Walnut and cherry rank among the most popular hardwoods for fine furniture, but they behave very differently over time. Understanding how these woods age helps you choose the right species for your project’s aesthetic goals.
Initial Appearance
Walnut: Fresh-cut black walnut shows rich chocolate brown heartwood with purple undertones. Sapwood appears cream to pale yellow, creating dramatic contrast. The color looks darkest immediately after surfacing.
Cherry: Newly milled cherry appears pale salmon-pink to light reddish-brown. The subtle color disappoints woodworkers expecting the deep redness of aged cherry. Sapwood ranges from white to pale pink.
Many beginners choose walnut for its immediate visual impact, while cherry requires patience for its full beauty to develop.
Color Changes from Light Exposure
Both species change dramatically with UV light exposure, but in opposite directions.
Cherry darkens significantly. Within weeks of finishing, cherry develops richer reddish-brown tones. After 6-12 months, the pale salmon transforms into the classic deep red-brown associated with antique cherry furniture. This darkening continues for years, eventually reaching a deep burgundy.
Walnut lightens gradually. The dark chocolate brown fades to medium brown with golden highlights. Purple tones disappear first. The dramatic darkness of fresh walnut mellows into a warmer, lighter brown over 1-2 years. Extended sun exposure can fade walnut to tan.
Darkening vs Lightening Timelines
Cherry shows visible darkening within the first month. Place a piece of hardware on fresh cherry, remove it after 30 days, and the covered area appears distinctly lighter than exposed surfaces.
This rapid change slows after the first year but continues indefinitely. Five-year-old cherry appears much darker than one-year-old pieces.
Walnut’s lightening proceeds more slowly. Noticeable changes take 6-12 months. The process continues gradually for several years before stabilizing at a medium brown tone.
Effect on Design Choices
Cherry’s dramatic darkening means you build with pale wood that becomes rich and dark. If you love the look of aged cherry, accept that your new project won’t match that appearance for months.
Some woodworkers accelerate cherry’s darkening by placing unfinished pieces in direct sunlight for days or weeks before finishing. This “sunning” previews the eventual color.
Walnut projects start with maximum visual impact but mellow over time. The initial dark drama moderates into warmer, lighter tones. If you prefer consistent dark furniture, walnut’s fading may disappoint.
Sapwood Considerations
Both species show strong color contrast between heartwood and sapwood. Cherry’s pale sapwood becomes light brown but never matches the dark heartwood tones. Walnut sapwood remains lighter than heartwood even after years of exposure.
Some woodworkers avoid sapwood entirely, cutting it away during milling. Others embrace the contrast for visual interest. The sapwood difference becomes less dramatic as both woods age, but never disappears.
Finishing Impact on Color Changes
Oil finishes accelerate initial darkening in both species. Boiled linseed oil or Danish oil adds amber tones immediately, giving cherry a head start on darkening and temporarily enriching walnut’s color.
Water-based finishes preserve initial color better than oil-based products. Cherry stays lighter longer with water-based poly, while walnut maintains its dark appearance.
All clear finishes amber over time, adding yellow tones to both woods. This yellowing partially offsets walnut’s natural lightening.
Consistency in Matched Projects
Building matched furniture pieces from either species requires planning. Cherry pieces built months apart will show different colors when finished—the older piece appears darker.
For matching sets, mill and finish all pieces simultaneously. The wood ages together, maintaining consistent color as it changes.
Walnut presents fewer matching challenges since lightening proceeds slowly. But pieces built years apart may show noticeable color differences.
Choosing Based on Color Goals
Choose cherry when you want wood that improves with age. The transformation from pale pink to deep red-brown adds character and value. Patience rewards you with increasingly beautiful furniture.
Choose walnut for immediate visual impact and stable medium-brown aging. The initial darkness impresses, and the eventual lighter tone remains attractive. Walnut suits projects where you want impact from day one.
Both woods develop beautiful patinas over time. Understanding their different aging patterns helps you select the species that matches your aesthetic timeline and expectations.
