Cherry Wood Characteristics

When it comes to choosing wood for furniture, every homeowner needs to consider certain factors. Right from color to hardness, fiber markings and cost, you need to check each and every aspect of the selected wood. After all, it is a long-term investment for your home. If you are looking for some classic American hardwood flooring, most likely you will come across cherry wood, oak wood and maple wood. The cherry wood characteristics meet nearly all the qualities of a good lumber, which we will discuss in this article.

Cherry Wood Characteristics: Explained

So, what is cherry wood? As the name goes, cherry wood is harvested from the popularly grown fruit tree, cherry. Derived from the broad-leaved deciduous trees that shed their foliage periodically, cherry wood is grouped under hardwood. The wood of cherry is employed for making several types of wood products. Cherry wood has been used for carving works by artists since a long time.

A traditional bedroom set prepared from cherry wood shows artistic carvings in the head region. It is a preferred wood of choice for making several musical instruments. It is appreciated for laying floors and producing several types of household furniture. Though cherry wood characteristics are impressive for use in home furniture, some common problems do exist with this wood type. Refer to the following cherry wood properties, which will help you know better about this darker hardwood.

Cherry Wood Color
The color of cherry heartwood (older wood present at the center) is pinkish to reddish brown, while the surrounding sapwood is cream or yellowish color. Immediately after harvesting cherry trees, the wood color has a lighter shade. With time, it darkens its color shade to deep reddish brown, giving a more elegant look.

Cherry Wood Density
In terms of hardness, cherry wood is moderately hard, strong and medium weight. The fine grains along with smooth and sleek texture are remarkable cherry wood characteristics for use in wood works. In short, it takes up any type of wood finishing. Some of the best finishes for cherry wood are natural and light alternatives.

Cherry Wood Machinability
In comparison to oak, maple and other hardwood alternatives, cherry wood is more pliable and flexible. At the same time, this attractive colored wood is strong and possesses resistant property. All these cherry wood characteristics make it an excellent choice for flooring and making home furniture.

Cherry Wood in Furniture
Cherry wood is perfect for use in nearly all types of wood works, and the most common usage options are flooring, paneling, high end furniture, interior millwork, kitchen cabinets, chest of drawers, sleigh beds and the list goes on. These cherry wood furniture look adorable with gum streaks and other attractive markings.

Cherry Wood Care
Similar to any solid hardwood furniture or flooring, cherry wood undergoes contraction and expansion in response to the availability of atmospheric moisture. In moist and humid condition, it absorbs moisture and expands a little. On the contrary, it slightly contracts during dry and cold winter months.

Proper treatment and curing approaches are done before using cherry wood lumber. In the market, you will get different types of furniture based on cherry wood. The solid cherry wood furniture is exclusively made from cherry. While faux cherry is devoid of cherry wood, cherry veneers are created with cherry wood on the top layer supported by other wood on the underside. The price tag of cherry wood furniture is lower than other types of hardwood.

So, aren't cherry wood characteristics excellent for use in flooring and furniture? As per your personal preference, you can opt for lighter cherry wood color or the darker shade. While lighter shade looks great for personalized furniture, the darker version adds a formal touch to the interior decor. The durability of cherry wood is highest, when proper furniture cleaning is followed, along with keeping it in well-preserved areas.