Balancing home trends with long-term durability is the key to selecting the best cabinets for a kitchen design. The goal for any major kitchen remodel is to choose cabinet materials able to handle the rigors of daily kitchen life that will also weather the storm of fluctuating color and style trends.
The Best Kitchen Cabinets For Home Trends Enthusiasts
When your cabinets meet those criteria, your kitchen cabinets will remain in a timeless style for decades to come.
Here is a list of seven cabinet materials and styles we feel stand up to the test of time while always remaining at the forefront of contemporary home trends.
1. Solid Wood (Hardwood)
Solid wood is the platinum standard for cabinet materials. They never go out of style and come in an infinite array of wood hues and patterns. Some woods lend themselves better to staining or repainting. So, if you go the natural wood route, we recommend choosing one with minimal grains. This makes it easier to repaint or restain them as home trends change over time.
Alder, Maple, Oak, Cherry, and bamboo are the most popular and durable wood cabinet options. The latter is not technically a wood product because bamboo is a type of grass. However, bamboo is used for flooring and cabinetry because it looks and feels like wood and is very sustainable, making it one of the most popular eco-friendly cabinet options.
2. Wood Veneers
Wood veneer cabinets are a close second to hardwood cabinetry because the veneer is made from a thin layer of the client’s wood choice. That veneer layer adheres to less expensive core materials. The result is kitchen cabinets that look like solid hardwood but cost a fraction of the price.
As with wood cabinets, most nicks and scratches can be buffed out, and cleaning is as simple as wiping them down with a damp cloth.
3. Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF) Paint-Grade Cabinets
MDF, or paint-grade cabinets, are the best choice for homeowners who enjoy keeping up with the latest paint and color trends. They’re made from compressed wood, which means they have a uniform look and take paint colors very nicely. While plywood isn’t an MDF, it is also a manufactured wood. It is made by creating built-up layers of thinly sliced wood slabs. These slabs are bonded together in opposite directions and bonded together with an adhesive.
These options’ intentionally neutral appearances mean they look great when painted but do not replicate natural wood when stained. If you’re torn between natural wood and painted cabinets, speak to your contractor about tighter-grained paint-grade hardwoods like soft and hard maple, poplar, or pine.
4. Melamine
There are two types of melamine available on the market: Melamine and high-pressure laminate. Both are made using pressed wood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), or plywood covered with printed or colored paper. These sheets come in a wide range of colors and prints to replicate painted or natural wood cabinets and are heat-fused to the core material with a melamine resin. The results are affordable, durable, and easy to maintain – ideal for a low-maintenance kitchen remodel.
High-pressure laminate is virtually the same as regular melamine, but there are multiple layers heat-fused under pressure. More layers mean higher resistance to scratching and chipping.
One thing worth noting is that melamine and high-pressure laminate cabinets are limited in shape choice. The layers adhere best on square or rectangular doors with minimal contours. If you’re more of a traditionalist who likes cabinet doors with varying shapes or trim, hardwood or laminate doors are a better option.
5. Thermofoil
Thermofoil is a PVC vinyl film applied to the structural material using heat and pressure. In most cases, thermofoil is added to MFF or plywood cores. The films are highly durable and are common in modern cabinet designs.
The selected prints won’t warp, fade, or wrinkle and are water-resistant, which is essential in busy kitchens – especially those with children or pets. Also, since vinyl sheets are printed, they come in various colors and faux-wood print options. Thermofoil cabinets have a glossy sheen, so keep that in mind if your kitchen is prone to fingerprints and smudges.
Kitchen Remodeling Pros Who Prioritize Quality
Are you interested in designing a kitchen remodel that uses only the best kitchen cabinet materials? Schedule a consultation with Fogle Constructors. Our business is centered around craftsmanship and the use of high-quality materials. We have in-house designers that work closely with clients to create personalized designs, and we’re equally happy to partner with your interior designers to build kitchen designs that look amazing and serve your household’s needs for years into the future.
