If you're planning or thinking about having a kitchen makeover, you might be feeling a little lost when it comes to all the materials. So, what are kitchen cabinet doors made of?

Kitchen cabinet doors are the first thing you notice when you walk into your kitchen, so it’s important that they look their very best. Let’s peel back the layers and have a look underneath the veneer, in our ultimate guide to understanding cabinet materials.

  • What are the types of kitchen cabinet materials?

  • What are the advantages and disadvantages of those materials?

  • What are kitchen doors made of?

  • How do you pick the right style for your kitchen refurbishment?

What are the types of kitchen cabinet materials?

  1. Hardwood

  2. Plywood

  3. Particleboard

Hardwood

Solid hardwood is at the top of the bespoke ranges of kitchen cupboard doors and drawers. You will pay more for hardwood doors. But they last much longer than laminated board, and are perfect for a traditional style kitchen with the emphasis on real quality.

Solid hardwood kitchen cabinet doors will last for decades, and be robust enough to put up with the wear and tear of everyday life, as well as the knocks and bumps that all kitchen cabinet doors are subjected to – especially if you have a young family or pets.

Advantages of hardwood

  • Very long lifespan - a stunning investment for years to come

  • Natural material from trees gives a beautiful look - from oak to birch

  • Won't damage easily - so nothing to worry about

Disadvantages of hardwood

  • Can be expensive because it's so popular - but at Kitchen Magic, we do everything for a fraction of the cost of a kitchen refit!

  • Can be heavy - which is why our experts ensure your kitchen design structure is solid enough for hardwood doors

Plywood

Plywood is a cabinet material that's made from different layers of hardwood. It can be painted on or laminated if you prefer. But it's incredibly solid and has fantastic strength to weight ratio. That means it's perfect for installing as kitchen door material.

Advantages of plywood

  • Resists moisture

  • Really easy to install - our experts install your replacement kitchen doors for you anyway!

  • Can be less costly than hardwood

Disadvantages of plywood

Must be using the right thickness of material for plywood cabinet doors. For example, thiner plywood is used for cabinet backs, whereas thicker plywood tends to go on the drawer bottoms and sides.

Our kitchen experts can advise on which is best for your kitchen.

Particleboard

Particleboard is sometimes known as low-density fibreboard (LDF) or chipboard. It's often sealed with laminate or a wood veneer to add a nice, smart finish to it.

Advantages of Particleboard

  • high quality particleboard is very sturdy, durable

  • lightweight so ideal for cabinets and drawers

  • easy to be installed into small spaces

Disadvantages of Particleboard

  • material can snag if it's not fitted correctly

  • low quality particleboard can be much weaker

Plywood has a better construction. The material can hold screws, fasteners, and glue better as compared to particleboard.

What are kitchen doors made out of?

  • Vinyl

  • Glass

  • Melamine faced

  • Medium density Fibreboard

Vinyl-Wrapped Doors

What are vinyl wrapped doors? Vinyl wrapped doors are compressed or composite wood doors, with a vinyl wrap overlaid on top.

Vinyl wrapped doors are one of the most popular choices because they:

  • are extremely resistant to humidity and moisture

  • aren't affected by temperature changes

  • are low maintenance

  • highly durable

  • won't chip

  • very easy to clean

  • are one of the affordable kitchen door types

Vinyl wrap gives you a huge range of colours, designs and patterns – perfect if you want to use them to add a pop of colour to your kitchen and particularly good in contemporary designs.

Bright, primary colours such as red or electric blue are hugely popular, but you can also go a little more sophisticated with gloss black vinyl wraps for an ultra-chic finish.

Glass doors

If you're someone who loves taking pride in their kitchen and the way everything looks, glass kitchen doors are a gorgeous, classy option. They give you a sophisticated, but spacious feel to your kitchen.

They're made from toughened safety glass so have the added advantage of allowing you to see exactly what’s in your cupboards without all that opening and closing!

However, you do need to practice some good housekeeping and keep the insides of your cupboards tidy and neat if you’re going to keep that smart, well-organised look going.

Glass kitchen doors are:

  • Incredibly easy to clean

  • Not affected by humidity or heat.

  • Great for giving you the illusion of a bigger kitchen

Melamine-faced kitchen doors

What are melamine faced kitchen doors? They're also known as MFC doors, and they're made with different parts of wood, and then have a layer of melamine to give it its finish.

These give you the look of hardwood – without the price tag! Melamine faced doors are a great budget option if you want to create a classic ‘country kitchen’ look. They also come in both natural and contemporary colours, so you can create a unique effect that suits your décor.

They can be heavy to install, but our kitchen makeover experts are qualified to transform your room!

Medium Density Fibreboard

What is medium density fibreboard? Medium fibreboard is made from particles of other types of wood. It's more dense than plywood and particleboard.

Is medium density fibreboard good? Yes, it's ideal for kitchen cupboard doors because it looks stunning, it's easy to cut and drill without any damage.

What does medium density fibreboard look like? It doesn't have the appearance of wood grain. Instead it's a light brown colour with no strong pattern. It's also very hard and smooth.

High gloss finish

The perfect partner for a contemporary or minimalist look, high gloss kitchen cupboard doors also add the illusion of extra space by reflecting the light, making them particularly good for smaller kitchens. The finish is achieved by spraying several layers of paint onto a base - usually composite wood - so that it has that robustness and durability. The surface is then polished to a mirror finish, making high gloss doors particularly popular in modern homes.

Explore Finishing Touches

Complete the look

In addition to replacing kitchen doors and drawer fronts, we also supply a wide range of finishing touches for your kitchen makeover. From replacement worktops to new appliances, sinks and taps.

Finishing touches
Working with the highest quality brands