Choosing a Hardwood for your Staircase: Understanding Grain for your Design

There are two main design features to consider as you select a wood for your trim: color and grain. Color can be adjusted through stain, while grain gives the wood its style and character. Grain is the more important consideration when choosing your wood.

If you are leaning towards a modern or even elegant feel, a closed grain wood may be the way you want to go. Examples of wood with very little graining: Hard Maple, Poplar, Beach, and Birch.

Straight Grain became popular in the Arts and Crafts period in styles such as Prairie and Mission, in the early 1900s. Today, you see it in contemporary designs too. Straight grain is achieved by using full grain woods, but cutting of the log at a different angle. We most often see straight grain as "quarter sawn" or "rift sawn" oak.

Full Grain is referred to as "plain sawn" and is often thought to be "hardy" in its appearance, and at times even rustic with a natural elegance. Oak has a hardy solid feel, while walnut blends the solid feel with a bit more elegance.

There are so many beautiful woods available today, it can be hard to select just one for your project. By making initial decisions based on grain, you will select the right wood species for the style you are designing.

Visit our Materials page for the 27 most poplar hardwoods we build custom stairs in.