Wood has been put to use as a natural material to construct different types of furniture pieces such as stools, benches, tables, chairs, and contemporary pieces of office furniture. As civilization evolved, so have the uses of wood. Industrialization and modernism have caused industries to try using alternative materials such as metals, glass, and so on as a desk surface. A custom wood desktop is an option which can be either finished with a natural polishing or painted over.
Types of Wood
Below are some popular kinds of wood used in wooden desktops.
1. MDF Wood
A common inquiry is whether one should select MDF wood or solid wood. This mdf wood is composed of hardwood and softwood remnants combined with wax and resin to secure it. This mixture is then set into large panels. These panels are exposed to high heat and pressure in order to ensure they stay joined together securely. MDF wood is an ideal choice for a desk surface, provided that nothing heavier than 50 pounds will be placed on top of it.
A desk top made out of MDF wood that can be adjusted to different heights is easier to maneuver up or down. This material is outstanding due to its ability to stay strong and last a long time when used on a computer’s surface. A desktop made of mdf wood is simple to keep clean and in good condition. One of the top-notch desktop materials available on the market.
2. Maple
Looking to buy wood for desk top? Opting for a Maple wood desk top is a great selection. Why? It is hardwood and known for its toughness. It has a greater density than the majority of other wood types, making it extremely solid. It is not easily affected by moisture and does not break apart easily. Its distinctive pale shade and slightly salty texture make it an intriguing option for a desktop background. Maple wood desk tops are an economical and simple to care for option for a workplace desktop.
3. Birch
Despite its thickness, Birch is not a type of hardwood. The fine, integrated particles providing a solid desk surface. Placed between maple, which is more delicate, and walnut that is denser, Birchwood gives desks and tabletops a pleasing appearance. This wooden table top would be among the finest in the world.
4. Walnut
Walnut is the strongest type of wood, and it can be cumbersome to transport when incorporated into furniture. Walnut, due to its straight and open grain structure in addition to the deep, dark colors, is an ideal choice for a solid wood desktop. Its aesthetic appeal is quite desirable. The walnut trees that grow around the globe will cause a variation in walnut shades. It can withstand heavy usage easily.
5. Oak
Oak has been a regular material for tables and desks for an extended period of time. Why? It is light, highly durable, and hard to use. The appearance of oak woodgrain becomes more organic as the tree matures. Oaktree’s sapwood, which has a creamy texture, can be found in several shades ranging from golden to medium brown. You can easily polish, paint or leave it natural. You can hammer in nails and screws into hardwood, and they will hold securely for an extended period.
6. Plywood
Not everyone can afford to choose the highest quality walnut board and have it cut and delivered to their home, ready to be put together, or don’t want to take the time for the bother. It is much simpler to work with the finances you possess or the resources at your disposal. Also, I is the preferred wood for making bentwood furnishings. It is worth noting that there is nothing wrong with using plywood to create a wooden desk, and that is what we will now explain.
Since it was created, plywood has been a strong, inexpensive, and attractive substitute for hardwood and numerous other materials. If you are unaware of what plywood is, it is essentially a stack of wood pieces cut up, glued together with adhesive, and then pressed together with high temperature to make panels. Pieces of wood can then be covered with thin slices of wood called veneer to make it look like it is made of hardwood. If you prefer an industrial look or want to make your office appear like an ultra-futuristic start-up, you can leave the plywood in its untouched form. Just seal it well to avoid splinters.
7. Cherry
There is no other type of wood that has simultaneously gained both admiration and animosity like cherry wood has. Nobody seems to have such passionate feelings of both love and hate towards any other type of wood as they do for cherry wood. Why? Cherry wood is noteworthy for its stunning aesthetics, though the finishing process can be tedious. Cherry wood has very tightly packed fibers, making it difficult to stain, varnish, or even paint and requiring a lot of time and effort to accomplish.
In other words, utilizing cherry wood to make a desk calls for a lot of effort and dedication. However, when all is said and done, it is ultimately very gratifying. A cherry wood desk is resilient, requires little upkeep, is not susceptible to moisture damage (even if not sealed), and with proper care, it can create a gorgeous work surface.
8. Pine
If you’re trying to find a desk for any purpose—whether it’s for reading, studying, or using a computer—then pine might be the ideal wood for your needs since it is an incredibly sturdy material. Pine is a light and firm wood type that is easily shifted and quite budget friendly. This material is quite durable and has a distinctive grain pattern that is uncommon among hardwoods.
Pine wood is recognizable for its pale brown hue and grain pattern that varies from a peach to a tan shade. Pine is often preferred because of its combination of strength and lightweight compared to hardwood, while it is easier to obtain and much more affordable than plywood or other manufactured woods. Pine is an abundant wood, and the different varieties of it create different shades, which makes it a practical choice for desktops.
