Is walnut a good wood for a dining table? 

Call us biased, but walnut is a superb choice for dining tables. For starters, it has rich colors and fine grains. You could compare the appearance of walnut dining tables to sturdy, natural centerpieces of the highest caliber. There’s something outdoorsy about walnut—even while it doesn’t necessarily evoke the image of a log cabin. 

Additionally, walnut has a reputation for being pretty stable. This helps ensure that it doesn’t warp over time, which is great if you want to invest in a dining room table that lasts as long as your room does. We think walnut makes for an ideal combination of aesthetic appeal and long-term durability. 

Which wood is best for a dining table? 

Get ready for a fun answer: it depends. Walnut may be the right choice for you, but there are all sorts of customers with different needs. If you want durability and beauty, we think hardwood options—including walnut, yes, but also oak and maple—are great. You may love the lush, smooth appearance of maple. Walnut’s luxurious look is perfect for the aesthetic version of these hardwoods. And oak’s got a rustic appeal that’s undeniable. Each type of wood has its own set of characteristics and strengths. If walnut’s strengths line up with your tastes and needs, we think it’s probably best for your dining table.

What is the difference between oak and walnut table tops? 

They’re both hardwoods, but you’ll notice a few key differences. For starters: color. Oak typically features a lighter spectrum of colors. Its “open grain” gives it the most rustic appearance—a pattern that might match it well to the cabin or farmhouse aesthetic. Walnut can get much darker than oak. Its straighter grain gives it a more formal appearance, which is why it’s such a typical choice for dining rooms. You might think of walnut as one of the more “upscale” of the hardwood choices. This isn’t to say that it’s exclusively upscale, but when compared to other, more freely available woods, walnut typically has this reputation.

Is walnut furniture timeless? 

Stylistically? Aesthetically? We think so. The hardwoods in general are timeless because wood furniture rarely goes out of style. Walnut’s rich hues and fine grain patterns can match a broad category of styles. In fact, many people pass down walnut furniture for this reason—it doesn’t go out of style. And because it can be so stable, it’s easy to keep a piece of walnut furniture in a family for generations. Other hardwoods, like oak and maple, are also great “timeless” choices here—but you really can’t go wrong.

Is walnut more expensive than oak? 

Generally speaking, oak is less expensive than walnut. This is one of the reasons you can consider walnut the more luxurious of the two options. Walnut’s rich colors and less prominent supply help contribute to its higher prices. Oak, on the other hand, is abundant. It’s relatively easy to source. And for those reasons, it tends to be less expensive—which is why it has the “rustic” tag. But this isn’t a value judgment. It’s more about what you want to achieve with the look and feel of your dining room. If you prefer a more luxurious wood, most people would consider walnut the more “upscale” option.

Does walnut table scratch easily? 

You might consider this the “catch” of walnut: it does scratch relatively easily. And thanks to its rich colors—otherwise an aesthetic bonus—these scratches can be easy to spot. But there are a few things to keep in mind here. For starters, it’s easy to refinish or touch up walnut to restore its original appearance. That’s one reason walnut is so popular with woodworkers—it’s an elegant wood to maintain. And it’s not difficult to protect your walnut with dining room table mats, napkins, and the like. As long as you know what to expect, walnut’s “scratchiness” won’t be a problem for you.

Does walnut pair well with metals? 

Walnut and metals can make for an exciting, fun stylish contrast! Walnut’s got some real texture and richness to it. In contrast, smooth and sleek metals can stand out with walnut. Stainless steel, brass, and even iron can make for fun ornaments to walnut. People who love either contemporary designs for their dining room or the “industrial” look will often pair walnut with metals. Of course, walnut’s wide range of colors can definitely offer some interesting options, so you’ll want to think about that when shopping for metal accents.