| Looking at the terms softwood and hardwood, you | | | | Examples of softwoods include pine, spruce and |
| might tend to immediately conclude that the | | | | redwood. Examples of hardwoods include mahogany, |
| distinguishing property is the density. That is, all | | | | maple, oak and cherry. |
| softwood is a softer material (less dense) whilst | | | | Both classes of wood can be used for constructing |
| hardwood is a harder material (more dense). This is | | | | furniture, but more so with softwood. The main |
| actually a common misconception as these terms are | | | | reason for this bias is because furniture made from |
| not used to categorize the wood by density. A | | | | softwood is less expensive to manufacture, which |
| majority of time hardwood is harder than softwood | | | | can be attributed to (as mentioned before) the fact |
| but you can find woods classed as softwood to be | | | | that they grow faster and being more pliable |
| harder than hardwood. For example, Douglas fir is a | | | | (generally), they are easier to work with. |
| softwood and it is actually harder than balsa wood | | | | However, before you rule out hardwood furniture, |
| which is a hardwood. | | | | they do have their advantages. Being harder and |
| The categorization is based on plant reproduction. All | | | | heavier than softwood makes them more sturdier, |
| trees reproduce by creating seeds. The distinction | | | | so you would tend to get very high quality furniture |
| arises from the different seed structure. With | | | | pieces. Additionally, hardwoods are more resistant to |
| softwood, the seeds have no covering. They simply | | | | decay than softwoods. People often find hardwood |
| let the seeds fall to the ground as is. This is referred | | | | furniture to be more attractive in appearance. The |
| to as gymnosperm. On the other hand, hardwood | | | | reason stems from the cells (or components) in the |
| seeds have some kind of covering becoming fruits | | | | wood. The cells in hardwood have more variation |
| later on (e.g. an apple) referred to as angiosperm. | | | | than in softwood leading to you seeing different |
| Softwood trees have needles which they normally do | | | | patterns in the surface. |
| not lose any time of the year. Hardwood trees have | | | | How do you as a buyer differentiate between the |
| broad leaves which drop every year (so they are | | | | types of wood? By looking at the grain. As indicated |
| also referred to as deciduous trees). | | | | earlier, hardwood trees produces seeds that become |
| Another difference is that softwood trees grow up | | | | fruits (and nuts). This means they need to transport |
| faster than hardwood trees. Hence, softwoods are | | | | water and hardwood contains pores to hold the |
| more readily replaceable meaning furniture made from | | | | water. Softwoods however do not have pores. |
| this material a more "greener" option. | | | | |