I'm looking to swap out the desktop on my height adjustable desk with real wood, but I want to keep it unfinished—no stains or lacquers. The desk has a metal frame, and I'm curious about which wood species would work best for this type of project. Any suggestions?
3 Answers
Tropical hardwoods can be a good option too! They tend to have nice grain patterns and can handle the natural wear pretty well.
Can you share a bit more on why you want to skip the finish altogether? A lot of folks aren't fans of stains or lacquer, but I'm a fan of oil-based finishes myself. It's worth considering since an unfinished look is pretty unique.
Teak is a solid choice, but just be prepared to shell out some cash for it. It's durable and looks great without any finish.

I just really want to enjoy the feel of natural wood while I work! If it doesn’t work out, I guess I can always add a finish later.