When selecting wood for furniture, flooring, or other projects, the color of the wood is often an important factor. Some types of wood have a naturally darker color than others. The darkness or lightness of a wood species is determined by the levels of chemicals in the wood, such as tannins, resins, and oils. Woods with higher levels of these chemicals tend to be darker in color.
Dark Brown Woods
Some of the most commonly used dark brown woods include:
- Walnut – Walnut is a classic dark wood prized for furniture making and gunstocks. The rich brown heartwood has chocolate and purple undertones.
- Mahogany – This tropical hardwood ranges from reddish brown to a deep brownish red. It has excellent workability.
- Wenge – An extremely dark exotic wood that is almost black in color. It has distinctive brown and yellow streaks.
- Ebony – Ebony is a dense black wood that is prized for musical instruments, turnings, and small specialty wood objects. Not all ebony species are completely black.
- Cocobolo – This tropical wood species from Mexico and Central America produces lumber that ranges from orange-brown to a dark chocolate brown.
These woods all share a rich, dark brown or black coloration. The darkness comes from natural pigments like juglone, tannins, and other extractives. Some species like ebony and cocobolo also have a high density, which contributes to their very dark color.
Medium to Dark Brown Woods
There are also many wood species that fall into a medium or medium-dark brown color range. A few examples include:
- Cherry – Cherry heartwood varies from reddish brown to a deeper brown. It darkens and reddens with age.
- Maple – Hard maple lumber has a light reddish brown heartwood, while soft maple is a darker brown. Maple darkens over time.
- Ash – Ash lumber has a brown heartwood that can range from pale brown to a darker olive brown.
- Hickory – True hickory species have a reddish brown heartwood that rates as moderately dark on the wood color spectrum.
- Mesquite – This dense North American wood has a range of light to dark brown colors, sometimes with darker streaks.
- Rosewood – Not all rosewoods are dark. But Brazilian and Indian rosewoods have a rich chocolate brown color.
While not as dark as ebony or walnut, these woods still have considerable brown coloration. Their tones can range from cinnamon and chocolate browns to deeper mahogany shades.
Factors Affecting Wood Color
Several factors affect the natural color of wood:
- Heartwood vs Sapwood – The heartwood of a tree contains more pigments and extractives than the sapwood. Heartwood is generally darker.
- Extractives – Chemicals like tannins, resins, oils, and polyphenols impart color to heartwood.
- Density – Denser woods like ebony absorb more light, resulting in a darker color.
- Grain Pattern – Woods with an interlocking or wild grain can appear darker than woods with a straight or uniform grain.
- Exposure to Light – Sunlight and UV rays cause wood to darken or change color over time.
- Finishing – Stains and finishes can be used to make wood darker or modify its natural color.
Understanding what makes a wood species naturally dark allows woodworkers to select the right species for a project where a dark brown wood tone is desired.
How to Darken Wood
If you want to darken lighter colored woods, there are several options:
- Apply a wood stain – Penetrating stains add pigment to wood, allowing you to control the depth of color.
- Use an ebony or dark walnut dye – These dyes impart very deep, dark colors.
- Fume the wood – Fuming introduces ammonia gases to react with tannins in the wood, creating a chemical reaction that darkens the wood.
- Bleach and age – Bleaching opens wood pores before aging it to darken the color over time.
- Charring or burning – A blowtorch or wire brush can be used to char the wood surface, creating extra dark tones.
- Ebonize – This process impregnates iron acetate into the wood, which reacts with tannins to create very dark colors.
With the right techniques and products, many light and medium colored woods can be made significantly darker. Always test on scrap wood first before applying to a project.
Popular Uses for Dark Brown Woods
Some applications where dark brown wood species are commonly used include:
- Luxury furniture – Dark woods like mahogany and walnut furnish luxury homes and offices.
- Cabinetry – Designers select woods like wenge and ebony for accents and cabinets.
- Turned objects – Exotic darker woods make distinctive bowls, pens, and other lathe turnings.
- Flooring – Dark woods like cherry, maple, and walnut create bold and dramatic floors.
- Musical instruments – Ebony and cocobolo are used for parts on stringed instruments like pianos, guitars, and violins.
- Gunstocks and rifle components – Walnut is the traditional wood for gunstocks, with its deep brown color.
The richness of dark woods never goes out of style. Their regal tones bring elegance and a classic look to any application.
Most Common Dark Wood Species
| Wood Species | Color Tone | Regions Grown | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut | Deep chocolate brown | North America, Europe | Furniture, gunstocks, cabinets |
| Mahogany | Reddish brown | Central America, Africa | Cabinets, boats, musical instruments |
| Wenge | Very dark brown, nearly black | Africa | Flooring, furniture, turnings |
| Ebony | Black | Southeast Asia, Africa | Musical instruments, turnings, inlays |
| Cocobolo | Orange to dark brown | Central America, Mexico | Small specialty objects, inlays |
This table summarizes some of the most popular and commonly used dark brown wood species from around the world and their typical applications.
Conclusion
Dark brown wood brings beauty, elegance, and a luxurious look to any project. When a deep chocolate color is desired, woods like walnut, mahogany, and wenge are excellent choices. Even lighter woods can be modified to achieve darker tones when needed. The richness of dark woods provides timeless character that fits many styles of furniture and interior design.
