I’m often torn between oak vs walnut wood when choosing wood for my DIY projects. While they share some traits, their differences in grain, color, durability, maintenance, and cost make one better than the other depending on the use. In this article, I’ll compare oak and walnut to help determine which hardwood is best for furniture, flooring, and cabinetry.
Oak vs Walnut Wood
Walnut and oak are both premium hardwoods that make for excellent furniture, flooring, cabinets, and many other indoor items.
Both timbers are exceptionally hard and resistant to wear. This is mostly because they come from slow-growing trees, where a longer growth period leads to a higher wood density.
To give you a quick overview of their similarities and differences, take a look at this chart comparing these woods:
| Characteristic | Walnut | Oak |
| Color | Deep, rich brown or chocolate brown with dark grain | Light brown to medium brown, pinkish-red, or yellow with stripes |
| Durability | Fairly durable | Fairly durable |
| Grain pattern | Straight, wavy, or curly grain | Prominent, strong grain with swirls and twirls |
| Maintenance | Requires regular maintenance | Requires regular maintenance |
| Smell | No distinct odor | No distinct odor |
| Price | Expensive | Cheaper than walnut, but still expensive |
Oak is a more durable timber and can better function outdoors than walnut. This is due to the natural resins found in the wood that protect against insects, fungi, and the inevitable water damage that comes with remaining outdoors.
Walnut is a more expensive timber due to its rarity. At the same time, oak can be bought at a slightly lower price, thereby significantly adding to its appeal and excellent durability.
Walnut and oak differ somewhat in their aesthetics, and how they are used can differ significantly. Different furniture styles are better suited to one or the other type of wood, and some may prefer the look of one more than the other.
Both oak and walnut happily accept staining, but the resultant finishes will differ significantly. In order to understand what the finished product will look like and if it’s a finish that you would be happy with, you should check out some physical examples of the timber that has been stained.
Oak Wood
Oak trees are a grainy hardwood that consists of two varieties – Red oak and White oak. It is extremely durable and resists warping, making it highly suited to furniture-making and flooring alike. The prominent grain of the oak tree (more so with Red oak) helps it to better hide wear and tear.
As a result, this makes oak a great option for flooring, similar to maple. This type of wood or wood species is also significantly harder, which means less chance of denting, scratching, and abrasion. Resultantly, there is also less maintenance required with this type of wood when compared to walnut.
Aesthetic Qualities
Aesthetically speaking, European Oak boasts dynamic, versatile coloring with a hue of gold to medium brown and natural grain. American White Oak, on the other hand, has light to tan-brown coloring with a straight grain that sets it apart from its European counterpart.
Because of its inherently lighter coloring, oak is well-suited to a minimalist Scandinavian interior aesthetic. This lighter coloring also ensures the wood’s longevity as it is less susceptible to fading from the sun.
Oak Wood Grain
The grain of oak can be described aesthetically as somewhat of a tiger-stripe. Staining can further exaggerate this grain, which can result in a two-tone aesthetic that may not be desirable to some.
White Oak has a subtler grain compared to red oak with golden tones. This will be the better option if you wish to avoid the two-tone effect that can sometimes result from the wood stains.
Walnut Wood
Walnut is a rarer wood species than oak species and is significantly more expensive as a result. It is slightly less dense than oak, so it is better for use indoors. It is the ideal wood for use in furniture, cabinetry, paneling, doors, veneers, and other small wooden items.
While there are various wood species, the two most common versions of this wood species are the English Walnut and the Black Walnut (the Eastern Black Walnut). Black Walnut is mostly grown for its timber which makes for durable wood, while the English version is mostly grown for its nuts.
Luxury Appeal
The items produced with walnut are generally on the luxurious end of the spectrum, featuring in premium designs. This is partly due to how the typical aesthetic of this rare timber can be extremely difficult to mimic.
Grain Patterns
Walnut is a straight-grained wood with a tighter, subtler grain compared to Oak. This makes it less ideal for use in flooring as it can easily show wear. Because it is a softer wood, walnut also requires more maintenance to ensure it remains in good shape at all times.
Color Variations
In terms of its coloration, walnut usually comes in a sleek, cream to chocolate brown color that sometimes contains a hint of purple. It usually features darker streaks as well as varied grain patterns that can be of extreme interest to designers and consumers alike.
Walnut is generally darker than Oak, whether Red Oak or White Oak, and so it is associated with more sleek, sophisticated furniture items that show plenty of character. A stark contrast of dark and light colors tends to give the wood more character.
