honey color in about 6-12 months.
The best stain colors for maple wood
Maple takes all types of stain very evenly and because of its light, neutral base tones, will let the colors of the stain show through. For a true gray, blue or red stain, Maple wood is the ideal choice. Solid Custom Heirlooms offers a Maple stain guide that shows how different stain colors look when applied to the wood.
Maple wood samples with gray stain options
How to decide between Cherry and Maple furniture?
How to choose between Cherry vs. Maple wood furniture? After years of working with both materials here are our suggestions.
Maple wood is heavier and more durable than Cherry. If your new furniture is going to receive extremely heavy use, such as a desktop for children, Maple wood will provide the maximum durability.
Maple wood is more neutral in color than Cherry. If you are decorating with neutrals, Maple's low key creamy, honey tones will be a good fit.
Cherry wood has more natural warmth of color vs. Maple. Cherry's rich red to brown coloration and warm tones will always stand out in a room.
Maple wood is best for gray, black and blue stains. Because of its almost white color, Maple does not alter the color of a applied stain finish. When customers ask for a true gray color we always suggest a Maple wood base.
Cherry darkens in color in time more than Maple. While all natural hardwood darkens over time, Cherry will be the most dramatic change, starting with light pink tones and aging to a rich red-brown color, whereas Maple will yellow slightly to a honey color over time.
Both Cherry and Maple are premium American grown furniture hardwoods and are very similar in cost.
American Hardwood Furniture from Solid Custom Heirlooms
At Solid Custom Heirlooms we think Cherry and Maple are both excellent choices. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of furniture designs that work well with any of the hardwoods that we offer. If you don’t see what you are looking for, or want to talk more about achieving a specific look or wood color, please contact us and we would be glad to discuss your ideas in detail.
