Kitchen cabinets are essential kitchen furniture because they store food, cooking utensils, dishes, silverware, and other equipment so they don’t get in the way of the cook.

Cabinets that are sturdy and durable and hold the kitchen materials are as important as cabinets that complement the kitchen design. Cabinets are actually made of different materials, with various types of colorings and finishes. Choosing the right material and treatments for it will ensure a beautiful cabinet that will hold up as long as you want it to.

The following are materials used for cabinetry:

· Solid Wood

Kitchen cabinets made of natural wood are more durable and more expensive than their counterparts. There are different types and kinds of woods—hardwood and softwood, light and dark, and readily available and imported.

Wood cabinets change color when exposed to light, although newly developed finishing methods will slow down the process.

Natural wood also exhibits unique characteristics such as graining variations, rings, knots, holes, sap runs, and discolorations. These will also affect stains, paints, and glazes applied to the wood, so be sure to see the color on your choice of wood before you decide to order them.

· Engineered Wood

Engineered or composite wood is a type of wood that is a binding of wood strands, fibers, veneers, and particles. It is stronger and more even than natural wood. Engineered wood is used as an underlying layer, or a substrate, for wood veneer or laminate.

Engineered wood commonly used for cabinets are particleboards, fiberboards, and plywood. Other types are flakeboards, overlays, standboards or waferboard, and laminated veneer lumber.

· Veneer

Veneered cabinets are cheaper alternatives to solid wood cabinets. They also allow pattern consistency across the whole cabinet.

Veneer panels are basically thin layers of wood (3 mm or 1/8 inch) glued together over a thicker particleboard, fiberboard, or plywood core. This placement greatly reduced splitting or cracking, as the glue used is the same as the one used for aircrafts and marine vessels.

After you have chosen the type of wood you would like to use for your cabinets, you will want to know the types of finishing treatments your wood can get. Wood cabinets do not always show the actual color of the wood used. This is due to stains, dyes, and glazes. Remember that not all finishes will look the same on different kinds of wood.

· Dyes and stains on wood

Stains are sprayed, wiped, or brushed against the surface of the wood. The depth and color of the stain is determined by how long the stain is allowed on the surface before it is wiped off. Dyes, meanwhile, are applied into the wood so they don’t cover the texture and wood grain.

Light color woods are perfect for small kitchens with contemporary or country designs. Clear of light stains will enhance the look of the cabinet.

Medium color woods create a warmer atmosphere. These, too, blend well in contemporary designs, as well as traditional and rustic. Beech or cherry stains are good for medium color woods.

Dark color woods go well with Old World and traditional kitchen designs, since they give off a dramatic and serious atmosphere.

· Finishes/sealers

A finish is the surface treatment of wood used to enhance the wood color and grain. A sealers is a liquid coat applied on wood after it has been dyed or stained to prevent the wood surface from absorbing paint or varnish.

Glazes are clear stains applied after sealers to enhance and improve the color of the wood.

Kitchen cabinets should be cleaned as often as dishwashers and stoves, since cabinets store dishes, pots and pans, and silverware. Avoid using abrasives or caustic cleaners for wood cabinets. Clean every corner, from top to bottom, to rid of dust and insects. If hinges or doors become loose, repair them as soon as possible to prevent unwanted elements from crawling into the cabinet.