The Challenges of Using Wood in Humid Environments
Wood is adored for its natural beauty and organic warmth. However, it has an obvious weakness: moisture. When wood is exposed to moisture, it can swell, rot, or fall victim to mold. Pushing wood through a repeated cycle of dampness and drying can lead to issues like cracking, warping, and splitting.
As Dwell points out, bathrooms are humid places, so they may seem like an odd place to rely on wood for crucial design elements. However, wood has long been a popular choice for bathroom vanities, and it’s becoming more common to choose this material for other features. How do designers do it? Good ventilation is essential in any bathroom, and proper finishes also help, but choosing the right wood for the job is the key step. Which wood is best for a bathroom vanity?
The Best Woods for Bathroom Vanities
While no wood will be 100 percent waterproof, selecting quality hardwood with a dense grain will provide greater resistance to moisture. As an added bonus, these woods also deliver great durability. They have gorgeous natural coloring, but the color doesn’t have to be the deciding factor because wood can be stained to adjust the final shade of the vanity. Which wood is best for a bathroom vanity? There are a number of fantastic options.
Cherry
Like the best dark chocolate, cherry wood is elegant, smooth, and rich in color. While it can be pricy, it has a distinctive grain and is generally finished so that the wood’s gorgeous natural hues can show through. Cherry may darken slightly over time, but fans of this hardwood consider that a feature rather than a flaw. Cherry holds up well against the steamy heat that’s frequently found in bathrooms and delivers impressive resilience.
Hickory
Hickory’s beautiful uniqueness ensures that every piece is one of a kind. Its innate variability also delivers a naturalness that no manufactured material can match. This wood’s grain can veer from straight and fine to wild and wavy. Its coloring can shift from light to dark with a red or yellow tint. What never changes is its amazing strength and durability. These qualities make hickory wood a smart choice for high-traffic areas and demanding environments like bathrooms and kitchens. Hickory shines with a natural finish or a stained finish.
Maple
Maple offers appealing affordability and an even grain that results in a harmonic, predictable appearance. While it’s not as durable as some of the other choices on this list, it still manages well in a bathroom’s steamy atmosphere. Are you looking for a dramatic stain? Maple may not be the right choice. It can be a bit tricky to stain, and it normally doesn’t take dark stains well.
Oak
A classic hardwood, oak has long been a favorite of fine furniture makers. One of the hardest woods, it’s incredibly stable and strong. That means it stands up to humidity effortlessly and is highly resistant to warping and rotting in damp environments. Oak also stains well, although the job is best entrusted to a professional. If the stain isn’t applied properly, you can end up with streaks.