Solid options for this major piece of furniture
Hardwood dining tables like oak, walnut, and maple offer durability and distinctive beauty, while softwoods like pine provide budget-friendly options for your dining space.
Your choice depends on your style and budget, with hardwoods suiting traditional or modern homes and softwoods fitting rustic or country designs.
Consider grain patterns and wood tones when selecting your table, as these details help you match the piece to your existing interiors and decor.
Hiring a local carpentry professional provides expert guidance on wood selection and ensures your custom dining table fits your space and style perfectly.
You’re ready to invest in a dining room table but can’t decide which type of wood to choose. Ideally, the material you select will be beautiful, durable, and mesh well with the rest of your interiors. Whether you plan to DIY, commission, or purchase a table, here’s a roundup of the best material choices.
As its name makes clear, hardwoods are harder and denser. On the plus side, they’re durable, beautiful, and distinctive in appearance. Unfortunately, though, they can be pricey and difficult to work with. Especially dense varieties (like oak and hard maple) are challenging to saw and don’t readily accept nails and screws.
If you’re after a showstopper that will last for decades, pick one of these woods. Unless you’re a skilled carpenter, purchase your table or ask your local carpenter or local furniture assembler to build you a custom piece of furniture.
With orange-reddish tones, this wood has a classic, traditional feel. Thanks to its pronounced open grain pattern, it can hide minor dents and wear. It’s very durable, so it should stand up to knives, heavy serving platters, and toddlers’ art projects. Relatively economical, red oak is also easy to paint and stain, thanks to its smooth grain and porousness.
Despite its name, this type of wood is darker than red oak (plus denser and hardier). Featuring beige and brown hues and a less variegated grain pattern, it’s ideal in craftsman-style homes. On the con side, white oak is more expensive and trickier to stain.
Although this type of hardwood is softer and more prone to scratches and dents, it features a smooth surface that lends itself to easy finishing. Use a light stain to highlight streaks and tones ranging from white and cream to tan and brown. Brown maple can look formal (when stained darkly)—if a formal dining room design is what you’re after—contemporary (when stained lightly) or country (when painted).
One of the hardest and most durable domestic woods, hard maple features a smooth, blonde grain. Use a light stain to showcase its white-gold sapwood and golden heartwood for a modern or contemporary look.
This softer hardwood is prone to scratches and denting yet is easy to work with (thanks largely to its smooth texture). It's ideal for traditional or formal spaces with rich reddish tones that will darken over time.
For a more rustic look, opt for this type of cherry, which features white, brown, and deep red tones along with knots and pits. It also tends to be more wallet-friendly and will fit into a cottagecore design in your kitchen or dining space.
Among the hardest and most durable hardwoods, hickory is relatively pricey. Despite its strength, this wood is easy to work with. Unfortunately, it can warp and crack—pay attention to your home’s humidity levels. With contrasting streaks ranging from cream to dark brown and red, the smooth wood offers a striking rustic look ideal for cabins, lodges, and country-style kitchens.
Durable walnut features a robust grain that helps conceal scrapes and scratches. With an attractive grain pattern and contrasting streaks ranging from cream and gold to gray and dark brown, it’s ideal in contemporary or modern homes. Expect to pay a bit more for this type of hardwood.
Softwood is indeed much softer than hardwood. On the plus side, this makes it more budget-friendly and easy to work with. On the con side, though, it’s much less durable, lasting for several years rather than decades.
Consider going this route if you plan to DIY and want to keep your costs as low as possible. If you’d like a pro to assemble your table for you, assembly for a dining table costs $150 to $450.
This light brown wood with knots is readily available and features a pleasant resinous aroma. Ideal for DIY projects, it takes nails and screws readily and absorbs polish well.
Though this type of wood lacks unique grain patterns, it’s easy to work with and inexpensive. With a uniform texture, the lightweight choice can feature tones ranging from white to tan, yellow, brown, and even dark green and blue.
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