Hickory
As the hardest wood used in furniture making, hickory is also the most durable. American hickory is cultivated for the wood products industry in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi. Hickory is native to the western hemisphere and not generally found in Asia.
Natural hickory
Northern Red Oak and White Oak
American prefer oak. Half of Americans choose oak for their favorite wood for furniture. It is much more durable than pine, a soft wood that dents and marks easily. Its popular colors, durability, and "warmth" contrast with woods that are plain or whose colors are less consistent. Often oak used for furniture is grown in the Appalachian mountains.
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Natural
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Light
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Medium
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Dark
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Cherry
Cherry is a light reddish-brown wood, also a hardwood, but not as hard as oak. It is grown in the Appalachians and northeastern U.S. The Amish use a cherry stain on oak furniture for a rich combination of a dark red wood that is more durable than cherry. The finish may darken with exposure to light.