It is the typical dilemma for any homeowner. Many couples have stood dumbfounded in the furniture section of Ikea, scratching their heads over the differences between oak and pine. To the naked eye, these two different planks of wood may look and feel exactly the same, but there are many differences which can offer a number of benefits to your home depending on your needs.

To begin with, let us discuss the individual benefits of each type of wood. Although oak may cost upwards of double the cost of pinewood, there is a reason for this. Oak takes over a hundred years to grow, which subsequently allows the wood to form stronger, providing a more resistant natural layer. Accompanied with a suitable finish, oak is very durable and tougher than most types of wood, not just pine.

Pine is substantially cheaper than oak. Put into context, a simple pine wood desk can be picked up for around £30, yet you will struggle to find the same desk but made out of oak for less than £60/70. Pinewood, however, does hold one significant advantage over oak. Due to the lighter shade of colour that pine sports, this makes it more accepting of colours and finishes, which is perfect for decorating to a specific colour scheme or for making that racing car bed for your child.

This article was designed to make the process of choosing between oak and pine easier, but we are aware that we may have made it even more confusing, Allow us to explain.

Just think about wine for a second. You may be thinking to yourself: “what does wine have to do with furniture?” but just bare with us. A cheap bottle of wine that can be picked up from your ordinary, run of the mill supermarket is perfectly adequate and does the job. To many, you may not even be able to taste the difference between a supermarket bottle and a bottle recommended by experts and connoisseurs. Yet some like to treat themselves and splash out on a fancy bottle that has matured for over a hundred years and really appreciate the smell, the taste and the feel of the wine.

This analogy is perfect for summarising the differences between oak and pine wood. Oak is the fine wine. It takes well over a hundred years to reach its final stage of growth and is typically more expensive and considered more stylish by many. Due to the time it takes for oak to grow, the wood forms a stronger bond and becomes more resistant to wear and tear. It is more of a premium material, but the benefits will see this type of wood last for many years.

This is not to say that Pine is inadequate. That’s actually the opposite of what we’re trying to say. Like oak, pine has its uses, and is the better option sometimes. Let’s be honest, you don’t want to go splashing out on the nicest bottle of wine for a saturday night out on the town. Pine does the dirty work in a stylish fashion. Pine is a lighter material and creamier in colour, making it perfect for decorating, say for a children's bed for example. If you are aware that this piece of furniture may pick up the odd scratch and chip, then it is wise to go for the cheaper option and pick a wood that will be slightly more practical and cost effective than oak.

There is no real ‘better option’ between oak and pine wood. They both have their uses, and both types of wood have their ups and their downs. Oak is stronger and more durable, but it will leave you with more of a hole in your pocket. Pine is cheap and cheerful but you shouldn’t be upset if you notice a few marks on your table every now and then.

So if you are reading this blog post in the furniture section of Ikea, hopefully this has helped you narrow down your choice and allowed you to pick a type of wood for your home.

If you are interested in reclaimed oak and pine wood floorboard for your home, check out Cawardens full selection here. If you wish to speak to one of our advisors about any of our products, you can call us on 01889 574066.