The joinery guide

Materials, made simple

Compare the visible finish and the board beneath. Understand the price and know what to look for.

AI-generated illustrative craft images and concept films. These studies do not identify a supplier product or demonstrate tested performance. Confirm materials, hardware and construction with physical samples and specifications.

01 / Finishes

Entry to high

The visible surface: compare its look, application and typical price band.

01Entry

Stock melamine and simple wrapped panels. Less finishing work.

02Mid

Selected laminate, acrylic and simple paintwork. More preparation.

03High

Matched veneer, selected timber and bespoke metalwork. More skilled detailing.

Read this as a price guide, not a quality score. The same material can move up a level with a premium range, custom shape or more detailed finish.

Finish comparison, from entry through mid to high specifications
Finish	Typical level	What it is & where it goes	Why the price changes
Melamine (standard white)Standard white cabinet interiors	Entry	A white melamine surface fused to particleboard or MDF. Core, grade, thickness and edges are specified for carcasses, shelves and interiors.	The board arrives finished. Cutting and edging keep the making process simple.
ThermolaminatedVinyl-wrapped panels	Entry–Mid	Decorative film wrapped over shaped MDF. Used for flat or profiled cabinet doors.	Factory pressing reduces individual finishing. More detailed profiles add work.
Laminate finishesDecorative colours & woodgrains	Entry–Mid	Decorative laminate surfaces are selected with a suitable supporting board. Construction and worktop suitability must be confirmed for the selected product.	Surface construction, substrate, premium texture and edging affect price. A woodgrain appearance does not establish whether a panel is HPL.
Acrylic & PETFactory-finished panel faces	Entry–Mid	Acrylic sheet or polyester (PET) film bonded to board, usually MDF. Used for smooth matt or gloss fronts.	Factory finishing saves spray work. Premium surfaces and precise edging can cost more.
2PAC paintSprayed colour	Mid–High	Two-part paint sprayed onto prepared MDF. Used for flat, fluted or shaped fronts.	Sanding, priming, spraying and curing take skilled time. Complex profiles add more.
Compact laminateDense panel with its own core	Mid–High	Pressed paper and resin form the whole panel. Used for selected worktops, shelves and panels.	The panel, machining, cut-outs and fixing details all contribute to the price.
AluminiumFrames, trims & metal faces	Mid–High	Lightweight metal profiles frame glass doors. Sheet can also face a supporting panel.	Standard profiles simplify making. Custom sections, coatings and fine joints add cost.
Timber veneerReal timber on a board	Mid–High	A thin layer of real timber pressed onto board. Used for feature doors, furniture and wall panels.	Species, grain matching and clear finishing drive price. Carefully matched work sits higher.
Solid timberReal wood through the section	Mid–High	Timber pieces form frames, slats or joined panels. Used for doors, shelves and furniture.	Timber selection, shaping, joints and finishing add work. The design must allow natural movement.
Stainless steelFabricated metal fronts	Mid–High	Metal sheet bonded or folded over a support, or formed into a panel. Used for fronts and feature details.	Custom folding, joining, polishing and coloured coatings can make it a high-specification finish.
Glass, mirror & leather Price depends on the selected product and detailing.
GlassClear, fluted, frosted or tinted	Entry–High	Glass is held in a frame or supported as a panel. Used for display doors, shelving and screens.	Simple clear panels cost less. Special textures, tints, edge work and frames add cost.
MirrorSilver, tinted, antique or LED	Entry–High	Reflective glass fixed to a backing or held in a frame. Used for wardrobes, vanities and feature panels.	Standard rectangles are simpler. Custom shapes, antique finishes and integrated LEDs cost more.
LeatherGenuine hide & faux alternatives	Variable	Genuine hide includes aniline, semi-aniline and pigmented finishes. Faux options include PU and PVC/vinyl coated fabrics, specified separately.	Hide/finish or coated-fabric specification, backing, upholstery and application drive price. Illustrations do not identify a supplier product.

Compare like-for-like panel sizes, cores and details. A simple veneer panel may cost less than a complex painted door. Physical samples confirm the colour and texture. AI-generated wood illustrations are appearance guides, not supplier samples. Confirm species, construction and the final finish separately.

Explore all material samples

Glass, mirror & LED finish options

Glass

FlutedVertical reeded texture

Mirror

SilverSmooth polished reflection

Surface, grain & light

Look at how timber, metal and glass meet, how grain is arranged, and how light changes the appearance of a surface.

