Picking the Right Wood Species for Your Cabinet Doors

ENGINEERED WOOD TYPES
Generally cheaper in cost and heavier in weight than solid wood, the following engineered materials are excellent options to consider for your kitchen space.

Short for Medium-Density Fiberboard, this popular composite material is created from recycled wood fibers for a more stable performance and improved resistance to weathering over solid wood.
Wood naturally tends to expand and contract when exposed to changes in temperature, which can lead to bending, cracking, and other signs of general wear on your cabinet doors over time. With MDF, you can expect a longer lasting performance than that provided by traditional wooden doors.
When it comes to appearance, MDF doors are very smooth, have no wood grain, and react wonderfully to paint. This material is less absorbent than solid wood, which reduces the chances of warping, plus it provides an even surface which can display color more vibrantly than solid wooden doors.
If you plan on painting your cabinets, this may be the best option for you.

Short for Rigid Thermofoil, RTF doors are a modified version of MDF doors. In short, this extra-resilient material is created when a thermofoil vinyl laminate is fused to the surface of MDF material with heat and pressure.
For all of their benefits, MDF cabinets are still very vulnerable to water damage. However, the application of RTF gives additional strength and water resistance to your doors, while at the same time maintaining the benefits of MDF material.
These RTF veneers also make your cabinet doors more difficult to dent, easier to clean, and can display a wider range of styles than untreated MDF material; including realistic grain patterns and stylized door prints.
Ultimately RTF is a fantastic choice for recreating a naturally wooden appearance in your cabinets, or an artistically embellished pattern, while also enjoying the long-lasting benefits of this hardy material.
SOLID WOOD TYPES
While engineered woods have their obvious benefits, the traditional style of solid wooden doors certainly has its own appeal. Wood cabinets are lighter in weight than their composite counterparts, sport naturally sophisticated grain patterns, and can mellow beautifully over time when cared for correctly, making them a solid choice in most kitchen arrangements.

Maple wood often demonstrates lightly grained textures in a cream tone of color, with occasional hints of brown and red. The innately smooth texture of this species makes it one of the better options for painting on solid wood.

Birch wood provides a strong grain texture, usually under a yellow-cream shade, with darker tones of brown and red found in the heartwood. This wood species’ smooth surface and typically tight grain pattern can bring a delightful rustic quality to any kitchen space.

Alder wood exhibits a light reddish-brown color scheme, and an even texture that blends seamlessly between the outer sapwood and inner heartwood. Dramatic grain patterns serve to exemplify an organic appeal within the wood, allowing it to perform wonderfully with or without a stain.

Cherry wood earns its name from its inherent reddish tone that is accented between varying soft white and deep brown hues. A tight and even grain pattern, along with a smooth surface texture, allows this wood species to easily take on wood finishes for embellished cabinet colors.

Oak wood comes in a range of possible colors, from brown to red to white, and proudly displays prominent grain patterns. This species is a longtime favorite for cabinet construction, and is occasionally altered by streaks of mineral deposits held within the wood, which can create appealing lines of green and yellow that add a natural sense of depth to your cabinet doors.