Midrange Wood

What It is: Hardwoods with a pronounced grain, such as hickory (shown).

Pros: This type of wood is very dense and extremely strong and comes in a range of colors, from cream to reddish brown.

Cons: Some cuts are fairly uniform in tone, while others are not; one piece may contain several variations of the same color. But you can use a midtone stain to smooth out discrepancies.

Cost: Around $2,500 or more for a 10-by-10-foot room (stock).