What types of wood are best for kitchen cupboards?

That’s a great question! Each type of timber has its own unique beauty and benefits, so we’ve put together a handy guide to help you understand the differences and choose the best option for your new kitchen.

We suggest using hardwoods in your kitchen, they’re stronger and more resistant to wear and tear, making them ideal for high-traffic areas. Avoid MDF and chipboard as they chip, swell and degrade over time, hardwood is an investment that will last for generations with proper care.

The most popular choices for our solid wood kitchens include walnut, oak, ash, and tulipwood. They’re all locally grown timbers that are perfect for kitchen cupboards. However, can also choose premium grade birch ply if you prefer or we can source different materials if you had something else in mind.

Embracing the beauty of oak with our Scandinavian-style Stick Frame Kitchen

Walnut

Walnut is a premium choice for kitchen cupboards, offering a rich, warm tone and a distinctive grain pattern that adds elegance to any kitchen. As a hardwood, walnut is highly durable, resistant to warping, and long-lasting, making it ideal for high-use areas like kitchens. Its natural variations in colour and grain create a unique, bespoke look, ensuring no two cupboards are exactly alike.

This beautiful hardwood can be oiled or stained to enhance its deep, luxurious finish, and it pairs beautifully with both modern and traditional kitchen designs.

A highly sought-after wood, it is our most premium option - but its unmatched beauty and quality make it a standout option for bespoke solid wood kitchens.

Oak

Oak is a timeless and versatile choice for kitchen cabinets, prized for its exceptional durability and natural strength. This beautiful hardwood is highly resistant to everyday wear and tear, making it ideal for a busy kitchen. Its distinctive grain adds warmth and character, whether you prefer a traditional shaker-style kitchen or a sleek, modern look. Oak can be stained or painted, although its so naturally beautiful, we often advice finishing it with a simple oil.

With its long lifespan, low maintenance and classic appeal, oak is a smart investment for those seeking beautiful, hard-wearing solid wood kitchen cabinets. While it’s less expensive than walnut, it offers a premium look and finish that will last a lifetime.

Oak is a handsome wood with a rich grain, it brings instant warmth to modern kitchens.

Ash

Ash is an excellent choice for kitchen cabinets, offering a more economical choice and a perfect balance of strength, flexibility and natural beauty. Known for its light, creamy tones and distinctive grain, ash brings a sense of brightness and openness to any kitchen, making it ideal for contemporary interiors.

Unlike some heavier hardwoods, ash is lightweight yet incredibly durable, ensuring long-lasting performance without compromising on style. Its naturally smooth texture makes it great for staining or painting, allowing for a wide range of finishes to suit any style.

Tulipwood

Tulipwood is the ideal choice for painted kitchen cabinets, offering a smooth, even surface that ensures a flawless finish. As a hardwood, it is both strong and stable, making it highly resistant to warping or movement over time - essential for a long-lasting kitchen.

Unlike more heavily grained woods, tulipwood has a fine, uniform texture, allowing paint to adhere beautifully for a crisp, professional look. Its durability makes it perfect for high-traffic kitchens, while its versatility means it can be finished in any colour to suit both classic and modern designs.

Tulipwood is also our most economical option, although we would only recommend using this solid wood when you want a painted finish.

Birch Ply

Although we specialise in making solid wood kitchens from locally grown timbers, we do also offer the option to choose a veneered wood with a premium birch ply core.

Birch plywood is a high-performance material that is popular for modern kitchen cabinets due to its strength, stability and water resistance. Made from multiple layers of birch veneer, it is incredibly durable and resistant to warping, making it ideal for a hardworking kitchen.

Although not locally grown, it is sourced from fast-growing birch trees and produces minimal waste so it’s still quite eco-friendly.

Veneered oak with a premium birch ply core, combining durability of ply with the beauty of oak.

If you’d like to find out more about costs, we can send you a full personalised quote. All you need to do is answer a few simple questions - Get a quote

To learn more about our solid wood kitchens and the different material options - book a call with our designers.