Susceptibility to Sun Damage
When using walnut, one must always consider the sun exposure that that piece of furniture might experience as this wood tends to discolor quite easily when constantly exposed to the sun.
Comparing Walnut and Oak
Now that I’ve provided an overview of each type of wood, here’s how they compare in the following categories:
- Appearance
- Durability and strength
- Maintenance and care
- Price point
Appearance
When it comes to appearance, walnut and oak are quite different, and this difference is not difficult to see. While the former boasts a rich, deep brown color with beautiful swirls of dark and light grain, the former offers a natural color ranging from pale yellow to pinkish-red.
A key difference between the two is their wood grain pattern. Walnut has a tighter and smoother grain than oak, which is more open and coarse. Walnut’s grain pattern is subtle, whereas Oak displays pronounced whirls and waves instead of a straight grain.
Due to its grain pattern, oak is able to take wear and tear without looking beat-up, while maintaining a great wood surface, making it the preferred choice for wooden walls, flooring and furniture that must endure the test of time.
This is why oak flooring is the preferred. Walnut, on the other hand, has an appearance that looks best when used for kitchen cabinets, shelves and furniture, so, you would find fewer occurrences of walnut flooring and more of oak flooring.
Durability
Walnut and oak are highly reputable for their strength. However, there are a few differences in how they exhibit this strength.
Oak is a harder wood than walnut and has exceptional strength and resistance to wear and tear. Due to its durability and density, oak is suited not only to indoor applications but also to many outdoor applications, such as ladders, decking, fencing, pergolas, porches, and garages. It is denser than walnut, and its natural resins make it more durable, protecting against fungi, insects, and moisture.
On the other hand, walnut, while not as hard as oak, offers impressive durability as well. Walnut is still extremely strong and shock resistant with good dimensional stability. It also possesses natural resistance to decay and pests. However, it could discolor when left out in the sun for long periods, making it bad for outdoor furniture.
Maintenance
The maintenance of walnut primarily involves regular dusting and occasional polishing -once every 6 months- with a good finish to enhance its sheen. However, you have to be extra careful while cleaning it, as it is a soft wood. You should also beware of wearing stilettos or operating heavy machinery on walnut floors.
Oak requires pretty much the same attention as walnut, when it comes to maintenance. Because of its open grain pattern, it is more susceptible to dust and dirt and can trap debris more visibly than walnut. Therefore, regular dusting and occasional cleaning with a mild wood cleaner are essential.
Price
Generally, oak tends to be more budget-friendly than walnut because it is widely available and grown in abundance. The cost of Oak can also vary depending on the specific type, with Red Oak typically being more affordable than White Oak due to its more common availability.
On the other hand, walnut is considered a premium wood and as a result, tends to be significantly more expensive than Oak. Its limited supply, slower growth rate, and beautiful pattern make it a high-end choice for furniture, flooring, and kitchen cabinets.
Keep in mind that both walnut and Oak are more expensive than most of the other woods like cedar or cherry. However, they offer a lot of value for their money, making them a worthy investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Walnut Wood Stronger Than Oak?
No, Walnut wood is not stronger than oak, so it is the softer wood. Walnut has a Janka hardness rating of 1010, while Red Oak has one of about 1,290, with White Oak ranking even higher at around 1,360. This indicates that walnut, while still a hardwood, is slightly less stronger and may be more susceptible to denting and scratching.
Is Walnut Softer Than Oak?
Yes, Walnut is generally considered softer than oak. While both woods are classified as hardwoods, walnut has a lower Janka hardness rating compared to oak.
This means that oak is more resistant to wear and tear, making it a great choice for flooring and furniture in high-traffic areas. Walnut is favored for making kitchen cabinets, high-end furniture and interior paneling. So, there are fewer occurrences of oak cabinets.
Is Walnut a High-End Wood?
Yes, walnut is considered a high-end wood in the world of furniture and woodworking. It is highly prized solid wood for its exquisite color and beautiful grain patterns. It is also known for its durability, stability, and ease of working, making it a preferred choice for crafting high-quality furniture, cabinets, and woodworking projects.
Conclusion
Choosing between walnut and oak wood hinges on a few key factors. The intended use of the wood plays a significant role in the decision. If you want durable flooring, oak might be your best option. On the other hand, if you aim for luxurious, smooth, and sophisticated furniture, walnut may be your choice. Ultimately, the main considerations are aesthetics, cost, and durability.
