Choosing the Right Hardwood for Your Project | Baldwin Hardwoods

Choosing the Right Hardwood for Your Project

When starting a new woodworking project, choosing the right hardwood is just as important as the design itself. The species you select impacts not only how the final piece looks, but how it performs over time – from stability and durability to workability and finishing.

At Baldwin Hardwoods, we work with woodworkers every day who are balancing appearance, strength, and budget. Whether you’re building a dining table, cabinetry, shelving, or a custom furniture piece, understanding the characteristics of different hardwoods will help ensure your project stands the test of time.

Below, we break down how to choose the right hardwood for your project and highlight some of the domestic species we carry in our Fort Collins showroom.

Start With the Function of the Project

Before selecting a species, ask one simple question: What will this piece be used for?

Different applications place different demands on the wood.

Best Woods for Tables

Tables (especially dining and conference tables) require durability and dimensional stability. They need to handle daily use, seasonal movement, and occasional spills.

Popular table species include:

  • Black Walnut – a top choice for its rich color, moderate hardness, and excellent stability
  • White Oak – extremely strong and durable, great for high-use tables
  • Hard Maple – dense and tough, ideal for modern or lighter-toned designs

Live edge slabs are also commonly used for tables, where character, grain flow, and proper drying are especially important.

 

Best Woods for Cabinetry

Cabinetry benefits from consistency, strength, and predictable movement.

Common cabinetry choices include:

  • Hard Maple – very durable and clean-grained; excellent for painted or contemporary cabinetry
  • White Oak – popular for modern and European-style cabinets due to its grain structure
  • Cherry – smooth, easy to work, and ages beautifully over time

Because cabinetry involves multiple components and tight tolerances, properly kiln-dried lumber is essential.

 

Best Woods for Shelving

Shelving requires strength and stiffness, especially for longer spans.

Great options include:

  • White Oak – Excellent load bearing strength
  • Maple – Dense and resistant to sagging
  • Green Ash – Strong with straight grain

Thickness and span matter just as much as species when preventing shelf deflection.

 

 

Stability vs. Appearance: Finding the Right Balance

One of the most common challenges woodworkers face is balancing visual appeal with long-term stability.

Appearance Considerations

Some species are chosen primarily for their visual impact:

  • Dramatic grain
  • Color variation
  • Natural character such as knots and figuring

Walnut, Cherry, and live edge slabs often fall into this category and are frequently selected for statement pieces.

Stability Considerations

Other species excel because they move less and behave predictably:

  • Properly kiln-dried hardwood (to a moisture content between 7-8%)
  • Straight, consistent grain
  • Lower internal stress

White Oak and Maple are often favored when stability is a top priority.

The best projects strike a balance between selecting a hardwood that fits both the design intent and the environment where it will live.

 

Domestic Hardwood Species We Carry

At Baldwin Hardwoods, we focus on high-quality domestic hardwoods that are kiln-dried, S2S, and ready for woodworking projects of all sizes.

Common species we stock include:

  • Black Walnut
  • Hard Maple
  • White Oak
  • Red Elm
  • Green Ash
  • Siberian Elm

We also carry a rotating selection of live edge slabs, perfect for tables, countertops, desks, and other custom furniture builds.

 

If you’re unsure which species best fits your project, our team is always happy to walk through options with you – whether you’re planning a small piece or a larger build.

Choosing the right hardwood isn’t about picking the “best” species, it’s about selecting the right wood for the job. Understanding how different woods perform, how they move, and how they age will lead to better builds and longer-lasting results.

If you’re planning a project and want to see species in person, stop by our Fort Collins showroom to explore our lumber and slab inventory. We’re always happy to help woodworkers find the right material to bring their ideas to life.