Whether crafting for a loved one or creating a timeless piece for yourself, making your own jewelry box is a timeless art that can be easily personalized with your selection of wood, design, and other details. But, to get started, what kind of wood should you use?
Consider the stain, color, durability, ease of working with, and cost when selecting the best kind of wood for making a jewelry box. While cherry, mahogany (Honduras), and walnut are the most popular, you can also incorporate white oak, maple, pecan, hickory, ash, douglas fir, beech, and even pine.
Truly, when you begin researching which type of wood is best for making a jewelry box, you are going to find just about every wood imaginable. However, to select the right type of wood for your use, you need to consider many perspectives. Fortunately, since you will not require too much wood for this smaller project, your budget might be a bit broadened. Let’s take a closer look.
You would be surprised how often this question comes up. We are very lucky to have a couple Master Woodworkers in our workshops who have used every type of wood imaginable on Cucamonga Woodworking. You can watch our past workshops on YouTube here(Link to Cucamonga Woodworking)
How Do You Select the Right Kind of Wood for Making a Jewelry Box?
As mentioned above, many factors go into choosing the right wood for making a jewelry box. Most often, this is because this special piece is for a loved one, or it will hold heirloom jewelry that can be passed down (or has been passed down) in your family for generations to come. So, you do not want to mess up by getting the wrong type of wood.
To select the right kind of wood for making a jewelry box, remember that you are using a smaller amount of wood, so you might be able to select a more typically expensive choice. However, if you are new to woodworking, consider a cheaper option. Then, choose a type that can stain beautifully or has a natural color that you like, and one that is easy to work with.
When you think about it from a budget perspective or considering which type of wood will be the easiest to work with, this can help you make the right choice.
For example, if you are working with a lower budget, you might consider selecting a less expensive wood type. But, if doing so will require you to purchase more stain/finish, add unique detailing (including additional hardware), or other options, then you might spend more completing the jewelry box that you settled for rather than selecting your favorite type of wood from the start.
11 Best Types of Wood for Jewelry Boxes
Now that you know how to select the right kind of wood to make the jewelry box of your dreams, you can begin to look at this list of excellent wood types that you can consider for your project.
Then, once you have selected the right kind of wood to use for making a jewelry box, you can find a guide online for the appropriate dimensions, stains, and other details that you might need to help you along the way. Let’s take a closer look at the best types of wood for jewelry boxes.
Cherry
Cherry is arguably the most common type of wood used to make a jewelry box, and it is no shock as to why. In fact, many other types of wood are consistently compared to cherry when it comes to this specific project.
Truly, it is no surprise that cherry wood would take the cake as it has a beautiful finish that is a deep red in color, a nice scent (although this can irritate some people with severe allergies), and is highly durable.
Additionally, cherry is relatively easy to work with but is a hardwood that will add to its longevity. Cherry does get darker with UV exposure, so you will need to keep this in mind, but some say this adds to its overall value.
Mahogany (Honduras)
Honduras Mahogany is also among the top three most popular types of wood used to make a jewelry box. While it is more expensive than cherry, it is still affordable considering the small amount of wood that a jewelry box requires in the first place.
Mahogany has a beautiful color that is deep and gets even more red with UV exposure- something that many people find appealing with a jewelry box. Along with that, it has a naturally beautiful grain pattern that takes well to a finish (or stain should you decide to add one).
Mahogany is a highly durable hardwood, which means great things for how long your jewelry box will last, but it can be tougher for newbies to work with, so you might want to practice on a softer type of wood if you have never done this before.
Walnut
Walnut is the third in the top three kinds of wood used to make a jewelry box. It is also more expensive than cherry because of its deep, dark coloration and high durability in hardwood.
Interestingly, walnut gets lighter in color with UV exposure, something that not everyone is thrilled about. Be sure to monitor this if you are concerned. Otherwise, you can use a UV-resistant finish highlighting the beautiful grain pattern that walnut offers.
You can even consider adding an exotic wood like ebony or bloodwood to a jewelry box made from a more commonly used type of wood to add a bit more flair and uniqueness. Paired with walnut, these can make some stunning pieces.
White Oak
Although white oak (and the remainder of the types of wood on this list) are not in the top three kinds of wood most typically used to make a jewelry box, this certainly does not eliminate them from the running.
White oak has a beautiful grain pattern and can contrast in color compared to its standard oak counterpart (another beautiful option). While white oak obviously boasts a lighter natural color, standard oak offers a moderate brown that is perfect for any style and adds warmth to the home compared to a white oak contemporary finish.
White oak has moderate rot resistance, so be sure to apply a stain to enhance its durability and longevity. This affordable type of wood is a great choice that is easy to work with and highly aesthetically pleasing.
Maple
Maple is another classic type of wood used that offers a unique wood grain and has a naturally rich (although standard) brown coloration. It is a high-quality, durable hardwood middle of the road in terms of how easy it is to work with.
Maple is affordable and can provide you with a classic design that will make any jewelry lover proud to own it. If you want to be safe, maple can provide a great option for that.
Pecan
Pecan is another great type of wood used to make a jewelry box. It is less expensive than cherry, but it still has a beautiful wood grain that can add to its design appeal. Truly, it is sometimes an overlooked yet a stunning type of wood to select.
One great part about working with pecan is that it is softer than a few other types of wood, so it is easier to work with, but it has standard durability that can be enhanced using a wood stain and finish. For another safe bet, pecan is a great way to go.
Hickory
Hickory is unique in what it can bring to the table for a jewelry box. Hickory heartwood is darker in color, but the sapwood is a brighter yellowish color. This can add a highly contrasting coloration appeal that sends many people into awe.
Along with this, it is less expensive than cherry, offers a nice grain pattern to work with, and can be used with a stain or finish. You will likely want to work with the natural beauty that this type of wood can offer, though, instead of covering it up with a color-rich stain.
Ash
Ash is a lighter option that has become beloved by many newer woodworkers. It is a softer wood, so it is easier to work in this regard. Along with that, its beautiful grain pattern allows natural beauty to be seen through. Be sure to add a stain or finish to work with this light beige wood to enhance its color and durability.
Douglas Fir
Douglas fir is another often overlooked option for a jewelry box, but it is straightforward to work with since it is a softwood. However, it has high durability like hardwood, although it needs a long-lasting finish to be applied to help with rot resistance and increased longevity.
Beech
Beech is also increasingly popular, considering it polishes very well and has a lighter, simple wood grain pattern. If you are looking for a more simple option that is less ornate and holds a classic appeal, the tight wood grain of beech wood will help you accomplish this look.
Pine
Finally, you can stop writing off pine as an option. Even though it is a cheaper type of wood, it is straightforward to work with and stained any color. If you are a beginner, this is a great option for your final project or even a practice round before selecting a more expensive wood type.
