Maple Kitchen Cabinets | Refacing Maple Kitchen Cabinets | Refinishing Maple Kitchen Cabinets | Remodeling Maple Kitchen Cabinets

Color of Maple Cabinets

There can be a wide range of colors within a piece of maple, from pale yellow to tan to reddish brown, however it usually comes in pale, off-white coloration. There may be gray mineral streaks included within the grain patterns as well.

Texture of Maple Kitchen Cabinets

The tight, smooth grains of maple are one of the most appealing parts of the wood. While maple is generally straight-grained, there are often variations in the grain patterns that provide distinctive characteristics to each piece that is cut. A few of these include:

Birdseye patterns: Dots in the grain that resemble the eyes of birds.
Curly patterns: Tight, wavy variations in the annual rings of the wood.
Blister figures: Patterns that resemble a three dimensional landscape.

Each of these variations can be used alone, or as accents to larger pieces of furniture.

Maple Kitchen Cabinet Finish

Due to the fine, generally uniform grain patterns, maple is an excellent wood for any finish. Anything from the lightest, transparent stains to heavy paint will work well with this material. When planning your kitchen remodeling, you can be assured that maple will provide a surface that will work for you, regardless of your cabinet color choice. If you want transparent blue stained wood or antique white paint, maple can provide the versatility that you need.

Cabinet Variations For Maple

There are two main classifications for maple: hard maple and soft maple.

Hard Maple

Also known as Sugar Maple and Black Maple, hard maple provides an extremely strong and durable material. It is the ideal choice for kitchen cabinets, as it is able to stand up to the daily wear and tear of the kitchen.

The sapwood of hard maple is dense, close-grained, strong, smooth, and typically white in color. There may be some light hues of yellow, pink, light tan, or darker mineral streaks within the hard maple piece.

Hard maple is most often finished using a lighter stain or whitewashed, as darker stains can sometimes lead to uneven levels of penetration.

Soft Maple

Soft maple is also known as Red Maple, Silver Maple, and Box Elder. It is not as hard, heavy, or strong as hard maple, but is less expensive and retains many of the same characteristics.

Soft maple is close-grained and takes stains and finishes more readily than hard maple. It is well suited for use with enamel finishes, brown tones, and it takes polish well. Sometimes, soft maple is stained to resemble more expensive hardwoods, such as maple and walnut. Maple wood can fade over time, at a much faster rate than soft maple. As such, soft maple can provide a longer lasting appearance than more expensive options.

Although there are appealing characteristics to using soft maple, there are some drawbacks. It can be dented easier and does not last as long as some of its harder counterparts.

Cautions on Maple Kitchen Cabinets

The most significant downside to using maple is its tendency to yellow with age. This is especially the case when the material is exposed to prolonged sunlight. If you are planning to paint your cabinets, or if you would like to attain that golden look anyway, than you shouldn't be too concerned with maple's aging. However, it should be something that you are aware of.

Maple is a popular choice in kitchen cabinets for many reasons. When planning the remodeling of your kitchen, whether you are going for a stainless steel look, a streamlined feel, or something more traditional and cozy, such as Scandinavian, Early American, or French Countryside architecture, you should consider using maple in your home. It is an ideal, durable, and versatile material that can provide the exact look that you desire for your new kitchen.