The wood species you choose for your gaming table affects everything: durability, appearance, weight, price, and how the table ages over time. It's also one of the more confusing decisions, with marketing often obscuring what actually matters.
Let's cut through the noise and examine the three most popular hardwoods for gaming furniture: oak, walnut, and maple.
Understanding Hardwood Basics
Before comparing species, a few fundamentals:
Hardwood vs. Softwood: Despite the names, these classifications relate to tree biology, not necessarily hardness. Hardwoods come from deciduous trees (oak, walnut, maple); softwoods from conifers (pine, cedar). For furniture, hardwoods are generally preferred for durability.
Solid vs. Engineered: Solid wood is exactly that—planks cut from logs. Engineered wood combines a hardwood veneer with substrate layers (plywood, MDF). Both have valid uses, but solid wood generally ages better and can be refinished more times.
The Janka Scale: This measures wood hardness—resistance to denting and wear. Higher numbers mean harder wood. It's useful but not the only factor; grain pattern and finishing also affect durability.
Oak: The Workhorse
Oak has built furniture for centuries, and for good reason. It's the default choice for quality furniture worldwide.
Characteristics
- Janka hardness: 1,290-1,360 (white oak vs. red oak)
- Grain: Prominent, distinctive pattern with visible rays
- Color: Light tan to medium brown, depending on variety and finish
- Weight: Moderately heavy
Why It Works for Gaming Tables
Durability: Oak is hard enough to resist dents from dice, tokens, and the occasional dropped component. It handles the daily abuse of gaming and dining without showing wear quickly.
Stability: Oak moves less with humidity changes than many woods, meaning your table stays flat and joints stay tight. This matters for precision-fitted toppers.
Finishing: Oak takes stains and oils beautifully, allowing for various final appearances from natural blonde to deep espresso. The grain pattern shows through, adding visual interest.
Repairability: Scratches and dents can be sanded out and refinished. Oak's open grain accepts new finish well, making maintenance straightforward.
Availability: Oak is widely grown and harvested sustainably, making it more affordable than exotic hardwoods while offering excellent quality.
Considerations
Oak's prominent grain isn't for everyone—some prefer smoother visual textures. Red oak has more pronounced grain than white oak; white oak has tighter grain and slightly better water resistance.
Walnut: The Premium Choice
Walnut is the prestige option, prized for its rich color and elegant appearance.
Characteristics
- Janka hardness: 1,010
- Grain: Straight to wavy, generally finer than oak
- Color: Rich chocolate brown with lighter sapwood streaks
- Weight: Moderate (lighter than oak)
Why It Appeals
Aesthetics: Walnut's deep brown color is genuinely beautiful. It reads as luxurious without being ostentatious. The natural color variation adds visual depth that many find appealing.
Grain: Finer grain than oak creates a smoother visual texture. Some prefer this more subtle patterning.
Uniqueness: Each walnut board has distinctive character—color variations, grain patterns, and natural features that make every table unique.
Considerations
Hardness: Walnut is softer than oak—about 25% less hard by Janka rating. It will show wear faster, dent more easily, and requires more careful treatment. For a gaming table that sees heavy use, this matters.
Cost: Walnut costs significantly more than oak—often 2-3x the price. You're paying for aesthetics, not durability.
Sunlight sensitivity: Walnut lightens with UV exposure over time. If your table sits in direct sunlight, expect color changes. This can be managed with UV-resistant finishes, but it's a factor oak doesn't share.
Limited availability: Walnut trees grow slower and are less common than oak. Sustainable sourcing is more challenging and adds to cost.
Maple: The Hard Option
Maple, particularly hard maple (sugar maple), offers maximum durability with a clean, light aesthetic.
Characteristics
- Janka hardness: 1,450 (hard maple)
- Grain: Fine, subtle, often with distinctive figuring (bird's-eye, curly)
- Color: Creamy white to light tan
- Weight: Heavy
Why It Works
Hardness: Hard maple is the most durable of the three species. It resists dents and wear exceptionally well—there's a reason it's used for bowling alleys and basketball courts.
Clean appearance: Maple's subtle grain and light color create a contemporary, minimalist look. It suits modern interiors where oak might feel too traditional.
Staining options: The subtle grain accepts stain evenly, allowing maple to be finished in almost any color, including mimicking other woods.
Considerations
Finishing challenges: Maple's tight grain can cause blotching with certain stains. Achieving an even, natural finish requires skill. Pre-conditioning helps but adds cost.
Weight: A maple table will be noticeably heavier than equivalent oak or walnut. This affects shipping costs and moving difficulty.
Aesthetic limitations: The subtle grain, while clean, can read as bland to some eyes. Maple lacks the character of oak's rays or walnut's color depth.
Making the Choice
Choose Oak If...
- You want the best balance of durability, beauty, and value
- You appreciate traditional furniture aesthetics
- Your table will see heavy daily use
- You want finishing flexibility (light or dark stains)
- Budget is a consideration (it always is)
Choose Walnut If...
- Aesthetics are your top priority
- You're willing to pay a premium for beauty
- Your table won't see extreme abuse
- You love the rich chocolate color
- You prefer finer grain patterns
Choose Maple If...
- Maximum durability is essential
- You prefer contemporary/minimalist aesthetics
- You want a specific stained color
- Weight isn't a concern
- You like the clean, subtle appearance
Beyond Species: What Else Matters
Grain selection: How boards are cut from logs affects appearance and stability. Quarter-sawn wood is more stable but more expensive than plain-sawn.
Finish quality: Even the best wood fails with poor finishing. Ask about finish type, coats, and durability. This matters as much as species selection.
Construction: Solid wood is ideal but properly-engineered wood can be excellent. The quality of joinery, glue-ups, and overall craftsmanship determines longevity.
Sustainability: Look for FSC certification or clear information about wood sourcing. Quality furniture should come from responsibly managed forests.
The Bottom Line
For gaming tables, oak offers the best combination of durability, beauty, and value. It's hard enough to handle daily abuse, stable enough for precision components, and beautiful enough for any room. Walnut wins on pure aesthetics but sacrifices durability and budget. Maple maximizes hardness but limits finish options and adds weight.
Most makers choose oak for good reason—it's what furniture has been built from for centuries because it simply works.
Arcadian tables are crafted from European solid oak, finished with 0% VOC hardwax oil in two stain options: Arcadian Dawn (natural light tones) and Pan's Shadow (rich walnut-like depth). See the finishes that honor the wood's natural character.