white kitchen with a brown island

DESIGN NOTES

How To Choose The Right Kitchen Cabinet Materials For Your Project

Many elements have to come together in a successful kitchen remodel to transform this room into the one envisioned by the homeowner. One of these is undoubtedly the cabinetry. They take up a large portion of the space in a kitchen and typically a hefty chunk of the budget as well.

At Walker Woodworking, our custom cabinetry craftsmen know that one of the most basic decisions about your kitchen cabinet is the material from which they are constructed. You certainly have several popular choices for this decision.

Your Cabinet Material

As appealing as solid wood may sound for some applications, it’s not a favorite for kitchen cabinets. There can be quite a bit of moisture in this room over time, with steam rising from cooking pots and from hot water at the sink, and everyone knows that solid wood can contract and expand in reaction to moisture and temperature. The most popular choices in material for this part of your kitchen are medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, particleboard with melamine, and possibly stainless steel.

  • Homeowners appreciate Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) because of how well it stands up to cracking and peeling. It’s also smoother than plywood and is easy to cover with a coat of any color paint you’d like for your cabinets to make them match the rest of your kitchen décor.
  • Plywood: This is a popular material for manufacturers of cabinetry, given its relatively low cost as well as its stability and resistance to moisture. When used in cabinets, the outer layer of particleboard will typically be covered in wood veneer or plastic laminate to provide superior durability and protection.
  • Particleboard: This material is not typically used in high-end kitchen remodeling projects. It consists of wood chips that have been glued together and fused into flat panels. It has the least structural strength of all the options.
  • Stainless Steel: While appliances made of this material are frequently all the rage, using it for cabinetry is an area of personal taste. Many people consider that there’s nothing quite like wood or at least wood-derived products like some mentioned above when it comes to a warm, natural-looking kitchen.
white kitchen with tile backsplash

Choosing The Right Material For Your Kitchen

Several factors may go into your final choice of material for your kitchen cabinets. You want them to blend in well with other design elements you already have, and budget will undoubtedly be a concern for some. You might even end up with a different material for the doors than the cabinet box. The doors are, after all, the most visible and style-setting part. If you’re looking for a natural wood look, you may not want to choose MDF since it can’t be stained. Solid wood might work well for doors that need to have a natural look to match the rest of your kitchen. See what Bob Vila has to say about kitchen cabinet materials.

Custom Cabinetry In The Foothills Of North Carolina

If you’re looking for kitchen cabinetry that stands out from the crowd, our artisans at Walker Woodworking have been crafting custom creations since 1999. We can help guide you concerning design, materials, and layout of the cabinetry in your kitchen remodel. If you need a custom fit for unique spaces or a one-of-a-kind look for refined interiors, we’ve got you covered. Whatever your custom cabinetry needs, please view the before and after gallery on our website to see what we can do for you, and then give us a call to see how we can help you realize your kitchen cabinetry goals with the material and design of your choice.

/onApril 21, 2019/updatedNovember 9, 2025/inDesign Notes
walk in pantry with a coffee barWalker Woodworking

Why Have A Walk-In Pantry?

Kitchens remain the central hub of the home, the place where we gather to eat, grab a quick snack, make a cup of coffee, or complete homework. This has seen a shift in the way it is designed, including an area that is often forgotten, the pantry.

Read more
/0 Comments/by
bathroom with a glass walk in showerWalker Woodworking

Creative Ways to Achieve a High-End Bathroom Look Without Breaking the Bank

Achieving a high-end bathroom look without breaking the bank may seem like a tall order, but it’s entirely possible with creativity and strategic planning. Your bathroom can be a sanctuary where style meets functionality, all while maintaining a reasonable budget.

Read more
/0 Comments/by
White kitchen cabinets with a large blue hoodWalker Woodworking

Designing A Galley Kitchen

A narrow kitchen, more commonly referred to as a galley kitchen, can be challenging to create adequate space due to space limitations. Still, with good design and planning, it can become a functional area that meets all the homeowners’ needs.

Read more
/0 Comments/by
Large walnut hood with white backsplashWalker Woodworking

How To Design A Range Hood

When planning a kitchen renovation, several major elements are considered, such as cabinet design and layout, but something that gets neglected or is treated as an afterthought is the range hood.

Read more
/0 Comments/by
laundry room with flower wallpaperWalker Woodworking

Cabinets For Every Area Of Your Home

Cabinets are a key component of interior design, but that does not mean they are exclusive to certain areas like the kitchen and bathroom. Custom cabinets, built-ins, and additional features offer a wide range of functions to multiple areas throughout the home.

Read more
/0 Comments/by
The Benefits Of Custom CabinetryA Thoughtful Kitchen Upgrade – Planning For The Future