At Upstate Amish, we offer walnut and oak furniture in addition to a variety of other wood species. Choosing between oak vs walnut wood can be a difficult choice for many customers. For this reason, we wanted to make a comprehensive guide about the obvious and subtle differences between the two.
An important factor to note is that we offer three different types of oak wood and two options for walnut. Any piece of furniture is available with red oak, rustic white oak, and quarter sawn white oak. All oak options are fully heartwood with no sapwood.
For our walnut pieces, we offer a mix of heart and sap wood as well as select walnut, which is 100% heartwood.
All our furniture is 100% solid wood with no veneers or laminates. Each piece is handmade by expert Amish woodworkers in Ohio. They combine high quality domestic lumber with skill and years of experience to produce heirloom grade furniture.
If you have any further questions about walnut vs oak wood, do not hesitate to reach out. Call our store, contact us via our website, or visit us in person. Our store is in Seneca, SC and open from Monday - Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
We always have various pieces in walnut and oak on display in our store. Seeing the different grain patterns and stain options in person can be helpful in the decision process.
Oak vs Walnut Color
Natural color varies greatly between red oak, white oak, and walnut. The original color of each species affects how each wood type stains as well. Walnut vs oak color stains are different in that oak has more range and walnut looks best in natural stains.
If intending to paint your furniture, we do not recommend any of these wood types. These species generally have a rough texture, so maple wood is a better alternative. Maple is low cost and has a closed and smooth grain texture perfect for paint.
White Oak Color
Freshly sawn white oak heartwood has a light to medium brown color with cool olive undertones. Like cherry wood, the color of white oak changes slightly over time in the process of oxidation. As it ages, golden or honey colored hues are more prominent in the wood grain. This unusual aging process brings warmth to the wood color, adding charm and character to any space.
We offer seven unique white oak stains ranging from Simply White to Brown Velvet. Our Michael's Cherry stain gives white oak a reddish hue similar to cherry or red oak wood.
Red Oak Color
Red oak species are entirely different from white oak species. While they share some similarities, white oak generally has gray or olive hues while red oak has pink or red undertones. Like its sister species white oak, the color of red oak also deepens over time. It achieves rich amber and brown tones that make it an excellent choice for traditional, antique style furniture.
Red oak has open pores that allow for easy, even staining. Our S-14 stain on red oak is popular because it enhances the natural color and hues of the wood. A much darker option is our Asbury Brown stain, while the Michael's Cherry stain will add a more vibrant, darker red to the piece.
Walnut Color
Unlike our oak options, we offer a mix of heart and sap wood for walnut pieces in addition to a full heartwood option. We offer a mix because the color contrast between walnut heart and sap wood is higher than most other species. This can create interesting, highly unique pieces.
The heartwood is the wood from the center of the black walnut tree. This ranges in color from a lighter brown to a deep chocolate brown color with dark, vibrant streaks. Walnut undertones can be purple, red, and gray, offering an unusual natural color.
The sapwood is from the outer rings of the tree and is generally lighter than the heartwood. Walnut sapwood generally has a pale color ranging from almost white to a slight yellow or gray.
The pale sapwood mixed with the deep chocolate color of the heartwood make for a distinctive, complex furniture set. Because of the vast surface area, dining table tops are a great piece to display high color contrast.
We offer two stains for walnut wood that enhance its original hues. Our natural stain is best for a mix of sapwood and heartwood because it highlights walnut's uniquely colored undertones. The Cocoa Light stain is ideal for our select walnut because it deepens the rich chocolate color of the heartwood.
Oak vs Walnut Grain and Durability
Grain pattern is an important consideration when choosing wood species. Tight, uniform patterns are excellent for more modern or formal spaces. More loose or sporadic patterns are best for a rustic or traditional interior design look.
All our indoor furniture pieces are complete with a catalyzed conversion varnish as a wood finish. This ensures long term protection from moisture related issues.
Each species has a specific Janka hardness rating. This number is the exact amount of force in pounds required to embed a steel ball halfway through the wood. The higher the number, the stronger and more durable the wood species.
Plain Sawn White Oak
White oak has natural knots and burls that add character and are well-suited to rustic spaces. This species can have straight grain, but it typically isn't uniform because of the flowing cathedral patterns and large rays.
White oak is non-porous, which makes it much more immune to moisture related issues than most other species. It has high rot resistance and is even suitable for outdoor furniture and boats. White oak's rating on the Janka scale is 1360, making it a durable hardwood.
