Wood coffee tables can be made of teak, which is a favorite, however there are many great coffee tables that are made of woods such as oak, white oak, cherry, maple, beech and ash. Most high quality tables are hand crafted with tenon and mortise joints. They may be coated with shellac and waxed or with a water based lacquer. Certain woods are just oiled as preservatives to protect the wood.
English or European oak make stronger table than American oak which is lighter in quality. The American Oak grain patterns are more attractive than the other two types of oaks. If you want a table that adds some warmth to your home then you might want to consider red cherry tables. Maple comes in many shades but it is light color that fits in more of a contemporary style home.
Beech is a light wood with flecked patterns and hickory has some nice grain to it. Coffee tables made from beech will be very light color while hickory will be a light brown, very attractive. It is realy up to you and your design taste to decide which one best suits your home’s style.
One key item is durability – being a coffee table it can get a lot of use and abuse. Softwoods such as pine would not be a good choice unless you are looking for that distressed style. Any of the hardwoods will perform nicely, but remember, a dark wood coffee table will show scratches and dust than a lighter one.
That brings us to your color choices. Most woods can be stained light or dark to fit in with your rooms decor. Most of the time you will want to show off the grain of the wood, so a light stain , or possibly a poly finish would be best. You’ll want to consider your current wood furniture to make sure it will blend in – but with the variety of woods and stains available that should be the least of your concerns.
And that brings us to price. Soft woods such as pine are easy to manufacture and are relatively inexpensive. A common variety is southern pine which is durable, takes stain easily, is strong but marks easily. Hardwoods such as cherry can be found in the midprice range, and is a very popular coffee table material. Oak fits into this midrange category and is one of the top selling wood types. The high end will get you Walnut and Teak. These are definitely in the higher priced range, but provide a long service life, combined with low maintenance.