Not all wood is the same. The various types differ in many ways: Starting from the appearance to the mechanical properties, to the longevity. We have summarized the most common types of wood for parquet for you. But not only the properties are important. For each type, you will also find tips on which furnishing styles the wood harmonizes best with. So you can decide which wood floor suits you.
Variety of different types of wood for parquet
Wood floors are usually made of hardwoods from deciduous trees or conifers. The structure, color, and degree of hardness of individual woods differ significantly. Spruce, oak, pine, or pine are popular wood species for solid wood flooring.
The choice of wood species is even greater for parquet. The properties and appearance of the floor depending on the type of wood chosen. In the overview of the most popular wood species for parquet and solid wood flooring, you will find all the important info summarized:
The choice of wood species is even greater for parquet. The properties and appearance of the floor depending on the type of wood chosen. In the overview of the most popular wood species for parquet and solid wood flooring, you will find all the important info summarized:
Oak
People often associate oak wood with the classic, rustic country style, but oak can do much more. Floors made of oak can be combined with any style of living. Depending on your taste, choose a rustic or quiet grade. Surface treatment also plays a role, because oak wood can be stained, color oiled, and much more. This means that there are almost no limits in terms of appearance and design, both in the floor area and in furniture construction.
Beech
Beech is still a particularly popular type of wood for parquet and furniture construction because it is light and very uniform. As a result, it can be combined with many styles of living. However, if you like it rustic, beech parquet is probably not your first choice.
Wenge
Wenge is a precious, tropical wood from Central Africa. It darkens strongly to a blackish brown. The dark color and the porous structure have a particularly noble effect. The wood is heavy and easy to work with. A low swelling and shrinkage behavior rounds off the properties.
The wood is particularly decorative. For this reason, it is used almost exclusively for high-quality interior finishing work. With veneers, furniture, and parquet you set beautiful accents in your home. Due to the good properties but especially the decorative coloring, wenge is more expensive than many other types of wood. No matter what style of interior you prefer – with a floor covering made of wenge you will enhance your home. The wood goes especially well with classic interiors or colonial style. But in modern and minimalist furnished apartments such a floor fits perfectly. Because of the contrast between the dark floor and furniture with clean lines, stainless steel and glass look particularly exciting.
The wood is particularly decorative. For this reason, it is used almost exclusively for high-quality interior finishing work. With veneers, furniture, and parquet you set beautiful accents in your home. Due to the good properties but especially the decorative coloring, wenge is more expensive than many other types of wood. No matter what style of interior you prefer – with a floor covering made of wenge you will enhance your home. The wood goes especially well with classic interiors or colonial style. But in modern and minimalist furnished apartments such a floor fits perfectly. Because of the contrast between the dark floor and furniture with clean lines, stainless steel and glass look particularly exciting.
Maple
Maple looks particularly noble due to its light color: it is yellowish-white and turns grayish-white with age. Maple wood is one of the most valuable domestic woods because it has a very even grain. The wood is moderately hard and elastic, but very resilient. It is strong, tough, and has low shrinkage. The wood itself and the surface can be worked well.
The light-colored wood of the maple was not in great demand for a long time, but in the meantime, it is hard to imagine interior finishing without it. It is very popular as flooring or for stairs because it is very robust. Especially in the Scandinavian style with its bright and natural colors a maple parquet fits very well. However, other interior styles also harmonize with the floor, as it fades into the background due to its quiet grain.
The light-colored wood of the maple was not in great demand for a long time, but in the meantime, it is hard to imagine interior finishing without it. It is very popular as flooring or for stairs because it is very robust. Especially in the Scandinavian style with its bright and natural colors a maple parquet fits very well. However, other interior styles also harmonize with the floor, as it fades into the background due to its quiet grain.
Walnut
Walnut is a plank of dark wood with a gray-brown core that is often striped or grained, and where the annual rings are clearly visible. This makes for an exciting look. The color and texture can vary depending on the origin. The wood is hard, heavy, firm, and tough, but at the same time elastic. Walnut works only moderately and is somewhat harder to work with. The same applies to the surface.
