Top Wood Choices for Bathroom Cabinetry & Vanities

If you are choosing a new vanity for your bathroom remodel or want to add storage with wood shelving or cabinets, there are a few things to consider. The quality, durability, and cost will vary for different types of wood. You also want your furniture to look beautiful and last long despite bathroom moisture and humidity. Here are the best choices for wood bathroom cabinets and vanities.

1. Hickory: Durable & Low Maintenance

Hickory is a domestic hardwood known for its density, hardness, and resilience. Because of its strength, it’s ideal for high-wear products like tools, furniture, and flooring. Hickory wood is light to medium-brown in color, often with a reddish hue. It has intricate grain patterns made up of waves and swirls with distinctive darker streaks.

Glazing hickory enhances its beautiful, natural variation and character while protecting the surface against scuffs, stains, and scratches. It offers timeless beauty that complements nearly every aesthetic. Because many species of hickory are native to North America, they are readily available.

Hickory is a mid-range wood in price. It is a bit higher than oak but less costly than maple, walnut, or cherry. Hickory cabinetry is simple to clean and care for. Use mild soap and a damp cloth to remove dirt and grime. Sealing a hickory vanity will restore its beauty for years to come.

2. Oak: Variety & Antimicrobial

Oak is another popular choice for wood cabinetry and flooring and is widely used for craftsman and mission-style furniture. Oak wood is available in various hues, from light beige to brown, pink, and red. In fact, a single oak tree can have all of these colors throughout. Staining with a clear or natural stain highlights the unique grain of oak wood.

Oak is a hardwood used in high-quality cabinets and furniture for its durability and stability. It is highly resistant to humidity and warping and rotting due to moisture. Solid oak bathroom cabinets generally arrive sealed to protect against water and mold growth.

A damp cloth is usually sufficient to remove dirt and debris. Avoid using harsh cleaning agents, which can stain oak cabinets. Oak is a domestic, widely available hardwood, so oak bathroom cabinetry is often less expensive than other pricier options like walnut and teak.

3. Maple: Beautiful & Durable

Maple is another attractive and durable wood choice for bathroom cabinets. It has a smooth grain pattern, a beautiful light blonde color, and a slightly reddish-brown tint. There are many varieties of maple worldwide, but in the U.S., most woodworkers use hard maple (also known as rock maple or sugar maple).

Although maple is not as water-resistant as teak or oak, it is still a practical choice for the bathroom because of its dense grain. As one of the hardest woods available, maple will not warp, crack, scratch, or dent easily, making it a practical choice for bathroom vanities and cabinetry.

Use a soft, moist cloth to clean maple bathroom cabinets, and oil it at least once a year to nourish the wood and restore its natural beauty. Regarding cost, maple is on the higher end compared to other woods commonly used for furnishings. A well-cared-for maple bathroom vanity can last up to 30 years or more.

See Our Bathroom Design Styles

4. Walnut: Sustainable & Luxurious

Wood from walnut trees is also popular for bathroom cabinetry and furniture. Many walnut varieties have a warm, rich, dark color with a strong grain pattern that works well for a more luxurious bathroom aesthetic. Blonde, yellow, and light brown walnut wood is available.

As a dense hardwood, walnut can withstand dents, dings, and scratches, making it ideal for kids’ bathrooms. It stains and polishes well, so it’s easy to keep walnut looking its best. However, because walnut is sensitive to sunlight, use curtains and take other steps to protect cabinetry from continued exposure to prevent bleaching.

Walnut is among the pricier types of wood, so it is often used for high-end, upscale bathroom remodeling projects. When responsibly sourced from within the U.S., walnut is an eco-friendly choice, which is good news if sustainability is important to you. Caring for walnut bathroom cabinets depends on their finish. Avoid commercial cleaning products, which can leave a residue that distracts from the wood’s beauty.

5. Birch: Light & Budget-Friendly

Birch wood is an excellent option for bathroom furnishings if you prefer lighter wood and a more neutral design aesthetic. The outer section of a birch tree can appear creamy white to pure white, while the inner section is more reddish-brown.

More than a dozen species of native birch trees in North America, so eco-conscious consumers can feel good about choosing birch for their home projects. White and red birch are most commonly used for woodworking. Because it is widely available, birch is also a budget-friendly choice.

Birch is not quite as durable as some other woods mentioned here. Although it is warp-resistant, it is more likely to scratch. It is also slightly more porous, so care is required to reduce exposure to moisture and humidity. Dust birch cabinets frequently and clean spills promptly. High-quality wood polish helps protect against damage.

6. Cherry: Popular & High Maintenance

Natural cherry wood may be the country’s most coveted wood for furniture. This reddish-brown hardwood comes from the American Black Cherry Tree and darkens over time, developing a deep, rich patina with age.

As a dense hardwood, cherry can withstand heavy use, so it’s great for high-traffic bathrooms. Cherry wood is also easy to finish and stain, which is another reason it is commonly used for real wood bathroom cabinets and other furniture. Protection is essential because cherry wood is not waterproof; a cherry wood bathroom vanity is susceptible to warping and shrinking without sealing.

In terms of remodeling budget, cherry is a mid-range option, with prices varying based on the lumber’s thickness, grade, and quality. Cherry bathroom cabinets should be shielded from direct sunlight and other heat sources to prevent fading or drying out. Regular dusting and polishing with a product for cherry wood should keep your vanity looking brand new for years to come.

Choosing a Bathroom Vanity During Your Re‑Bath Design Consultation

Now that you know more about wood for bathroom cabinets, it’s time to choose the perfect vanity for your home remodeling project.

During your initial design consultation with your local Re‑Bath consultant, you’ll explore a range of samples to meet your style—whether you prefer modern, traditional, or transitional décor. You can also view completed projects to find the design style that excites you.

When choosing the best wood bathroom cabinets, we consider the layout of your space, your lifestyle, and your aesthetic. Whichever product you prefer, you can trust our team to remove old materials, perform necessary repairs, and install your new wood vanity with care and professionalism.

We also recommend cleaning products and tips to maintain the beauty of your solid wood bath vanity. Most of our products and services are also backed by an industry-leading warranty. For Re‑Bath, after-care is just as important as that very first visit.

Are you interested in adding more storage and counter space to your bathroom or transforming the look of your space with a beautiful and functional wood vanity? Call 800-216-8526 or schedule a free design consultation today!