Quarter Sawn White Oak
Quarter Sawn White Oak is an essential, defining part of Amish Mission style furniture. It differs from our rustic white oak wood in the sawing method used. Loggers divide the oak into four quarters and saw at a perpendicular angle to the growth rings.
This process creates unusual, highly desirable patterns in the wood. These ray fleck patterns appear like shiny ribbons throughout the piece of furniture. This results in a unique, prominent grain pattern that is a popular choice for furniture of many different styles.Â
Red Oak
Like white oak, red oak displays attractive cathedral patterns throughout its grain. Because of its open grain and porous structure, red oak has a more wavy, loose pattern.
Unlike white oak, red oak has low resistance to moisture because of its open grain. For indoor furniture, this is irrelevant because we use a high quality wood finish that protects the material.
Red oak has a Janka hardness rating of 1290, slightly lower than white oak, reflecting its durability. Both oak species have a high resistance to denting and are suitable for everyday wear and tear.
Walnut
Walnut generally has a fine, uniform natural grain pattern. This makes it ideal for modern interiors where consistency is key. However, the grain can also feature gentle swirls, curls, and waves for added detail.
Black walnut has a lower score on the Janka hardness scale at 1010. However, it is still a durable hardwood well suited to everyday use. This species resists decay and holds stability over time.
Walnut vs White Oak, Quarter Sawn Oak and Red Oak Prices
To demonstrate the price differences between these species, we will compare how each affects the price of the same table. These prices are for our Lakeland Shaker Table at 36 x 48 inches with a solid top.
Walnut: $922
Quarter Sawn Oak: $869
Red Oak: $737
Rustic White Oak: $737
Walnut is the most expensive of these species because of basic supply and demand. While walnut is not exactly rare, it takes far longer for trees to grow than other species. Additionally, walnut trees typically produce less usable wood than most trees, so there is limited supply.
The low supply and high demand for walnut wood in high end furniture make this species more expensive than most options. Oak, on the other hand, grows relatively quickly into large trees with lots of usable lumber. Hence, the price is almost $200 lower for the same table if choosing plain sawn oak wood.
The price is higher for quarter sawn oak because of the sawing process. This method is more time consuming and labor intensive, which increases the price. It also wastes more wood per tree because the sawing method is less resource efficient.
Explore our pricing options in depth online, or visit our store for Amish furniture in Seneca, SC. We offer highly competitive prices to ensure our customers get high quality products at fair values.
Our Favorite Oak and Walnut Pieces
As an Amish furniture retailer, we offer collections of Mission and Shaker style furniture. These are classic Amish styles that reflect the values of simplicity and functionality. Our Craftsman Bedroom Set is an excellent example of classic Mission style.
It features a paneled bed with parallel wooden slats and large drawers for extra storage space. Other pieces in the set feature square legs, straight edges, and arched cutout bases. These pieces include nightstands, a chest of drawers, a dresser, a jewelry armoire, and more.
We recommend choosing quarter sawn white oak for this set, as it is an essential part of the Mission style. The simple design of the furniture draws focus to the intricate ribbon patterns of this unique cut of oak. However, this and all other sets are available in any wood species and stain we offer.
Our Mid Century Modern dining room furniture looks excellent in natural walnut wood. Featured below is our round MCM dining table with our Cordelle chairs. The deep cocoa color of walnut wood contrasts well with the white fabric seats for a stylish conversation set.
Another piece well suited for natural walnut wood is our Brooklyn L-Shaped Desk. This piece makes an excellent home office or is a great way to add an element of luxury to an office space. We recommend a mix of sap and heart wood so that the simple yet elegant design contrasts with the complex wood patterns. See this unique style above under the Walnut Color section.
Red oak looks excellent on our Traditional Double Pedestal Extending Dining Table and High Bent Paddle Chairs. The warm color of the wood combines with intricate details for an inviting dining set with character and comfort.
To explore more styles, click on Kitchen and Dining Tables under the Dining Room tab on our website. Here, we have dining collections of walnut, red oak, white oak, and quarter sawn oak among other species. Or, simply use our search bar function to find specific pieces in a certain wood type.
Our website is a great place to compare and contrast the different color, grain, and overall feel of each wood type. We even offer a guide of all wood types and stains available at Upstate Amish. Find this under the Information tab and select Indoor Wood and Color Options.