Cabinet Finishes Explained: Painted, Veneer, Laminate and What Holds Up

The finish is what you see every day, and it is also the layer that takes the abuse. Here is how the common finish types are actually made and what that means in a bathroom or kitchen.

Painted

A sprayed catalyzed or conversion finish over MDF. Multiple coats, sanded between, then cured.

• Looks: Solid color, smooth or lightly textured. The only way to get a true matte black or a specific color.
• Wear: Very durable on flat panels. Sharp edges and corners are where paint eventually shows wear.
• Care: Mild soap and water. No abrasives.

Wood veneer

A thin layer of real wood bonded to a plywood or MDF core, then sealed with a clear topcoat.

• Looks: Real grain, color variation, and it changes with light. Walnut, oak and elm are the usual choices.
• Wear: The clear coat does the work. A good catalyzed topcoat resists water rings and most cleaners.
• Care: Same as painted. Wipe up standing water. Expect the color to shift slightly over the first year as UV works on the wood.

Laminate and thermofoil

A printed or solid sheet bonded to MDF. Thermofoil is vacuum-pressed vinyl; high-pressure laminate is a resin sheet.

• Looks: Consistent, and modern textured laminates are convincing.
• Wear: Very scratch and stain resistant. Thermofoil can lift near heat sources.
• Care: Almost anything short of solvents.

Side-by-side

Fluted and slatted fronts

Fluting is machined into MDF and then painted, or built up from solid wood strips and veneered. Either way the grooves collect dust; a soft brush attachment once a month keeps them clean.

Choosing for the room

• Bathroom: painted or veneer with a catalyzed topcoat. Confirm the panel edges are sealed.
• Living room and bedroom: anything goes; veneer shows best.
• Bar cabinet: veneer or painted; spilled spirits are hard on thermofoil.