Cherry is one of our favorite hardwoods to work with, and for good reason. It’s incredibly workable, with a fine grain that responds well to both hand and power tools. The way it cuts, sands, and finishes cleanly is a joy to experience, which any craftsman will tell you isn’t something to take for granted.
Beyond how it behaves in the workshop, cherry is simply gorgeous. There’s a certain warmth and elegance from cherry that’s hard to replicate. Done well, cherry wood furniture is easily among the best you can bring into a home, timeless and full of character.
Get to Know the American Cherry
The cherry wood we use is Prunus serotina, more commonly known as Black Cherry or American Cherry. It grows throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada, with some varieties found in Mexico and Guatemala.
Cherry is one of the most sought-after domestic hardwoods, not just because it’s readily available, but also for how workable it is at the bench. It’s the choice of material among Shaker craftsmen, and even renowned furniture maker Sam Maloof, who mostly worked with a specific selection of local hardwoods, had built rockers and chairs from cherry.
More importantly, cherry’s natural beauty is distinctive. Fresh off the saw, it has a light, pinkish tone that’s pretty on its own. But what makes cherry truly special is how it deepens into a rich, reddish brown with more exposure to air and light. It’s one of the few hardwoods that genuinely ages gracefully, which, for a piece of furniture meant to last generations, is a pretty wonderful quality to have.
Take a look at the Horizon Platform Bed and Side Table in Cherry:
Cherry as Wood Furniture
On its own, without stains, cherry has that signature warm, reddish-brown color. It’s often associated with traditional furniture styles, and it works beautifully in this aesthetic. However, cherry is more versatile than it gets credit for. When crafted into clean, simple, and modern forms, the way we approach our pieces, cherry suits just as well in contemporary spaces.
Cherry wood often features a straight grain, fine texture, and subtle, natural luster. Occasionally, though, it can surprise you, as some cuts reveal curly or wavy grain patterns. These “figures”, when displayed on furniture, make the piece more distinct, and you can be fairly confident you won’t see it anywhere else. Figured or not, this is simply one of the benefits of choosing furniture made of natural hardwood.
Misconception About Cherry Wood Furniture
Let’s address something. There’s a lingering idea that cherry wood furniture makes a space feel dated. We understand where this comes from, and we’re debunking it. Cherry wood furniture in itself isn’t dated, but poor finishing can make it feel that way.
This is a common frame of reference for cherry furniture: a glossy, dark reddish-brown, almost maroon, piece. This happens when the material used isn’t natural cherry wood and has been heavily stained to mimic the color. Adding a layer of glossy varnish to this already synthetic color can make a piece of furniture feel artificial, and yes, dated.
However, this is not what cherry wood furniture is meant to look like.
When finished with care, cherry wood furniture features a natural warmth that adds depth to spaces without overpowering them. This is the result when the material is left closer to its natural state, without heavy stains and synthetic finishes.
At T.Y. Fine Furniture, our craftsmen apply our signature wood finish by hand, working it into the surface rather than coating it with a heavy layer of synthetic varnish. This allows the finish to nourish the wood from within, deep in the wood grain, so cherry wood can age naturally and develop its signature richness over time.
At home, you can continue caring for your piece with Organic Wood Finish, available in two options: an oil blend to help maintain and replenish the wood’s natural luster, and a wood balm to protect it against everyday wear while repairing scratches and marks.
Cherry Wood Furniture Guide: Tips for Choosing Quality
Investing in solid wood furniture is a gift to your future self; a choice that brings as much joy today as it will decades from now. Because cherry is highly prized, it's often imitated through stains or veneers, so knowing what to look for in a high-quality, authentic cherry wood furniture makes all the difference. Here are some tips to help you find the real thing:
1. Look for the End Grain
Solid cherry should be just that: solid all the way through. To do a quick check, look at the edges and corners. On a genuine, solid wood piece, the grain on the top surface flows naturally over the edge and matches what you see on the end. If it doesn't you might be looking at a veneer or a particleboard.
Check this blog post to learn more: Wood, Laminate, or Veneer: What Is Your Furniture Made Of?
2. Check the Color
Genuine cherry has a warm, reddish-brown tone with a subtle, natural sheen. If a piece exhibits a glossy, deep, uniform red with purplish or magenta undertones, it may be a less expensive wood like poplar wood or pine that's been tinted to pass as cherry. Really, cherry has a depth to its color and grain that's hard to fake.
How is cherry wood different from white oak and black walnut? See the difference yourself in our wood samples.
3. Seek Out Local Workshops
For the best quality, consider going to artisan workshops and local woodworkers. A skilled craftsperson has a real understanding of cherry's natural character and know how to grain-match boards beautifully, cut boards and shape joinery for stability by hand, and apply finishes with finesse.
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Cherry wood furniture has been around for generations, and it’s easy to see why. The material is strong and reliable, naturally beautiful, and develops more character as it ages. And, you don’t need to worry about cherry furniture looking dated. When combined with a timeless design and finished with care, cherry fits right in–contemporary, transitional, or modern, whatever the style may be. What cherry brings is a sense of warmth and timeless elegance, the kind of qualities that never really go out of style.