9. Cedar
If you are interested in something another from what we have already seen in terms of types of wood, then you should think about opting for cedar wood for your homemade wooden desktop. Cedar is very straightforward to manipulate but has the toughness to occupy the various situations a work desk must endure.
In other words, cedar is not too heavy, so it will be easy to move your desktop from one place to another, without putting strain on your muscles. Cedar has an uncommon shade of light red, almost a kind of pink. This type of wood is ideal for special projects due to its distinctive texture, as well as its ability to withstand decay and damage. It’s clear why beginning craftspeople usually opt for this wood when starting out.
10. Rosewood
Are you in the market for a one-of-a-kind desk? Are walnut and oak wood too mainstream for you? Are you someone who only appreciates the best types of wood? It seems that rosewood might suit your needs perfectly. This product won’t be at your local hardware store due to its steep price of roughly $17,000 per ton, but if you can find a seller that can provide some, it would definitely be worth the wait and expense.
What makes rosewood so special? This is an uncommon occurrence and can be recognized by its predominantly dark brown and slight purple hue. The irregular dark stripes running along the grain of the wood add visual interest to the patchwork of colors. Rosewood is quite weighty, which implies it is not only a pleasing desk but is also very reliable.
11. Elm
Elm is a great wood for DIY desktop making. Elm is a suitable type of wood for practically any kind of do-it-yourself task. Any experienced crafter who is familiar with the profession is aware that it is not the uncommonness of wood that is essential, but rather how much you can create with it. Elm is renowned for its versatility and strength, having been employed to craft anything from hockey sticks to paper. This makes it an ideal selection for needs that require both these qualities.
Choosing the Right Wood for Your Desktop
Well, surely a tough question for a novice. Yet anyone who admires wood will acknowledge that there are three essential items to bear in mind when looking to buy a wooden desk top.
Quality
Look for the following for quality:
- Hardness: The ability of the wood to resist breaking when force is applied.
- Density: The amount of wood available in a particular unit. It could be per meter cube (m3) or even in centimeters measured as cm3. The wood density differs from one wood type to another depending on the tree growth environment and the tree species.
- Durability: The durability of wooden material, especially durable wooden standing desk tops, is determined by how well it can withstand natural decay. But do remember, other factors like humidity/heat/rains/ spillages and more can affect the wood to decay faster.
Color and Grain
The visual attractiveness of the wooden desktop is determined by various elements such as the wood grain and patterns. How the life of a tree is affected is based on various environmental conditions, including the tropical area it is situated in and other influencing elements. It is up to your preference whether you prefer light or dark shades of wood, you may also want to consider the type of grain as well.
Budget Vs. Usage
Spend money that is within your budget, but also consider how much you will be using it. An example of an ineffectual choice for a standing desk table would be a walnut desktop, due to its heaviness. Hence check the wood as per usage needed.
The Pros and Cons of Wood Desk Top
Wood is an aesthetic that remains timeless and fashionable. When it comes to selecting the optimum surface for a desk top, wood usually emerges as the clear winner. In case you’re not an expert in determining the finer points and picking the best wood desktop, we will supply you with all the details, both good and bad.
Let’s break it down, shall we? When purchasing furniture, what aspects should one consider in order to ensure it will last and won’t need replacing? Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a wooden desktop and other wooden furniture.
Pros of Wood Desk Top
- Durability: Wood is an extremely durable material that can withstand quite a bit of abuse. So if you’re someone who will be dumping things on your desktop, have a lot of things moving around on it, or just looking for something that lasts you a good while, we recommend going with wood for your desk. Pretty much all wood materials in the industry are classified as tough, with the ability to yield high-quality furniture.
- Easy to maintain: Maintenance is very low when it comes to wooden furniture. A polished, solid wood desk top only needs a duster swept over it and it’ll be good as gold.
- Value for money: Didn’t expect this in the pros? It definitely belongs here. When getting wooden furniture, you might get taken back at how expensive it can be. However, nothing gives you as good of a value for money as wood does. In terms of charm and sustainability, wood is the best desk top material.
- Multi-faceted: Your home/office space can be modern or antique and you wouldn’t need to change a thing if you’re getting a wood desk top table. The options available are nearly endless, and in fact you might find wood to be the number one choice amongst all options of desk table tops.
Cons of Wood Desk Top
- Warping: Temperature conditions, UV light and humidity can affect the condition of wood. However, in an indoor setting, polished wood is rarely affected by these conditions.
Final Thoughts
Now that you understand the kind of desktop wood on the market, their key features, their cost, and why you should select each one, you can put your newly gained awareness to the test. Take into account both your budget and purpose when deciding on a wooden desk.
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