Each Custom Floating Shelf You Order from J Thomas Home is Unique
There are more than 60,000 tree species worldwide. While not all of them are suitable for home furnishings, plenty of them are.
So how are you supposed to determine the type of wood you should be using for shelving in your home?
A good way to start is by identifying a custom floating shelf company who does quality work, with positive ratings from past customers.
For you, we think that’s us: J Thomas Home. And we offer shelving made from a much smaller selection of the most beautiful American wood types that suit a range of home decor preferences.
Stick with us to learn more about the types of wood we use for our shelves, and much more.
Our Custom Floating Shelves
J Thomas Home started with Josh and Emily, the company’s founders, building farmhouse pipe shelves in their garage. From there, we’ve branched out into more styles, finishes, and wood species to help people decorate their homes with sturdy, solid pieces that will last for years.
Today, we also offer our classic floating wall shelves with invisible brackets and thick floating shelves for a rustic and organic modern vibe. Our customers choose their wood species and finish, and we custom-build every piece! You won’t find our quality products in a big box store, because what we do simply can’t translate to mass production.
Choosing The Type Of Wood For Your Floating Shelves
We stock a wide variety of wood for our shelves, including pine, poplar, alder, white oak, maple, and walnut. If you have something specific in mind, we can source almost any other type of wood to match your needs. Each wood type offers a unique aesthetic and durability, making it easy to find the perfect fit for your home.
Let’s explore our classic premium wood we keep in stock.
Pine Wood Shelves
While pine—sometimes called “knotty pine”—is durable enough for floors, it’s softer than other types of wood and naturally has a nearly white or pale yellow color. Pine shelves feature knots in the wood, along with distinctive grain patterns or “lines” that give each piece a unique character. This open grain accepts stain well, enhancing the natural beauty of the wood, but two pieces of pine with the same stain may still look different due to the grain variation. These variations create a rustic, charming look that adds warmth to any space.
Poplar Wood Shelves
Poplar is a popular choice for its nearly-white tone, often accented with unique green or black streaks that add character to the wood. It has a smooth texture that accepts stain exceptionally well, making it versatile for a variety of finishes. This adaptability makes it a great option for those who want to achieve a custom look without the high cost associated with other hardwoods. Poplar is especially ideal for painted shelves, as its even grain ensures a flawless, sleek finish. Additionally, it's more affordable than many other types of wood, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious projects without compromising on quality or style. Its lightweight, yet durable nature also makes it easy to work with, whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a professional.
Alder Wood Shelves
Natural alder features a slightly pink or light tan hue, with a smooth, creamy grain that adds warmth and subtle elegance to any space. It accepts stain beautifully, allowing for a wide range of finishes that enhance its natural charm. At our shop, we carry two distinct types of alder: rustic alder and superior alder. Rustic alder is full of character, showcasing knots and knot holes that create a rustic farmhouse vibe perfect for adding a touch of rugged beauty to your home. Superior alder, on the other hand, has fewer knots, and they are much smaller, resulting in a more refined, polished appearance. Whether you prefer the raw, natural texture of rustic alder or the sleek, smooth finish of superior alder, both options offer a balance of beauty and durability ideal for custom shelving projects. Each type of alder brings its own unique aesthetic, making it easy to find the perfect match for your style.
White Oak Wood Shelves
White oak has a light, creamy tan hue that adds a bright, natural touch to any space. Known for its water resistance and durability, oak is an excellent choice for areas like kitchens or bathrooms where moisture is a concern. The grain of white oak is highly textured and wild, with distinctive patterns that don’t run in straight lines, giving it a lively, organic appearance. This unique grain variation not only enhances its visual appeal but also adds depth and character to the wood. Its strength and resistance to wear make it a practical yet stylish option for shelving that needs to withstand daily use, while still offering a sophisticated, natural look. Whether stained or left natural, white oak brings both beauty and functionality to any home project.
Maple Wood Shelves
Hard maple shelves have a closed grain, which means it doesn’t absorb stain evenly, often resulting in a weathered or mottled finish that gives the wood a rustic, aged look. However, when left unstained, maple showcases its natural beauty with a bright, nearly white tone and smooth, even grain lines that create a clean, modern appearance. This natural brightness makes it a popular choice for those seeking a light, airy feel in their spaces. The uniform grain pattern also adds to its sleek, minimalist aesthetic, making it an excellent option for contemporary designs. While hard maple is tough and durable, it offers a refined elegance that pairs well with a variety of styles, from traditional to modern.
Walnut Wood Shelves
We very rarely stain our American black walnut wood, as its natural, rich wood tone is simply stunning on its own. Our clear coat applied over raw, sanded wood enhances its beauty, highlighting the grain and depth of the wood without overwhelming its inherent charm. Our custom floating shelf offerings include both heartwood, which features a darker, more robust tone, and sapwood, characterized by a lighter, blond color that adds a delightful contrast. This combination allows for a unique, eye-catching design that can complement various interior styles. The rich hues and intricate grain patterns of black walnut create a sense of warmth and sophistication, making it a favorite choice among homeowners and designers alike. With minimal treatment, these shelves provide a timeless elegance that truly elevates any space.
Wood Shelves by Budget
Wood prices depend on durability and availability. At J Thomas Home, we can help you select wood species for your shelves based on your budget and goal.
For example, if you’re interested in more affordable shelving options, we’ll encourage you to look at our economical shelf woods, including pine, poplar, and alder.
If your project goal is decorating your dream house exactly how you want it, or if you’ll be using our shelves as the focal point in your remodeled kitchen, you might prefer to use more premium materials to complement the rest of your home. We’d recommend maple, white oak, or walnut, in that case.
Floating Wall Shelves by Style
The type of wood you choose can also reflect the style you’re going for in your home decor. Trending styles like farmhouse or organic modern are best achieved by choosing specific wood species - and our custom shelf designs.
For example, if you’re going for rustic or farmhouse shelves, choose a wood with an interesting grain pattern and character. Wood types that work well in spaces like this are pine, poplar, and alder.
For a more modern, classic, or contemporary look, opt for shelves with clean, straight edges and a tamer grain, like superior alder, maple, white oak, or walnut.
The shelf design you choose will affect your home’s overall vibe; our thick floating shelves read as more rustic, while our custom floating shelves can easily be modernized with the right wood grain, stain, and decor you set atop them.
Amp Up the Drama with Textured Wood Grains on Your Shelving
As we noted when we discussed each type of wood species we keep in stock, the wood grain - or lines in the wood - are more noticeable on some types of wood than on others.
If you want a smooth wood grain, you’ll probably prefer woods like poplar, alder, maple, or walnut.
But if you’re looking for something dramatic with big texture, woods with deep or more visible grain patterns will be up your alley: pine, or white oak.
The stain you choose can also play up - or down - the grain pattern, so always look at our swatches online if you are wondering what stain color should I choose for my floating shelves before ordering your custom floating shelf.
The Art of Handcrafting Wood Shelves
At J Thomas Home, we don’t keep an inventory of premade shelves. When you place your order, we begin custom-making each piece just for you.
Because our shelves are made to order, expect approximately 10 business days for building, sanding, staining, and perfecting your new shelves, depending on the wood you selected, plus an additional 3-4 days for shipping via FedEx from our shop in the Kansas City metro.
Three weeks is a short time to wait when it comes to receiving custom-built pieces, and you’ll find our gorgeous wood shelves are worth it.
We Can Help!
Confused about which wood will look best in your home? Uncertain about stain? Or wondering what size shelf should I order? We can help! One of our experts is available to answer your questions. Just send us a quick message online before placing your order.What Size Shelf Should I Order? - J Thomas Home