The standard kitchen cabinet is made from wood but today, you can find kitchen cabinets made from a broad range or materials. Because of this, achieving virtually any look wanted has never been easier. If you want to update the kitchen, remember that the cabinets should account for as much as 70% of the budget. The reason is that if you were to decide to sell the home in the future, having new kitchen cabinets would provide you with 100% or more for a return on investment.
After going through the process of looking at determining the size and number of kitchen cabinets needed for your specific space, and deciding on the type of cabinets you want or can afford, the next step would be looking at different materials. You will discover that kitchen cabinet materials have evolved over the years. Of course, you could stick with traditional wood, which is a great option in that you now have more wood species from which to choose, or you could go with a newer and more innovative material.
Because there are now so many incredible materials used for kitchen cabinets, we have provided a list that could be used for reference as you begin comparison shopping. Just remember, since these cabinets play a key role in the value of the room at resale time but are also the focal point of any kitchen, you should take your time so the right decision is made.
• Particle Board – When on a tight budget, this material would be one consideration. Although the appearance is not as rich as if choosing real wood, if the composition of wood shavings, wood by-products, and sawdust are high quality and glued together by pressure to produce a tight bond, it could be used. However, we suggest particle board be the last consideration for kitchen cabinets.
• Plywood – This material is also known as “engineered wood”, which is made with several layers of wood ply, which produces dimensional stability. The way in which plywood is layered is what produces a significant amount of strength in all directions. For kitchen cabinets, plywood is a decent choice of materials but only if covered with wood veneer. When shopping for new cabinets, you would find veneer-covered plywood cabinets sold as “solid wood cabinets”.
• Medium Density Fiberboard – Also referred to as “MDF”, this material is similar to particle board, but the components are of much higher quality. Another benefit with MDF is that it can be shaped, which is why it works well for kitchen cabinets. Additionally, MDF is dense, producing a smooth, clean finish. Therefore, kitchen cabinets made from Medium Density Fiberboard can easily be painted or even stained.
• Solid Wood – The best material for kitchen cabinets is solid wood simply because it looks rich and elegant, and it can withstand daily wear and tear for years. Typically, cabinetmakers would use solid wood for the cabinet and drawer fronts, as well as shelves and then perhaps another material for the kitchen cabinet box. As long as solid wood cabinets have been properly finished and sealed, they could easily withstand grease, moisture, etc. Then, as solid wood cabinets begin to age, they can always be sanded and repainted or stained. Most often, solid wood cabinets are made from hardwood such as ash or oak.
• Stainless Steel – For contemporary style kitchens, cabinets made from stainless steel are extremely popular. This material is clean with an industrial look. Now, if you wanted to have stainless steel kitchen cabinets installed, it would be worth the investment of buying quality but also stainless steel that has a good finish or seal so cleaning and maintenance would be easy.
Along with the actual kitchen cabinets being made from any of the materials listed above, keep in mind that door and drawer faces can be enhanced with a variety of additional materials. For instance, instead of a closed or solid face on the cabinets, you could choose mesh, Plexiglas, glass, chicken wire, etc. Obviously, the goal is choosing quality materials and workmanship but make sure to choose materials for your new kitchen cabinets that would coordinate with the room’s architectural features, style, and your personal preference.
