How to Select Wood for Building Cabinets

Choose a wood shade that creates the desired tone and mood in your kitchen. Because cabinets are such a large feature in most rooms, they can have a substantial impact on the overall appearance of your kitchen. Light-colored woods can brighten up a space, or make a small room appear larger. Medium and dark-colored woods add warmth to a room, but can also make it feel smaller.

Complement your existing floors and finishes. Light shades of wood work best with darker floors, and can be used to highlight faucets and fixtures that have relatively dark finishes. Cabinets in deeper shades can complement a light-colored wooden floor. Avoid wood finishes that are too similar to your floors and countertops, because they can make a room appear too uniform.

Choose between rustic and clear finishes. Rustic woods, such as pine, hickory or certain species of oak, are known for features like knots, "bird's eyes" and other natural markings. Clear species have a much more even appearance, and include white maple, cherry and mahogany. Use rustic wood finishes to complement a traditional country kitchen decor. Select clear finishes for a more modern look.

Visit lumberyards and compare raw wood samples. Most wood you see has been stained, sealed or treated with some artificial finish. When choosing wood, it's best to examine it in its unfinished state. Compare features like natural coloring and grain patterns to determine which wood you like best.

Select a lighter finish than you think you need. The majority of wood species darken over time due to sun exposure and aging.

Keep your budget in mind when selecting wood. The more exotic a wood species, the more it will cost. Products like anigre, teak and mahogany must be imported and are extremely expensive. To save money, stick with wood grown closer to home, including maple, birch, oak and cherry.

Consider the workability factor if you plan to build the cabinets yourself. Woods like maple and oak have a relatively straight grain and high level of strength, making them easy to cut and shape. More exotic or unstable woods are much more difficult to work with, particularly for novice woodworkers.

Find wood that's durable enough to meet your needs. Soft woods like pine, alder and cedar are more susceptible to scratches and dents. For better durability, stick with hardwoods like pecan, oak, maple and cherry.