The Tiny house Blog

Things You Should Know About Hickory Kitchen Cabinets

By
Jason Francis
Designed and built over 100 custom tiny homes, lived on a sailboat for 9 months, and loves to live life to the fullest with his wife and their 4 kids.
Updated on:
August 29, 2023
hickory kitchen cabinet

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

To make your home comfortable and elegant, the features of your furniture, wallpapers, cabinets, shelves, and other installations are essential to produce your desired vibe that complements one another. There are a lot of cabinets with different types of material used. From marble to wood, the options are limitless! To further enhance your kitchen space, try out Hickory Kitchen Cabinets and learn its impressive qualities.

What is Hickory wood?

Hickory is a hardwood that has an appealing quality for its unique appearance because of its light to medium brown hue. The light and dark colors that hickory wood produces gives a sophisticated rustic style that is perfect for your furniture. Color variation will surely give your home a distinct taste of earthly tones.

Hickory is considered as one of the strongest hardwoods that can challenge the hardness of white oak and hard maple. Another quality that is impressive for this type of wood is that it is shock resistant - a great characteristic for a high-quality home. Aside from its strength and density, it is priced reasonably. It simply means that hickory wood is accessible for everyone.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Hickory Kitchen Cabinets

The kitchen is a space where a lot of preparation takes place and sometimes it is even one of the busiest areas in a house. The kitchen cabinets are without question a vital piece of furniture that would set the tone for your kitchen area and even your whole house. To know if Hickory kitchen cabinets will be a perfect match for you, here are some pros and cons of using hickory for your kitchen cabinets:

Disadvantages of Hickory Kitchen Cabinets

  • Hardness: Sometimes, its hardness and strength becomes a challenge when it comes to using it to create furniture. The hardness can make it hard to finish or work with the wood even if hand tools or machineries are used. The cutting and forming of the wood for the cabinet can be demanding but that doesn’t mean it would not look spectacular.
  • Grain Variability: For some, the grain pattern of the hickory wood can become a challenge because the consistency of the pattern across the parts is not equally spread and varies. If uniformity is one of the key things that you are looking for, it may be a little bit harder to achieve when using hickory for your cabinets.
  • Heaviness: One of the characteristics of hickory wood is that it is a dense and heavy wood which can make your furniture quite heavy or weighty. Its weight can be a concern if you want it to be easily movable. Nevertheless, you can always reduce its weight by decreasing its size to make it a more movable-friendly furniture. 
  • Splintering: If you are still a newbie, splintering of hickory wood can be a challenge. Since hickory wood, like any other wood, needs to be properly handled, planning ahead is crucial. To minimize splintering of the wood, proper techniques must be carried out in cutting and sharp tools are highly recommended for cutting.
  • Prone to Shrinking and Swelling: The use of hickory wood for kitchen cabinets can cause wood movement because of the changing temperature and humidity. However, this can be minimized with proper construction and finishing techniques.
  • Color Variation: If not properly managed, the color contrast of the wood can lead to uneven staining which make it difficult to achieve a uniform color.
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Advantages of Hickory Kitchen Cabinets

  • Color Variation: Using hickory for kitchen cabinets contributes to the mood that you are going for when you plan on a more rustic and rugged look. The contrast of the light and dark sections of hickory makes it visually appetizing and appears to look more natural. 
  • Stability: For furniture like kitchen cabinets, stability of the wood is essential. It’s a good thing that hickory wood is stable and is less prone to warping, shrinking, or swelling due to changes in humidity and temperature. 
  • Strength and Durability: The known quality of hickory is being durable and strong. Since kitchen cabinets are used most of the time, durability is an essential characteristic that makes hickory good for these types of furniture. The dense hardwood can withstand heavy use which makes it suitable for cabinets that are often used.
  • Distinct Pattern: The grainy pattern present in hickory makes it unique and visually appealing especially when used in furniture like kitchen cabinets. The distinct pattern adds more character to your home and will complement your other fixtures.
  • Longevity: Furniture that is made with hickory will most likely have a longer lifespan compared to others because it is durable and is resistant to decay and rot. This quality is essential when it comes to picking a material for any furniture.
  • Resistance to Wear and Tear: Since hickory wood is known for its hardness, kitchen cabinets made from it would make it resistant to scratches, dents, and other signs of wear. Because the kitchen cabinets are located in a high-traffic area and are frequently used, it is ideal to consider hickory as the material for your furniture.
  • Polishes Well: The hickory wood polishes well which allows for a lot of designs that can be easily achieved. This is helpful when you plan to achieve an aesthetic look for your cabinets.
  • Resistance to Pests: Hickory's hardness and density make it less susceptible to insect infestations and damage from pests.
  • Sustainability: If you’re thinking about the repercussions associated with the use of hickory wood for your cabinets, you should not worry. Hickory is a fast-growing hardwood compared to others which makes it a sustainable choice and an eco-friendlier choice for you.

Are Hickory Cabinets expensive?

No, they are reasonably priced. Since hickory wood is widely available in North America, the materials are accessible. This tends to make hickory cabinets priced from mid-range to high price depending on several factors.

The location, quality of wood, cabinet construction, level of customization, design, manufacturer, and brand are some of the factors that influence the prices of hickory cabinets. Overall, these cabinets are priced reasonably because of their very unique and desirable qualities. 

Try checking out different sites for hickory kitchen cabinets to know the price range for your desired choice. Here are some sites that you can check out:

kitchen
Photo by Tina Dawson on Unsplash

Things you need to consider when using hickory kitchen cabinets

  • Size: When buying your hickory cabinets, it is very important to plan and measure your space before purchasing. With a well thought plan and measurements, shopping and finding the perfect size and hickory cabinet will be a piece of cake.
  • Color Variation: Since hickory cabinets have different hues, you may research first the type of hue, variation, or pattern that would match the rest of your house and especially your kitchen area. Although the color variations are subtle, every choice would still make a big difference for your kitchen. Explore more colors for your kitchen cabinets to achieve the perfect hue in your home.
  • Price: To ensure that you’re purchasing the right hickory kitchen cabinet, it is best to compare prices from different manufacturers to find the most ideal choice for you. Check out sales, coupons, and other great deals to make sure that you get the best deal.
  • Reviews: Nowadays, reviews are vital and provide interested buyers more information that can help them decide if they are making the right choice. Make sure to read the details about the size, quality, design, and delivery so that you can get the most suitable one for you.
  • Color schemes: To make your experience with hickory cabinets one you’ll never regret, you need to know what colors perfectly go with these types of cabinets. Usually, earthy hues and neutral colors go well with hickory cabinets but you can also pick if you will be using contrasting or monotonous colors. Check out color schemes that go well with hickory cabinets.

Hickory Kitchen Cabinets is the Upgrade You Need

Trying out new materials for your kitchen cabinets is both difficult and a worthy decision. Starting to redecorate or plan for your future kitchen should make you consider using hickory kitchen cabinets for a more durable and aesthetic looking kitchen. If you are aiming for a rugged, outdoorsy, and rustic vibe for your kitchen, hickory kitchen cabinets are a perfect upgrade for you. Different color schemes and variations of your own choosing would put a more personal touch in your kitchen. With every furniture, fixture, and cabinet complementing each other, your home will be phenomenal in no time.

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