How to choose the right cabinet material like a pro? Part 1:

Though the title of this post mentions about kitchen cabinets but the scope of this series is much broader and it will help you in deciding the cabinet material for complete home vis kitchen, bedroom, living etc., that suits the style, budget and durability. Cabinet finishes like laminate, veneer and acrylic etc. will be discussed in a separate series.

If you are planning to renovate your existing kitchen or building a new modular kitchen with a stunning design , then selecting a cabinet material is the first step to move forward.  Storage cabinets have been in existence from ancient times to till now and the same would continue to exist in future also, because without storage cabinets we couldn’t store the cook wear, cutlery and cooking ingredients etc. in an organized manner that to by utilizing the available space effectively.

Over a period of time the storage cabinets have evolved enormously in terms of hardware – to improve functionality & space optimization , and in terms material, design & finish – to add beauty and elegance to suit the design style of kitchen. So, this series will guide you on how to choose the right material for kitchen cabinets.

What is a cabinet?

  The basic components of a cabinet are essential to discuss further and they are explained through below image.

Types of cabinet material:

1. Wood based

2. Plastic composite

3. Metal based

1. Wood Based:

a. Solid wood

b. Engineered wood:

i. Particle board

ii. MDF – Medium Density Fiberboard

iii. HDF – High Density Fiberboard

iv. Plywood

v. HDFHMR Board- High Density High Moisture Resistance Board

2. Plastic composite

a. PVC Board – Poly Vinyl Chloride Board

b. WPC Board – Wood Plastic Composite Board

3. Metal based

a. Stainless Steel

To start with, we will discuss the wood-based cabinet materials, the first and oldest among them is solid wood or timber.

1.a. Solid wood:

In all over the world as well as in India, solid wood (Timber) is generally classified as either hardwood or soft wood. The comparison of both is explained below.

Can we use solid wood as a cabinet material ?

let us check the suitability of it by checking the pros and cons.

Pros	Cons
Gives a premium look.	More expensive and high maintenance cost like periodic polishing.
Diverse range of grains, colors and textures to choose from.	To be seasoned properly before before using, so that the total moisture content is dried up .
Highly Durable	Limited availability of craftsmen
Fits all styles from traditional to contemporary – can be painted or polished as per design style.	Prone to seasonal changes like expansion or contraction.
Non-Toxic and renewable.	Prone to termite attack if not treated properly.

Due to the above-mentioned limitations, use of solid wood can be limited to making of shutters for the cabinet to achieve the desired beautiful and natural looks and the carcass can be made with less expensive and reliable materials like engineered wood. By doing so we can have the beauty of natural wood without shelling out too much money on the unexposed carcass. Engineered wood will be discussed In the next post in this series.