Walnut grows in warm places in Europe, Asia, America, and North Africa. However, mainly the wood of the American walnut is processed. Thanks to the beautiful wood color and interesting grain, the species is particularly popular for high-quality interior decoration, furniture, and parquet. The appearance is usually not changed afterward, but only treated with a clear varnish or colorless oil. Thus, the grain is particularly well accentuated. If you like colonial style, dark woods like walnut will perfectly suit your taste. However, it harmonizes not only with the colonial style but also with many other styles, where dark wood and strong grain
Walnut grows in warm places in Europe, Asia, America, and North Africa. However, mainly the wood of the American walnut is processed. Thanks to the beautiful wood color and interesting grain, the species is particularly popular for high-quality interior decoration, furniture, and parquet. The appearance is usually not changed afterward, but only treated with a clear varnish or colorless oil. Thus, the grain is particularly well accentuated. If you like colonial style, dark woods like walnut will perfectly suit your taste. However, it harmonizes not only with the colonial style but also with many other styles, where dark wood and strong grain
Ash
Ash is a light, yellowish-white wood. The heartwood can take on a darker, light brown to a light reddish color as it dries. There are several species of ash in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia, which differ slightly in grain and hue. Overall, ash is characterized by a more distinctive grain. The wood is particularly hard, heavy, and strong. Nevertheless, it is flexible and hardly warps at all, as it has low shrinkage behavior. The wood itself and the surface are easy to work with.
Ash wood is used for furniture as well as for flooring, stairs, and wall paneling. Its lively grain gives parquet or furniture an exciting character. Due to its light color, it goes well with Scandi Chic. However, the grain should not be too rustic. But also country-style lovers appreciate floors made of ash wood. In general, the wood suits almost all interior styles that prefer light colors and airy rooms.
Ash wood is used for furniture as well as for flooring, stairs, and wall paneling. Its lively grain gives parquet or furniture an exciting character. Due to its light color, it goes well with Scandi Chic. However, the grain should not be too rustic. But also country-style lovers appreciate floors made of ash wood. In general, the wood suits almost all interior styles that prefer light colors and airy rooms.
Mahogany
Genuine mahogany wood comes from the tropical regions of Central and South America. However, it is now also grown on plantations in Southeast Asia. It has grayish sapwood and a reddish-brown heart that darkens to a dark brown with a golden sheen. It is a moderately heavy species that exhibits low shrinkage.
Mahogany is easy to work with and has high fungal resistance and good durability. It also does not weather quickly. This makes it particularly popular for exterior use. But mahogany is also processed indoors, for example, on cabinets, side tables, or sideboards. Mahogany parquet suits many interior styles, but it harmonizes especially well with classic interiors such as colonial style.
Mahogany is easy to work with and has high fungal resistance and good durability. It also does not weather quickly. This makes it particularly popular for exterior use. But mahogany is also processed indoors, for example, on cabinets, side tables, or sideboards. Mahogany parquet suits many interior styles, but it harmonizes especially well with classic interiors such as colonial style.
Birch
Birch is a light wood species with a weak grain. This gives it a very fine and “airy” appearance. The sapwood and heartwood are whitish to reddish-white and darken with time. Birch is hard, tough, heavy, and has good strength and moderate shrinkage. The surface and the wood itself can be worked very well.
In Canada, birch is not as widely used in furniture and flooring as it is in Scandinavian countries. However, the wood is now also finding its way into many households here – thanks in part to a Swedish furniture store. Because the light color fits perfectly with the Scandinavian style of furnishing. But also in minimalist furnished apartments, birch fits very well, because it looks unobtrusive thanks to the faint grain and fades into the background.
In Canada, birch is not as widely used in furniture and flooring as it is in Scandinavian countries. However, the wood is now also finding its way into many households here – thanks in part to a Swedish furniture store. Because the light color fits perfectly with the Scandinavian style of furnishing. But also in minimalist furnished apartments, birch fits very well, because it looks unobtrusive thanks to the faint grain and fades into the background.
Cherry
The wood of the cherry is reddish-brown and fine-grained. The heartwood darkens to a golden reddish-brown. The surface is matt-glossy. This makes cherry wood look very noble. The wood is medium-heavy and moderately hard. It is also tough and strong. Cherry wood does not crack or shrink much. Both the surface and the wood itself are easy to work with.
Because of its noble and decorative character, cherry wood is used for furniture, parquet flooring, and ceiling and wall paneling. It is especially effective in mosaic work and inlays with other light and dark woods. The uniform structure and attractive color provide a high-quality appearance. A parquet floor made of cherry wood goes particularly well with Biedermeier and Art Nouveau styles. But a cherry wood parquet also harmonizes with the romantic country house style with its predominantly white furniture.
Because of its noble and decorative character, cherry wood is used for furniture, parquet flooring, and ceiling and wall paneling. It is especially effective in mosaic work and inlays with other light and dark woods. The uniform structure and attractive color provide a high-quality appearance. A parquet floor made of cherry wood goes particularly well with Biedermeier and Art Nouveau styles. But a cherry wood parquet also harmonizes with the romantic country house style with its predominantly white furniture.
