Cedar wood is great for repurposing trees that had to be removed. It is an attractive wood that stands up well to the weather, bugs, and frequent use. It can quickly be made into simple benches for indoor or out door use, with a chain saw. We frequently make them for our customers when a tree is removed instead of turning the remnants into firewood.
These days, when you can get all kind of power tools, every kind of wood is easy to work on. When all labor was done by hand tools, that was different story .
For interior, I would use poplar.
I prefer cedar for its ability to last long times in the elements