When you are redecorating your kitchen, there are all sorts of materials that you need to choose. From granite to linoleum, from tile to marble, there are so many different ways to create the kitchen of your dreams.
One extremely popular material in kitchens is wood. The two most common places that you will find wood in your kitchen are in your cabinets and as your floor. Let’s take a look at both and see how you can determine what type of wood is right for your kitchen.
The Floor
Wood floors can add a sense of comfort and a home sweet home feel to your kitchen. When you pick the right type of wood, they are also extremely durable and can easily handle the high amount of traffic that is normal in a kitchen area.
The best types of wood for a kitchen are hardwoods. This includes maple, oak and cherry. All of these woods can handle the constant motion, spills and drops that occur inside a kitchen. Softwoods (such as pine) are a poor choice for kitchens because they easily dent.
If you don’t want to spend all your time cleaning your wood floor, the best wood choice is one with pronounced grain patterns, such as oak. The more pronounced the grain pattern, the busier the floor will look, which will help hide any dents or dirt that may be located on the wood. If you combine a large grain with a satin-sheen finish, you will have the best floor for hiding dirt and any food that may drop to the ground.
The Cabinets
Wood cabinets are a beautiful addition to any kitchen. They come in a variety of types and colors and can be stained to give you the look that your desire. There are several different varieties of wood cabinets. It is important to consider your needs and your budget when making your final decision.
Solid-wood cabinets: Solid-wood cabinets are ones that are made completely (i.e. the door and the boxes) from solid wood. The most popular types are oak, birch and maple due to their strength and durability. Solid-wood cabinets are the most expensive of your options, but will stand up against the test of time.
Engineered wood cabinets: Engineered wood cabinets are constructed by laminating thin layers of wood together until they become thick enough for the door or cabinet boxes. The final product is given a wood veneer to mimic the look of a solid-wood cabinet. Because an engineered wood cabinet is not made of solid wood, they are generally less expensive.
The mixed cabinet: For those who want both the look of a solid-wood cabinet and the affordability of an engineered-wood cabinet, it is possible to mix and match. In most cases the cabinet box is made of engineered wood and the cabinet door is made of solid wood.
