Walnut Furniture: Dark Durability

Walnut trees are good for more than food. With its beautiful color, intricate grain, and durable strength, walnut offers an excellent choice for furniture, cabinetry, and more. Learn why walnut furniture might be the perfect choice for your home and how handcrafted wood pieces can help your family make memories for years to come.

Recognizing Walnut’s Beauty 

With 21 unique species worldwide, walnut is no stranger to beautiful, intricate grains. However, the most common walnut woods you will likely see on the market are Black Walnut and English Walnut. Black Walnut is often a beautiful, rich brown with a tight, dark grain running through the wood. English Walnut is typically lighter in color with a subtle, speckled grain reminiscent of a film camera.

Like many other woods, walnut is not “one size fits all” in color. Many Black Walnut trees produce light, cream-colored wood, and many English Walnut trees produce rich, dark wood. Much of the color and grain depends on a tree’s environment. One thing is for sure, however: each walnut piece is unique, beautiful, and a reflection of nature’s creativity.

Why Does Walnut Make Good Furniture?

As a visually appealing, durable hardwood, walnut makes excellent furniture for many reasons. Following are just a few benefits of walnut furniture.

• Hard and Strong

Most hardwood trees take years to fully mature. Their root system and nutrient channels are closely knit, producing a dense, durable timber that can withstand harsh conditions. Walnut itself is hard, strong, and difficult to damage. Of course, durability is a huge benefit when it comes to furniture. Chips and scratches are rare on walnut furniture.

• Easily Polished

Craftsmen love walnut wood for its easy-to-polish, smooth grain that adds that touch of perfection to the end of every project. If you want a suave, well-finished piece of furniture in your home, walnut makes an excellent choice.

• Versatile

Because walnut comes in so many colors and grain patterns, it is extremely versatile to the style of your home. Whether you prefer light and natural, dark and brooding, or warm and inviting, you can find walnut that matches your vision. Additionally, because walnut finishes so well, craftsmen have an arsenal of polishes and colors at their disposal.

• Rot-Resistant

Did you know that walnut wood is naturally rot-resistant? This type of tree produces an oil during growth that fends off insects, moisture, and fungi. This oil protects the harvested timber from moisture and rot even after it takes on a new form.

• Beautiful

Walnut’s beauty is easy to see at a glance. Its natural beauty makes it a great choice for furniture, musical instruments, tools, cabinetry, chess sets, and toys. Inside the house or out in the yard, everyone enjoys the sight of natural walnut wood.

Disadvantages of Walnut Furniture

So, are there any disadvantages of using walnut wood for furniture? There aren’t many, but cost, weight, and workability may complicate things slightly.

• Cost

Because walnut is a sturdy, reliable wood, it is heavily sourced and used for many projects worldwide. The high demand increases the cost. Additionally, hardwoods tend to run more expensively than softwoods because their growth rate is significantly slower.

• Weight 

Weight can be an advantage and a disadvantage. Sturdy wood makes a great investment; however, it can be difficult to maneuver, especially for large projects.

• Difficult to Work With 

Depending on the grain type and pattern, the workability of walnut wood may not be as straightforward as with other woods. However, many artisans like a good challenge.

How to Maintain Your Walnut Furniture 

Maintaining your walnut furniture is much like maintaining any other type of wood. Following these rules of thumb helps protect the lifespan of your walnut and, in turn, protects your furniture investment.

• Avoid direct sun exposure.

Sunlight tends to cause fading and bleach spots in wood over time. Unless you prefer the natural fade or intend to re-stain, avoid placing any walnut furniture pieces in direct sunlight.

• Clean and polish regularly.

Gentle cleaning and polishing help prolong the life of your wood furniture. Make sure you use a wood-safe cleaner and thoroughly dry after cleaning.

• Protect from moisture.

The most important rule for any wooden piece is to protect it from excessive moisture. Although walnut wood is naturally rot-resistant, water spills or high humidity can warp the grain and reduce the furniture’s lifespan.

Looking for Walnut Furniture?

Need help finding the perfect walnut piece for your home? E-Amish has you covered! Our vast selection of beautifully handcrafted furniture will delight your family for years. Browse our wide selection of Amish furniture today!