Alder is a very hard and strong wood. It is often stained and has the ability to mimic walnut and mahogany.
Ash is an extremely hard and is very durable. With that said it not considered to be very pretty and is usually used for hidden areas on furniture.
Birsh is a common wood used by manufacturers. It is similar to maple with being moderately stiff and hard for wood in the hardwood family. It is considered to be tougher than most woods though. Most craftsmen consider this wood to be easy to work with.
Cedar is well known for the scent that is given. It is most commonly used for chests, or the inner lining to give a nice fragrance when it is opened. It has a red look to it. Hackberry is a wood native to America. It has a resemblance of elm with a color that is naturally blonde.
Hickory is in the walnut family and is also native to America. It has a rustic look to it. It is considered very tough and heavy; it is hard to work with when building furniture.
Mahogany is a wood of many varieties. This wood was used back in the 18th century in woodworking projects. This is a wood that will change color over time as it is exposed to light and air. It is considered to be great for furniture building projects.
Maple is yet another very hard wood but is considered to be one of the premiere woods for building furniture. It has a straight grain that produces a beautiful product. Unfortunately, this type of wood is easily warped.
Oak is without a doubt the most popular wood for furniture building. It is very durable and hard which means that it can take the children banging on it with their toys on a daily basis and still keep a good look to it. It is considered quite tough to work with and therefore is most commonly seen on furniture that is easier to build.
Pine has a white or light yellow look. It is very soft. This is one of the cheaper woods out there that can make a viable candidate for furniture building. It handles itself well in different climates.
Redwood is one of the more durable types of wood. It is very common for furniture that will remain outdoors year around. It will not rot easily and does not attract insects as other types of wood may.
Rosewood is a darker and richer looking wood. It has a nice milky smell to it.
Teak is a more expensive wood that is not native to America. It comes from Thailand or India generally. Most people consider it very beautiful with a nice smell.
Walnut is not native to America and originates from England. It has a soft and appealing grain. It is great for carving and often has a beautiful rich brown to it.