Close-up of brushed metal meeting smoked walnut at a finely detailed cabinet corner — Material junction
Timber and metal, precisely joined

Smoked-walnut timber screen with defined vertical profiles, even spacing and recessed shadow lines — Timber screens
Rhythm, shadow and depth

Fluted glass cabinet doors with smoked-walnut frames and softly illuminated shelves — Glass cabinetry
Smoked glass, soft light

Veneer

Grain matched across each front

Concept film · Press play to view

Glass

Light, reflection and depth

Concept film · Press play to view

02 / Internals

Inside the joinery

The boards beneath the surface. MFC combines a melamine face with a particleboard core; MDF and plywood describe the board itself.

Typical price bands for comparable board specifications, not quality scores. Thickness, finish, grade and making details can move a material into another band.

Common internal boards: uses, typical price levels and selection notes
Internal material	Typical level	What it is & where it goes	Cost & what to know
MFCMelamine-faced chipboard	Entry–Mid	Particleboard with a factory-applied melamine face. A finished panel, rather than a separate type of core. Cabinet bodies, wardrobe interiors and shelves, in white, colours or printed woodgrains.	Stock finishes save painting time. Decorative textures, moisture-resistant cores and edging add cost. Grades & selection Standard or moisture-resistant particleboard beneath the same decorative face. Ask which core is specified.
ParticleboardChipboard · Standard & MR	Entry	Wood particles pressed with resin into a flat board. Usually covered with melamine, laminate or veneer. Cabinet bodies, shelves and the core beneath many decorative panels.	Efficient production keeps the core affordable. Thickness, moisture-resistant grades and the chosen face add cost. Grades & selection Standard grades suit dry interiors. MR means moisture-resistant; it offers better moisture tolerance, but edges and cut-outs still need protection.
MDFMedium-density fibreboard · Standard & MR	Entry–Mid	Fine wood fibres pressed into a smooth, even board. It can be painted, routed or faced with another material. Painted doors, shaped panels, drawer parts and cores beneath veneer, laminate, acrylic or PET.	The raw board is economical. Moisture-resistant grades, routed details and paint preparation raise the finished price. Grades & selection MR MDF is made for more humid interiors. HMR is used for some high moisture-resistant ranges; check the actual product grade. Neither label means waterproof.
HDF & hardboardDense wood-fibre panels	Entry–Mid	HDF means high-density fibreboard. Hardboard is another dense fibreboard, made by a different process. Both often come as thin sheets. Cabinet backs and some drawer bases, with thickness and support chosen for the load.	Thin sheets use less material. Denser, coated or specialist grades can cost more. Grades & selection A thin back panel is not a substitute for a full cabinet side or shelf. Check the sheet thickness, support and finish.
Melamine-faced MDFA finished face on an MDF core	Mid	A melamine surface pressed onto MDF. The face can look like MFC, but the board underneath is different. Cabinet components, shelves and interiors where an MDF core is specified.	The MDF core and selected surface generally cost more than basic white MFC. Edges still need finishing. Grades & selection Standard and moisture-resistant MDF cores are available. Choose the grade for the room and the fixing detail.
PlywoodLayered timber · Multiple grades	Mid–High	Thin timber layers glued together, usually with alternating grain. It can be clear-finished or faced with another material. Cabinet bodies, drawer boxes, shelves and panels with an exposed layered edge.	Timber species, layer quality, face grade and glue bond affect cost. Decorative hardwood and birch options often sit higher. Grades & selection Softwood, hardwood and birch describe the timber. Marine describes a specification, not a decorative finish; it does not make unsealed timber waterproof.

More internal materials Blockboard, timber, lightweight panels, compact laminate, metals, WPB & EDP

