Every home cook has dreamed of having a kitchen full of beautiful wooden cabinets. They make your kitchen look sophisticated and elegant, but they come at a cost. The good news is that there are alternatives to wood cabinets that will save you some money without sacrificing quality.
Veneer kitchen cabinets are made from a thin layer of real wood that is glued to a base layer of manmade materials.
Veneer kitchen cabinets are made from a thin layer of real wood that is glued to a base layer—often, but not always, made of man-made materials. Veneers can be crafted from many types of wood such as oak and maple. The veneer is then sanded and polished to give it a smooth finish. The result is a cabinet that looks and feels like the real thing, but with a much lower price tag.
The downsides are that they can be prone to damage if not properly cared for—so make sure you find an experienced installer when choosing veneer cabinets.
Solid wood kitchen cabinets are made from solid pieces of wood without any laminates or glue.
Solid wood cabinets are constructed with solid pieces of lumber, without using veneer or other fillers. They tend to be more durable than their counterpart—veneer-based cabinets—but also costlier and less uniform in appearance.
Some people prefer veneer kitchen cabinets because they offer a wider range of design options and colors than solid wood, while others prefer the look and feel of real wood for their kitchen decorating projects.
Veneer may look and feel like solid wood, but it’s not as durable, even if it has been hand-sanded and finished.
Veneer is a thin layer of real wood that’s applied to a substrate. The substrate is usually MDF or particleboard, which are composed of pressed sawdust and glue. Because veneer is thinner than solid wood, it’s more prone to damage. When you scratch or dent your veneer kitchen cabinets, repairing them can be difficult because they’re so thin; they might also be harder to stain or paint when you want to change their color (though this depends on how well you sanded down the finish).
Solid hardwoods like maple tend not to split or crack as much as softwoods such as pine do–which means less maintenance for you!
Wood veneer is a better choice than particleboard when you want to give the look of real wood without going for a full-on wood style.
Wood veneer is a better choice than particleboard when you want to give the look of real wood without going for a full-on wood style.
Wood veneer is a more durable material than particleboard, and it’s also typically less expensive. Particleboard may seem like a good deal at first because of its consistent appearance; however, this advantage will be lost when the product begins to crack or peel off after just a few years of use.
The cost difference between solid wood cabinets and veneer cabinets can be significant for some styles, especially those with more intricate details.
The cost difference in kitchen cabinets, solid wood vs veneer, can be significant for some styles, especially those with more intricate details. For example, in our test kitchen we found that the cost of solid wood cabinets was about twice as much as the veneer counterparts when comparing the same size and quality of both types of cabinetry.
The differences in price of veneer vs solid wood are also dependent upon how many doors or drawers you purchase from each type of material; if you buy one door from each type, then it’s less expensive than buying all three doors from either type (or four drawers). If possible though, try not to mix up your materials–for example: don’t combine oak trimming with cherry cabinets!
There are pros and cons to both types of kitchen cabinets
There are pros and cons to both types of kitchen cabinets. Solid wood cabinets are more expensive than veneer ones, but they typically last longer and look better over time. Veneer is cheaper and faster to install, but it tends to chip or peel much more easily than solid versions.
When deciding between the two, think about how you plan on using your kitchen cabinets. If you’re looking for something that will last a long time and look good even after years of use, solid wood is probably the way to go. Veneer cabinets are an affordable option that can make a big impact on your home’s curb appeal.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a kitchen that will last for years to come, it’s best to invest in solid wood cabinets. Solid wood is stronger than veneer and will hold up better when exposed to moisture or heat from cooking. It also doesn’t scratch as easily as veneer does and won’t peel off like paint can if exposed too long without proper care.