Most real estate agents will tell you that nothing is more attractive to prospective homebuyers than natural wood kitchen cabinets. They bring a sense of elegance and warmth to any kitchen. There are a number of additional advantages of wooden kitchen cabinets.
- Natural wood cabinets fit into any architectural style home and kitchen style. Certainly, there are traditions about the woods and finishes that are most commonly used in different kitchen styles, as well as traditions about cabinet door styles. For example, a darker wood such as ebony, mahogany, or cherry is more appropriate in a traditional, country, or eclectic style kitchen. It would rarely be used in contemporary styles.
- Wood cabinets are strong, sturdy, and durable. Wood base cabinets will easily support any type of countertop material, including stone (granite, slate, marble). Withstands heavy use and steam and heat well. Most small dents, teeth, or scratches can be easily repaired. Over time, wood can be repeatedly refinished, repaired, cleaned, and even painted or stained.
- Solid wood cabinets are clearly preferable to any laminated, glued or veneered material. Cabinets that are made with glue should be kept very carefully in a kitchen because the glue will be damaged by moisture over time and the laminate or veneer will begin to curl or peel. Solid wood does not curl or peel.
- Wood kitchen cabinets are available in a wide range of wood and grain options, allowing the homeowner to select the color and grain that best suits their home’s style and décor. Different woods can also be finished in different ways to produce a unique patina that can sparkle in the warm light of the room.
- Wood kitchen cabinets are made with a large number of different door designs. These styles range from perfectly smooth and flat to the ornate carved designs that are chosen in some country and traditional kitchens.
- Metal cabinets, surprisingly, often cost more than wood. However, most people perceive high-quality wood cabinetry as an expensive luxury.
- Wood cabinets are safe. Unlike metal cabinets, there is nothing in wood cabinets that can chemically alter the food stored in them. This is particularly important if there are children, elderly people or people with diseases that compromise the immune system.
- Wood kitchen cabinets will never go out of style. For this reason, in addition to their beauty and warmth, they enhance the appearance and value of a home when it comes to selling it.
The three most commonly used woods for wooden kitchen cabinets are hickory, oak, and maple. However, cherry and mahogany are preferred in some kitchen styles. They are also more expensive. The least expensive wood is probably birch or pine. You can also choose less common options, such as ebony, hickory, alder, walnut, or bamboo (new to cabinetry but popular because it’s an eco-friendly material that replenishes quickly).