Melamine-faced kitchen doors (also known as MFC doors) give the aesthetic of hardwood at a cheaper price. Created from a combination of compressed wood particles and encased in a resin and paper finish, melamine kitchen doors come in a wide range of styles and colours, making it easy to create a bespoke look to suit your kitchen. 

• Budget-friendly
• Come in a wide range of colours and styles.
• Has a sleek finish

• Could chip and crack if not looked after & become further damaged if water gets in the cracks
• Less choice in colours & accessories

If you’ve always dreamed of a traditional kitchen, (such as a Shaker style), then hardwood kitchen cabinets are a great choice. Whether you want oak, ash, cherry, pine or hickory, this type of material will look fantastic. What makes hardwood such an excellent choice is that this material lasts for decades and can withstand the wear and tear that’s expected in a kitchen – perfect for those who have pets and / or kids! However, hardwood is a little more expensive than other types of kitchen doors. 

• Hardwood cabinets is more durable than other finishes and are easy to repair if cracked or scratched. 
• Hardwood comes in a wide range of styles, colours, types, and finishes and can even be customised to your style. 
• Cabinets can be re-stained or painted to give a new aesthetic – great for future redecorating.

• Higher product cost leading to a higher price than other materials
• Usually restricted to standard sizes
• Hardwood expands and contracts in the heat, which can result in warping over time. 
• Hardwood requires specific cleaning products and not the standard dish cloth and soapy water. 

Vinyl-wrapped doors are made from cut MDF panels that have been routed, profiled, glued and then covered with vinyl that has been attached using heat and a vacuum. This style door has no joints as the wrap covers the front and sides.

• Budget friendly.
• Easy to clean.
• Uniformity in colour and look & is available in a wide selection of finishes and styles

• If the kitchen units are abused , the vinyl can peel and delaminate.
• Doesn’t offer the ‘natural’ wood look that people prefer. 
• More limited in colour options than a paintable finish, such as hardwood kitchens (though paintable vinyl is available)

Choosing glass cabinet doors is a great way to upgrade the look of your kitchen, but should only be used if you keep the inside of your cabinets smart and well organised. While glass kitchen cupboard doors have been around for a while, they haven’t always been in fashion, but look great when done properly. You can really add depth and style to your glass and wood cabinets when you add cupboard lighting. That being said, glass doors can be costly and very heavy, although on offer now are acrylic doors, which would be lighter. Glass doors come in a range of core material, from solid wood, to MDF and MFC.

• There are a range of styles available – from Georgian framed to a simple frame.
• Multiple options for glass, including bronze, mirror, frosted and standard
• Glass can be substituted for acrylic in some ranges, reducing cost and weight
• Glass doors give the illusion of a bigger kitchen. 
• Glass doors are super easy to clean.

• This type of door is very heavy, thus making it tricky to install & are more expensive than other doors. 
• You can see clutter through a glass cabinet door, so could be more difficult for a practical kitchen cabinet.
• They’re fragile. 
• More limited in design choice as not all styles offer glass as an option.

High-gloss kitchen doors are created in a range of different types – laminate, thermofoil or high-gloss painted wood or lacquered wood. Applied in a similar way as vinyl, high-gloss cupboards offer depth and look great in a two-tone kitchen.

• The light reflecting off the surface makes the room look bigger.
• High-gloss cabinets are more water resistant than other materials.
• Because of the surface, high-gloss cabinets are easy to wipe down.

• Due to the reflective nature of the surface, marks, finger-prints and scratches are easily visible and, therefore, will need more cleaning. 

Hopefully this post has helped you decide what is the right kitchen door material for you in your home. Browse our extensive range of kitchen styles and cabinets or contact our team today to find out more or if you had any questions.