Specialist internal materials: uses, typical price levels and selection notes
Internal material	Typical level	What it is & where it goes	Cost & what to know
BlockboardTimber-strip core with outer layers	Mid	Solid timber strips form a core between bonded outer layers, commonly veneer. Selected shelves, doors and larger furniture panels, usually finished with veneer or laminate.	Core timber, face quality and finishing affect the price. It can reduce weight compared with dense MDF. Grades & selection Core-strip direction, quality and fixing positions matter. Select the construction for the panel size and load.
Solid timberNatural wood throughout	Mid–High	Real timber sections or joined boards, rather than a fibre or particle core. Drawer boxes, internal trays, rails, frames and selected shelves.	Species, timber selection, traditional joints and clear finishing add material and labour cost. Grades & selection The design must allow timber to move with humidity. A premium drawer box does not require every cabinet panel to be solid timber.
Lightweight panelsHoneycomb or other lightweight cores	Mid–High	Outer faces surround a lighter core, such as paper honeycomb, to create a thicker panel with less weight. Large doors, thick-looking shelves and furniture panels where weight matters.	Less core material can save weight, while prepared edges, inserts and special fittings add fabrication work. Grades & selection Hinges and screws need suitable inserts or reinforced zones. The complete panel system determines its capacity.
Compact laminateDense resin-and-paper panel	Mid–High	A thick, self-supporting laminate panel. It has its own core rather than a chipboard or MDF centre. Selected internal shelves, dividers and cabinet components, using the appropriate grade and thickness.	The dense panel needs suitable machining and fixings, which add to fabrication cost. Grades & selection Useful where moisture tolerance matters. Joints, support and hardware still need to suit the application.
Aluminium & stainless steelSpecialist metal construction	High	Formed metal, framed panels or metal-faced systems; aluminium may also be used in honeycomb panels. Specialist cabinet interiors, drawer systems and selected utility or outdoor joinery.	Bespoke fabrication, joints, surface treatment and compatible hardware usually cost more than standard board construction. Grades & selection Choose the metal grade, finish and panel system for the environment. A metal face alone does not describe the core beneath it.
WPBLightweight PVC-based board	Project-specific · Not ranked	WPB is a lightweight PVC-based board. It is a different construction from moisture-resistant wood-particle or wood-fibre boards. Selected cabinetry, doors, partitions and decorative panels, subject to the chosen product and installation.	Confirm pricing for the selected panel, finish and fabrication. Grades & selection Confirm thickness, edge treatment, support, fixings and cleaning instructions for the selected product.
EDP decorative panelsOSB texture or film-finished HDF/CDF	Project-specific · Not ranked	EDP is a decorative panel line with an OSB-textured construction or HDF/CDF finished with a film surface. Confirm the selected construction and gloss or matte finish. Interior decorative applications, with the panel, supports and fixings selected for the design.	Confirm pricing for the selected panel, finish and fabrication. Grades & selection Confirm thickness, edge treatment, support, fixings and cleaning instructions for the selected product.

Choose for the job: board grade, shelf span, thickness, edge protection and fixings matter more than the name alone. Moisture-resistant does not mean waterproof.

Explore internal materials in the collection

Edges, lighting & other surfaces

Edges: matching plastic strips, timber lipping, paint or wrapped film finish the sides. Check that corners and joints are tidy.

LEDs: strips sit in recessed channels, often with a diffuser. Wiring and access to the driver are planned into the joinery.

Stone, porcelain & sintered surfaces: used for worktops and supported feature panels. Slab selection, cutting, edge work and support affect the cost.

Edges, integration & storage

See how profiles, cabinet interiors and appliance openings shape the practical details of joinery.

Angled close-up of a raised walnut drawer edge and corner joint surrounding a recessed veneer panel — Edge detail
Raised frame, recessed veneer

Black glass ovens with Miele branding integrated into smoked-walnut joinery — Integration
Appliances, seamlessly integrated

Angled close-up of an open walnut storage drawer with fitted timber compartments — Storage
Everything in its place

Recessed handle detail

A clean finger-pull profile

Concept film · Press play to view

03 / Quality

Four things to check

Good workmanship matters at every price level.

Edges & gaps
Tidy edges, even door gaps and neatly finished corners.
Board & support
The right board grade, shelf thickness and fixings for the job.
Hinges & drawers
Smooth movement, correct load capacity and careful adjustment.
Finish & fitting
Consistent sheen, considered grain and neat joins to walls and floors.

A simple finish can still be beautifully made

Choose a finish you enjoy, a construction that suits the room and hardware that works well. More expensive materials cannot make up for poor making or fitting.

Hardware & movement

Use these studies to discuss hinge placement, drawer construction and access. Confirm the actual hardware, load ratings and clearances in the specification.

Concept of a concealed multi-link hinge mortised into a substantial smoked-walnut door — Concealed hinges
Quiet, concealed movement

Concept of a dark metal architectural hinge integrated into smoked-walnut joinery — Architectural hinges
Refined metal, precise alignment

Hardware & mechanism

Smooth, controlled movement

Concept film · Press play to view

Materials, made simple

Entry to high

01Entry

02Mid

03High

Glass

Mirror

Surface, grain & light

Material junction

Timber screens

Glass cabinetry

Veneer

Glass

Inside the joinery

Edges, integration & storage

Edge detail

Integration

Storage

Recessed handle detail

Four things to check

Edges & gaps

Board & support

Hinges & drawers

Finish & fitting

A simple finish can still be beautifully made

Hardware & movement

Concealed hinges

Architectural hinges

Hardware & mechanism