What would you choose for your kitchen: Chipboard, MDF or wood?

A friend of mine is furnishing his apartment and we've talked quite a bit about the materials he wants to use. Now it's the kitchen's turn and one of the important factors he needs to consider is budget. I thought I'd give a brief overview of the available options to make the choice easier. So, chipboard, MDF or wood kitchen furniture?

Kitchen furniture can be made from wood solid, veneered panels, MDF or PAL

Furniture from chipboard has the advantage of affordability. There is a very rich supply of chipboard that imitates wood, stone, marble and comes in various colors, so it can be easily "matched" with the decor. It is simple to make and adaptable to an atypical space. However, it does not excel in personality, the chipboard panels are flat, with no possibility of being mechanically worked on the surface, and it has one more flaw: specific, pungent and rather unpleasant odor from these plates, which persist for quite a long time.

Solid wood furniture is a wood-lover's dream. There's 'off-the-shelf' furniture in the shops, but it's also possible to have it made to order. There are design and manufacturing companies, or small workshops where wooden furniture is made. Working with wood is infinitely more attractive, both from the point of view of the choice of wood species, the combinations that can be made, and the design and personalization of the space. (photo 2, 3)

When wood is used, there is also the problem of finishing. As the kitchen environment is quite aggressive, with a lot of moisture, aggressive cleaning materials and steam, it is imperative that the finishing materials are resistant to such conditions. In addition, the wood must be very well "sealed" with these materials, eliminating any possibility of water getting to the wood. Wood is sometimes combined with veneered panels for furniture, both for dimensional stability and to reduce costs.

MDF furniture is, in terms of quality, between chipboard and solid wood. MDF kitchen furniture is not as expensive as solid wood, but it can be finished to resemble it. MDF boards can be mechanically machined to look like solid wood. The finish will also contribute to the illusion of solid wood. A colored primer applied as a first coat will hide the color and structure of the MDF. You can then use finishing materials or techniques to make the furniture look older, more precious or of a particular style. The important thing is that the materials used are in harmony and everything looks as natural as possible.

MDF-It can also be finished in different colors, plain or combined. It is an attractive material, easy to finish and dimensionally stable. In the case of MDF, too, it is absolutely essential to use finishing materials that are resistant to kitchen conditions.

We often end up making kitchen furniture combining wood, MDF and chipboard. And the combinations of wooden or painted MDF cabinets and wooden countertop, coloured or natur are in my opinion the most successful. (photo 6, 7, 8)

I hope you find the information useful!