Selecting the right wood for your cabinets is crucial to achieving the best results with Sherwin-Williams paints and stains. Each wood type has unique characteristics that affect how it interacts with paint and stain. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best wood for your project:

White Oak

• Good for Stains: White oak has a prominent grain that absorbs stain well, enhancing its natural beauty.
• Not Ideal for Paint: The grain can show through paint, making it less ideal for a smooth, painted finish.

Hickory

• Good for Stains: Hickory’s varied grain patterns and color variations make it an excellent candidate for staining.
• Not Ideal for Paint: The strong grain can be difficult to cover completely with paint.

Quarter Sawn White Oak

• Excellent for Stains: This cut of white oak shows off a unique, ray-fleck pattern that looks stunning when stained.
• Not Ideal for Paint: Similar to regular white oak, the grain can be challenging to hide with paint.

Red Oak

• Good for Stains: Red oak’s open grain structure takes stain well, highlighting its natural patterns.
• Not Ideal for Paint: The grain can be quite visible under paint, requiring more preparation for a smooth finish.

Red Birch

• Good for Stains: Red birch has a fine, even grain that absorbs stain uniformly, resulting in a rich, warm finish.
• Good for Paint: Its smooth texture also makes it a good candidate for painting.

Cherry

• Excellent for Stains: Cherry wood darkens with age and exposure to light, and staining can enhance its rich, reddish-brown color.
• Not Ideal for Paint: Given its natural beauty, cherry is rarely painted.

Knotty Alder

• Good for Stains: Knotty alder has a rustic appearance with knots and imperfections that stain well, adding character.
• Not Ideal for Paint: The knots can bleed through paint, requiring extra preparation.

Poplar

• Not Ideal for Stains: Poplar has a greenish hue and uneven grain that doesn’t take stain well.
• Excellent for Paint: Its smooth, even texture makes it one of the best woods for painting.

Walnut

• Excellent for Stains: Walnut’s rich, dark color and fine grain make it ideal for staining, enhancing its natural beauty.
• Not Ideal for Paint: Painting walnut can cover up its beautiful grain, which is often considered a waste of its natural aesthetics.

Maple

• Not Ideal for Stains: Maple has a tight, even grain that can be blotchy when stained.
• Excellent for Paint: Its smooth surface is perfect for a clean, painted finish.

Conclusion

When choosing wood for your cabinets, consider the final look you want to achieve. For a natural, stained finish, woods like cherry, walnut, and quarter sawn white oak are excellent choices. If you prefer a painted look, poplar and maple are your best bets.