At Upstate Amish, we offer solid domestic Maple and Cherry wood, among other species. These two are similar in price, durability, and grain. In this blog post, we will compare and contrast the two regarding durability, appearance, and stain options.
Every piece of furniture at Upstate Amish is solid hardwood with no veneers or laminates. Expert Amish woodworkers handcraft each item in a labor intensive process. Because our furniture is handmade, we offer a high level of customization.
Customers choose everything from wood species and stain to style and size. Details like hardware options and dimensions are also changeable. Each piece is heirloom quality, meaning it will last your family for generations. Invest in your home decor with our long lasting, beautifully unique Amish furniture.
Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns about cherry vs maple wood. Contact us via our website, call, or visit our store in Seneca, SC. We have a variety of cherry and maple furniture on display at our store.
Browse these pieces in person to compare maple and cherry wood as well as the stains we offer. Seeing different options is always helpful in the decision process.
Cherry vs Maple Hardness and Durability
Cherry and maple wood share a similar level of durability. They both have a rating of 950 on the Janka Hardness Scale. This scale measures the resistance of a wood species to denting and wear. It places a number on the amount of force required to embed a steel ball halfway through the wood.
A shared Janka rating of 950 means both options are relatively softer hardwoods. Because of this, neither cherry nor maple is suitable for flooring in a high traffic area.
However, both make excellent furniture. In fact, both are easy to work with and highly stable, so furniture costs are lower than other species. Cherry and maple wood are popular choices for dining and bedroom areas specifically.
Regarding durability, neither cherry nor maple is significantly better. Most customers choose between the two based on which appearance is personally preferable.
Cherry vs Maple Furniture Appearance
Aside from durability, cherry and maple wood are also similar in their smooth grain patterns. Both have fine textured, closed grain structures. This creates a smoother appearance opposed to species like oak with open pores.
However, there are a few key differences in grain pattern for these wood choices. Cherry features a fine and straight pattern with mineral streaks, pitch pockets, and other patterns. Curly, wavy, and figured patterns are possible, though the grain is mostly straight.
Maple tends to be more fine and tight creating a uniform and consistent look. Different patterns occur in maple wood including curly or bird's eye figures. Since maple grain is so smooth, it is ideal for painted furniture.
In fact, the vast majority of painted Amish furniture is maple wood. If looking to paint your order, we recommend choosing maple over cherry wood for its smooth texture and grain pattern. Online, we display nine unique paints specifically for maple wood.
Generally, cherry is ideal for more traditional styles with more contrast in its grain pattern. Maple is the more popular choice for minimalist designs that compliment a tight, uniform grain.
As for color, cherry and maple vary greatly. This is the main difference between the two woods and how most customers make their final decision.
Cherry is unique for its patina that develops over time. The wood actually changes color completely through oxidation. Cherry starts as a light pink or salmon color when first cut.
When exposed to light, it deepens to a rich, reddish brown. The wood darkens over time dramatically within the first few months. Usually, the aging process is complete within a year. However, the wood can deepen slightly more for around five years.
This transformation makes cherry wood a popular choice for dining tables and bedroom sets alike. Choose cherry wood if naturally rich, red hues speak to you.
Maple, on the other hand, undergoes its own transformation over time. However, this is not nearly as pronounced as cherry wood. Maple starts as a creamy ivory and yellows to more of a honey color as it ages. This light color is generally consistent throughout the furniture, though red or brown hues can be present as well.
Maple Wood vs Cherry Wood Stain Options
Since cherry wood is popular for its natural color transformation, we don't recommend heavy staining. Instead, we offer stains that compliment and accentuate the natural reddish tones of cherry wood. These include: Michael's Cherry, Asbury, Cocoa Light, Rich Cherry, and Gunsmoke.
Michael's Cherry is an excellent choice for our more traditional styles like Mission and Shaker custom Amish furniture. It offers a bright natural cherry color that changes to a deep brown in some areas. This adds contrast while the grain pattern is still highly visible.
Cherry wood with Michael's Cherry stain Shaker Dining Set
Our Rich Cherry stain is significantly darker and tends to be more consistent. Pieces will have areas of deep reddish brown and dark brown that blend well. This stain is ideal for more formal, elegant spaces. For example, our Carlisle and Biltmore dining tables would look excellent in this dark stain.
Because of its consistent light color, maple wood stains well. It can attain neutral or deep, rich colors without distortion. For this reason, we offer significantly more stains for maple than other wood types.
Maple Willowbend Stain on Laker Chairs and Turned Leg Dining Table
Lighter maple stains include: Blissful Sand, Willowbend, Sandy Point, and Cocoa Light. Medium stains are: Honey Cider, Asbury, Gunsmoke, Antique Slate, and Boston. Our darker maple stain include: Rich Cherry, Stone Brown, Dark Knight, Brown Velvet, and Ebony.
Lighter stains work well in a coastal or rustic atmosphere. Darker stains are best for more formal or modern, minimalist spaces. Reddish stains like Boston and Rich Cherry can give maple wood the appearance of cherry wood.
To see what these stains appear like on actual furniture, we have collections online of both. On our website, click Dining Room, then Solid Wood Amish Dining Tables. Here, you will see our collections of Cherry Wood Dining Tables and Maple Solid Wood Dining Tables. These show a variety of stains at a glance for your convenience.
Choosing between cherry vs maple for a table top, bedroom set, or other furniture is a difficult decision. It mainly comes down to two factors: natural color and stain preference. Cherry wood has a more vibrant, unique natural color, although it has limited stain options.
Maple is easier to stain, so it has a variety of color options to choose from. To choose between the two, decide if you prefer a natural reddish brown or one of the many stains available for maple wood.
Whether you decide on cherry wood or maple, we ensure a high quality final product. Browse our five star Google reviews to learn just how much we value customer service and satisfaction.