Choosing a high-quality material for cabinetry interiors, and being creative with your colour selections, can add serious value to your next kitchen, bathroom, laundry or home office project.
This guide explains the differences between popular surface options for cabinetry interiors, comparing their cost, durability and colour ranges, making it easier for you to get the best possible result.
The hidden surfaces inside cabinetry can face tough treatment, day after day, so they must be hardwearing and strong. But they can also be used as an opportunity to inject colour, personality and texture, bringing joy every time you open a drawer or cupboard, and creating the impression of a truly unique design.
To get a better understanding of the different material options for cabinetry interiors, scan the table below, and then keep reading for a more detailed overview of each one.
| Applications | The Cost (Material, Fabrication and Install) | The Durability | Overview | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Laminex High-Pressure Laminate (HPL), Decorated Panels & Boards and Made-to-measure Doors. | Residential and commercial Kitchen doors & drawers Bathroom doors & drawers Laundry doors & drawers Study doors & drawers | $$ – $$$ | ✓✓ | An extensive range of colours and finishes. Resistant to scratches and stains, colour stable in typical indoor lighting conditions and is supplied with a moisture-resistant MDF core as standard, mitigating the risk of water damage. Laminex cabinetry doors and drawers can work for a wide range of budgets Laminex Made-to-measure range includes a comprehensive range of custom made doors and drawers Proudly Australian made |
Formica Decorated Board and Square Edge Doors. | Residential and commercial Kitchen doors & drawers Bathroom doors & drawers Laundry doors & drawers Study doors & drawers | $ | ✓ | Range focusing on popular solid colours, patterns and woodgrains. Incredibly cost-effective and practical option Formica decorated MDF is scratch and stain resistant, colour stable under normal lighting conditions and is made with a moisture-resistant MDF core Proudly Australian made |
Trade Essentials | Residential and commercial Kitchen doors & drawers Bathroom doors & drawers Laundry doors & drawers Study doors & drawers | $ | ✓ | Hardwearing and reliable, it’s available with a moisture-resistant particle board core option Stain and scratch resistant with a regid substrate that holds its shape Also available pre-drilled for easy installation Available in one coloure – white – for contrast or match with other products in the Laminex range Proudly Australian made |
Laminex Cabinetry Interiors
The Material
One of the biggest trends in kitchen design right now is to have interior cabinetry surfaces fabricated in a different colour to doors, drawer fronts and side panels. And the expansive range of colour and texture in the Laminex Colour Collection makes Laminex decorated MDF the premium laminate option for the job. From bold solid colours to delicate pastels, rich neutrals, authentic woodgrains and much more, there’s a brilliant decor combination for every project.
The Cost
Laminex decorated MDF is more expensive than using standard white melamine for cabinetry interiors, but’s still a cost-effective material. It’s very easy for cabinetmakers to work with, which means that fabrication and installation is efficient. And with premium products like Laminex AbsoluteMatte in the range, it includes options to fit into a wide range of budgets.
The Durability
Cabinetry interiors can be subjected to a lot of wear and tear, particularly where larger items like cooking pots and pans are stored. That’s where the hardwearing durability of Laminex decorated MDF makes it a superior material choice. Its surface is resistant to scratches and stains – particularly valuable in kitchen pantries, for example – and because it’s made with moisture-resistant MDF as standard, it mitigates the risk of water damage in wet areas. It’s also easy to keep clean.
The Range
The range takes in the majority of the Laminex Colour Collection, with classic whites, on-trend neutrals, incredibly authentic woodgrains, delicate and bold accents, and even a handful of stone looks. There’s also a variety of gloss, matt and textured finishes, and the luxurious ultra-matte look and feel of Laminex AbsoluteMatte. It’s a design-led offering that will cater to your every creative desire!
The Look
The look you achieve with Laminex decorated MDF cabinetry interiors is limited only by your imagination. A vibrant solid tone, for example, can provide a bold pop of colour, while a softer neutral will bring a sense of calm sophistication. A woodgrain decor, meanwhile, can create the look of a custom piece of furniture. And the way these interior surface decors complement or contrast with the exterior cabinetry colour only heightens the effect.
Formica Cabinetry Interiors
The Material
The Formica decorated MDF range offers a reliable, practical and convenient solution for your cabinetry interiors, with a curated selection of popular solid colours, patterns and testures to fit every budget. Whites and neutrals, accents and woodgrains provide opportunities for contrast between exterior and interior surfaces, and a variety of finishes provide tactility and visual interest. If you’re renovating a kitchen or bedroom, the Formica Project Guide makes the design process even easier to navigate. Use it to choose a preferred room layout, and explore different cabinetry surface options, including interiors.
The Cost
From a budgeting point of view, Formica decorated MDF comes in between Laminex decorated MDF and standard white melamine. And like both of those materials, it’s very easy for cabinetmakers to work with, which means that fabrication and installation is efficient.
The Durability
Formica’s longstanding reputation for practical, durable laminate products extends to its range of decorated MDF, and this is especially important for cabinetry interiors. Formica decorated MDF is resistant to scratches and stains, and is manufactured with a moisture-resistant MDF substrate as standard, so is appropriate for use in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries. It’s easy to keep clean and is designed to do the job, year after year.
The Range
The whites and neutrals, accents and woodgrains in the Formica decorated MDF range have been carefully curated to cover the most popular selections for contemporary and classic interiors. The colour palette is easy to navigate, so you’ll quickly find the best surface option for enlivening your cabinetry interiors. A selection of finishes is available, including a naturalistic tactile effect for woodgrains. And every colour can be ordered with matching edging.
The Look
The look of Formica decorated MDF cabinetry interiors depends on the colour combination you go with. You can achieve everything from subtle tonal differences to bold contrasts, or dial up the authenticity with woodgrain interiors that give the impression of solid timber. Formica decorated MDF is a great alternative to standard white melamine cabinetry interiors, with the same reliable performance but a touch more personality.
Trade Essentials Cabinetry Interiors
The Material
The classic cabinetry interior solution, Trade Essentials white melamine particleboard is hardwearing and reliable. It’s made in Australia, and is available with a moisture-resistant particleboard core as an option, for peace of mind in kitchens, bathrooms and laundries.
The Cost
Trade Essentials white melamine particleboard is the most cost-effective option for designing and fabricating robust, long-lasting and easy-to-maintain cabinetry interiors.
The Durability
Trade Essentials white melamine particleboard is absolutely fit for purpose – it resists stains and scratches, has a rigid substrate that holds its shape in typical cabinetry designs, and can be ordered with a moisture-resistant core suited to use in wet areas.
The Range
The Trade Essentials white melamine particleboard range is simple and highly effective – apart from the options for standard or moisture-resistant particleboard substrates, it is also available pre-drilled for ease of installation.
The Look
Crisp, clean, the perfect contrast for any exterior cabinetry colour (or complement, if your doors and drawers are all-white!), Trade Essentials white melamine particleboard is the go-to solution for timeless and highly functional white cabinetry interiors.
Which is the best material for cabinetry interiors?
We hope this summary has helped you to find the best surface material for the cabinetry interiors in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry or home office.
Ready to take the next step
We recommend you have a close look at your selected surface material, and feel it in your hands, before you commit to an order. You can do that at one of our showrooms or by ordering a free sample from the Laminex website. And if you’re still looking for inspiration, there’s no shortage of excellent designs to explore on our website too!
