Top 5 Most Popular Domestic Hardwoods (And What They're Best For)

From professional woodworkers to DIY hobbyists, choosing the right hardwood is key to a successful project. Domestic hardwoods—sustainably sourced from forests across the U.S.—offer a range of colors, grain patterns, and durability levels to suit any build. At Forest 2 Home, we specialize in premium, kiln-dried hardwoods harvested and processed entirely in the USA.

Here are the top 5 most popular domestic hardwoods and what they’re best used for:

1. Hard Maple

Color: Creamy white with subtle grain

Best For: Desktops, cutting boards, cabinetry, furniture

Hard maple (also called sugar maple) is a dense, strong hardwood with a smooth surface and fine grain. Its light color makes it perfect for modern, clean designs, and it's highly resistant to wear—making it ideal for tabletops, work surfaces, and butcher blocks.

Why We Love It: Maple takes finishes evenly, resists dents, and offers a timeless, minimal look.

2. Black Walnut

Color: Rich chocolate brown with occasional purples or grays

Best For: Accent pieces, desks, live edge slabs, luxury furniture

Black walnut is prized for its bold grain and deep, elegant color. It’s strong yet surprisingly easy to work with, and its natural beauty often means less need for staining. Whether you’re building a live edge coffee table or a statement headboard, walnut adds instant sophistication.

Why We Love It: No two boards are the same—walnut's dramatic grain adds natural artistry to any project.

3. Red Oak

Color: Light to medium reddish-brown

Best For: Flooring, trim, shelving, cabinetry

Red oak is a classic American hardwood known for its strength, affordability, and distinct open grain. It takes stain exceptionally well, making it a go-to choice for flooring and traditional furniture. If you're aiming for a warm, craftsman-style build, red oak is a staple.

Why We Love It: It’s a workhorse—durable, versatile, and budget-friendly.

4. Cherry

Color: Light pink to reddish-brown (darkens over time)

Best For: Fine furniture, cabinetry, wall paneling

Cherry wood starts off with a warm pink hue that deepens into a rich reddish tone as it ages—a quality that makes it especially popular in heirloom furniture and interiors. It machines beautifully, sands like butter, and has a subtle, elegant grain.

Why We Love It: Its rich, evolving color only gets better with time.

5. Hickory

Color: Cream to tan with dark brown streaks

Best For: Rustic furniture, cabinetry, tool handles, flooring

Known for its bold color contrast and extreme hardness, hickory adds rugged charm to any project. It's often used in rustic or farmhouse-style designs and is great for high-impact applications like floors and utility furniture.

Why We Love It: Hickory combines strength and character—perfect for statement builds that need to last.

Final Thoughts

Each hardwood species has its own personality, and the best one for your project depends on the look you want and the function you need. At Forest 2 Home, we make it easy to choose confidently. Our hand-selected domestic hardwoods are sustainably harvested, precision-milled, and shipped directly to your door.

Whether you’re building a custom desk, new kitchen cabinets, or a hardwood accent wall, these top five species will give you a solid foundation.

Browse Our Full Hardwood Collection

From maple to walnut, Forest 2 Home offers quality lumber for DIYers and professionals alike. Order online and get wood you can trust, straight from our mill.