Aside from being practical, kitchen cupboard materials also make your space more stylish. A well-designed kitchen is a showpiece for any home and a cabinet is no exception. From built-ins to modular units, kitchen cupboards can make your space more appealing while increasing its value. Choosing a suitable material is crucial to achieving the desired look. Here are the key elements to keep in mind when choosing the perfect material for your kitchen cupboards:
Hardwood – The most durable kitchen cupboard material is wood. Hardwoods are scratch-resistant and resist dents and dings better than softwoods. This material will cost more, but is worth it for its quality and solidity. Maple wood is particularly popular because of its smoothness and ability to take stains and polishes. Whether you choose wood-based materials or glass cabinets is a matter of personal preference and budget.
MDF – This material is a good choice for kitchen cupboards because it can be cut into various shapes and finished with an overlay. It is also water-tight, making it ideal for kitchens that are exposed to water. Another reason to choose this material is that it is easy to install and fix – no nails, screws, or glue! In addition to MDF, you can choose from hardwood, compressed wood, or medium-thick fibreboard.
Plywood – While pressed wood is an excellent material for kitchen cupboards, it is not the most durable. It can be sanded down and filled with wood filler to repair it to a high standard. Plywood can also be expensive. It starts at about $10 per panel or PS11 per square meter. The downside to plywood is that it has more problems when the weight of the contents is too much.
Laminate – High-pressure laminates are a good choice if your kitchen cupboards are made of wood. These cabinets have a strong inner core and a thin layer of aesthetically pleasing material on the outside. Unlike wood veneer, they are highly resistant to scratches and dents. Laminate cabinets are a good option if you want to save money. You can also reface cabinets yourself if you want a new look for your kitchen. This way, you can save money and avoid replacing kitchen cabinets altogether.
Particleboard – While particleboard may be cheap, it’s not very durable and is more prone to warping and crumbling over time. Additionally, particleboard is more prone to moisture damage. In addition, particleboard is less durable than plywood and MDF and doesn’t expand or contract like other materials. Particleboard also tends to warp and sag if overfilled, so choose another material for your kitchen cabinets.
Veneers – Another type of veneer is the most affordable and sustainable option, using thin pieces of solid wood. They are cheap, easy to install and can be stained and polished. They come in a matte, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finish. The disadvantage to veneers is that they tend to fade in the sunlight and require sprucing after some time. Also, they’re not scratch-resistant, so you should make sure to choose your cabinets carefully.
