There are some woods we are used to hearing about in furniture making and home construction: oak, cherry, pine, and maple come to mind.

In recent years, another type of wood has been growing in popularity as a sturdy, versatile, and economic alternative: alder wood.

Especially in the Pacific Northwest, alder wood is abundant and its great qualities as furniture wood are being acknowledged worldwide. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of alder wood for things like bedroom furniture.

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Alder Wood

Benefits of Alder Wood

Alder has developed a great reputation for furniture building for several reasons:

It has an even texture with a muted grain pattern and can be stained, painted, and sanded for a beautiful, expensive-looking finish.
It doesn’t split from nails, takes screws without pre-drilling, and glues well.
It is considered a soft hardwood, but has a medium-density, making it both lightweight and strong.
It has properties like stiffness, shock resistance, and low bending strength.
It has the highest hardwood lumber grade, with an impressive 83% clear face.
It is excellent for matching and turning.
It accepts stain well and can be successfully substituted for other woods when the right stains are applied.
When it is finished naturally, it has an appealing warm honey colour.
It is less expensive than many other hardwoods on the market.

Why the Rise in Alder Wood?

Alder grows in the Pacific Northwest, throughout the United States and Canada, and natural roots on the moist ground near rivers, ponds, and lakes. Alder trees live for approximately 60 years and mature trees can reach a height of around 28 m (92 ft).

Tree removal, especially of hardwood trees, is a contentious issue, which is another reason why alder is growing in popularity. In addition to alder trees growing quickly, they respond well to forestry development and management. Unlike some species of valuable trees used in lumber and furniture building, alders send out new shoots from their stumps, roots, or trunks when cutting down.

So instead of having to reforest an area that has been harvested, alder trees stumps will regrow on their own. Since the roots stay alive in the ground, this also helps prevent soil erosion. Therefore, the alder tree is one of the most environmentally beneficial trees that can be used for lumber and home construction.

The Future is Alder

Alder wood’s journey from overlooked resource to prized furniture material has been remarkable. While it received little attention twenty years ago, it has since proven itself as an exceptional choice for crafting bedroom furniture, particularly in the Pacific Northwest region.

This area’s climate and geography create ideal growing conditions for alder trees, and when combined with thoughtful forest management practices, the result is high-quality wood perfect for furniture making. As understanding of alder’s qualities grew, so did efforts to develop and market it as a premium material.

Today, alder has earned its place among preferred furniture woods, though many might not realize it’s present in their homes. Take a closer look at your bedroom furniture and surrounding woodwork – you may be surprised to discover alder’s subtle presence in your daily life.

If you have any questions about alder wood furniture, please feel free to contact us.