The Ultimate Guide to the 5 Best Kitchen Cabinet Designs You’ll Love

Top 5 Durable Kitchen Cabinet Materials for a Stylish and Functional Remodel

Choosing the right kitchen cabinets is crucial for both the style and functionality of your kitchen. The material you select impacts durability, aesthetics, and cost, making it essential to understand your options before starting a remodel. In this guide, we’ll explore the TOP 5 KITCHEN CABINET MATERIALS, their benefits, and how to choose the best one for your home.

• Solid Wood: A Classic Elegant and Timeless Material known for durability

Solid wood is a popular choice for kitchen cabinets due to its natural beauty and durability. Oak, Maple, and Cherry are some of the most common types of wood used for cabinets, and in the Philippines, it’s Gemeline, Mahogany, or Lauan Wood, and back then Narra was the favorite among furniture and cabinet makers. 

Solid wood cabinets can be stained or painted in a variety of staining colors or varnishes and require regular maintenance for the upkeep in retaining their beauty and preventing their natural decomposition such as warping or cracking. This is normal as Solid Wood expands and shrinks from time to time depending on the weather. 

Solid wood is one of the most expensive materials for kitchen cabinetry and provides a lasting impression as it has unique wood grain patterns and finishes. The natural color itself would differ from each cut and age of the tree.

• MDF (Medium – Density Fiberboard): Budget Friendly Laminated Board

MDF is a composite material made from recycled wood fibers and resin. It’s the most affordable option to any of the engineered materials, and MDF is also considered as a laminated board the difference is material or where the Laminate is glued is made of Recycled wood fibers that are compressed tightly and these materials are commonly made from Saw Dust. 

MDF materials have different categories as well depending on the GRADE or CLASS TYPE being used. For Korean Companies this is tightly compressed and more durable compared to China-made products, though bigger Chinese companies operating has similar to Korean MDFs, some Chinese Manufactured Laminates are low in quality. It is always suggested to check before purchasing. As a Design Professional, I have my preference of materials to be used in all of my projects, especially for Budget Conscious Clients.

• Plywood

Plywood is made from layers of wood veneer sheets that are glued together, making it strong and durable. It’s a popular choice among kitchen cabinet makers due to its resistance to warping and cracking. Plywood be painted or stained depending on your desired color and finish.

Plywood can be used for Laminated Plastic, Veneer Sheets, and Engineered Material, and some use it for Ducco or Stucco Finish (Painted). As a Designer, I usually use Veneer Sheet Covers or Laminated Plastic Sheets

• Laminate

A Laminate is a synthetic material made from Layers of Paper, Fabric, or Veneer (Thin Wood) Sheets that are impregnated with resin to be bonded to an MDF, Particle Board, or SawDust Board, or even Plywood. It mimics the look of wood or paint and has a variety of finishes such as Glossy, Matte, Marble Finish, and Wood Grain Finish. It is a cost-effective material to this day and in which I use for most of my cabinetry projects.

A Laminate can also be made of Veneer (thin layer of wood) where its resin is bonded to Protect before it is bonded to Plywood. A Veneer Laminate cost may cost 1/2 cost of a Solid Wood and 3-5x higher than a PVC Laminated Plywood

• Stainless Steel

Stainless Steel is a popular choice for modern and industrial design. It’s costly and durable. It is usually used in commercial spaces in the Food and Beverage industry. and for residential, it is usually used by Chefs. This is easy to clean and resistant to corrosion.

When selecting Kitchen Cabinets, consider these factors:

• Durability
• Aesthetic
• Budget, A Balance of Affordability with long-term Value choosing Quality over Cost

By understanding your requirements, pros and cons of each material, you can confidently choose cabinets that can elevate your kitchen functionality and value.

In Selecting the right kitchen cabinet material, it is important to take note of the 3 Key Factors and the Long Term Value it can provide to you. A Kitchen cabinet doesn’t need to be very expensive, I would select it for Durability, Practicality, and Functional for Long Term Use that would last for years.