What is better for the kitchen: MDF or laminated chipboard is a controversial issue. When arranging a kitchen, it is important to take into account a large number of nuances, one of which is the quality of the material for making furniture. Since not all people have the opportunity to purchase products made from natural solid wood, they have to look for a budget replacement.
The most popular materials are MDF and chipboard. At first glance they are similar, but in fact they differ in production technology and some properties. Today we will look at the positive and negative qualities of these panels.
MDF or chipboard for the kitchen: which is better?
What is MDF
The material received its unusual name due to its abbreviation. The full name is “finely dispersed fraction”.
Production
To produce both materials, wood production waste is used: knots, branches, crooked trunks, trimmings.
All these materials turn into small chips, which subsequently become the base of MDF or chipboard.
And here lies the first difference between these two materials: For laminated chipboard, the chips are made quite large; for MDF, the blanks are crushed to the smallest possible size.
The second difference is related to the process of combining sawdust and shavings into a single mass:
- For more modern material, the hot pressing method is used;
- For the manufacture of chipboards, formaldehyde resins are used, which are not particularly safe.
At the same time, MDF already has a smooth and soft structure, completely ready for furniture production; laminated chipboard requires additional sanding.
DIY chipboard kitchen
For those who have carpentry skills, they can make kitchen furniture from chipboard with their own hands. This material can be easily processed in any way. Before starting work, you need to make a design for the future headset.
It is best to choose a ready-made option with a diagram, since special knowledge is required to independently create a kitchen set project. The finished project can be adapted to your own preferences.
Make a sketch of each piece of furniture. In order to purchase the required amount of materials, it is important to draw up a cutting map. Afterwards, cut out the parts in accordance with the cutting map.
Assemble the parts using a screwdriver, hammer drill, hammer, Forstner drill, furniture jigs. Purchase the necessary accessories.
Advantages of materials
Both materials are in great demand due to their undoubted advantages. These include:
- A wide selection of colors and patterns helps to create furniture suitable for decorating a wide variety of rooms.
- Durability. The materials are quite resistant to mechanical damage and are not susceptible to invasion by bugs and other unwanted inhabitants of natural wood.
- Hygiene. The coating of both materials tolerates wet cleaning and the use of household chemicals well.
- Durability. If you follow simple rules, the materials will last for quite a long time, without requiring additional efforts to maintain an attractive appearance.
- Nice price. Unlike wood, MDF and laminated chipboard are quite available for purchase as part of cabinet furniture, and modern films make them practically indistinguishable from natural materials.
Layout recommendations
The main advantage of self-production is the ability to choose any size, including deviations from current standards. The layout of most rooms is similar, but there are also differences, due to which the actual implementation of projects can cause some difficulties.
At the first stage, you need to take general measurements of the kitchen, recording the results in writing. Then they move on to the technology and other equipment that is already inside. Separately, the sketch should reflect the location of various pipelines:
- Gas pipelines.
- Tap water.
- Heating.
Sockets and switches are also marked on all plans.
Only after completing the previous steps are they determined what the cabinets themselves should be, of any variety. It is advisable to use special tables that contain all the information regarding standard dimensions.
When choosing a location for furniture, one must take into account not only the remaining free space, but also the convenience for future use. Convenience in terms of the height of the floor and countertops is important for the housewife. She must evaluate in advance all the pros and cons of chipboard kitchens.
It is necessary to take into account not only the dimensions of the furniture, but also the thickness of the material. In the case of the body, it is 16-18 millimeters, for the tabletop – 28-38 mm. You can order calculations from a professional to help with them.
Advantages of MDF
At the same time, a more modern coating has additional attractive properties.
It:
- Has high strength and resistance to chipping;
- Less susceptible to moisture;
- Suitable for creating complex designs and carvings.
Environmental friendliness
An important aspect is the comparison of laminated chipboard and MDF in terms of the content of harmful substances in their composition. The latter negatively affect human life.
Furniture made from chipboard is produced using formaldehyde. This substance is used as a binding element. Although the products are divided into classes E1 and E2, and in the first version less toxic substances were used, furniture made from chipboard is toxic, and this adversely affects health.
In MDF, the composition of the board is close to natural wood and does not have any negative impact on humans. However, in terms of cost, a countertop made of laminated chipboard is cheaper than a product made of MDF.
Disadvantages of materials
The main disadvantage is the flammability of the materials. However, a similar drawback is present in all objects created from wood or its derivatives.
The second unpleasant moment will be the formation of cracks or chips when heavy objects fall onto the surface or careless handling of sharp objects.
General requirements for the use of furniture
Do not expose kitchen furniture to high temperatures (>75 degrees). In this case, deformation will occur. Use stands for hot items. Constant contact with water will cause the materials to swell, so you should immediately wipe off any moisture that gets on the surface. It is also worth noting that constant exposure to direct sunlight can negatively affect the color of the product. You should use special boards for cutting vegetables and fruits.
Comparison of main characteristics
Despite almost the same composition and similar characteristics, the materials have slightly different performance properties:
- Density. This indicator is slightly higher for MDF, so it becomes stronger and more resistant to damage.
- Moisture resistance. Laminated chipboard has much better performance than its untreated predecessor. But it is also inferior to MDF in this property. However, the latter material also does not really like water. The areas that suffer the most from moisture are not very neatly sealed joints and corners. Therefore, when purchasing, you should pay special attention to the edges of the products.
- Durability. This indicator is influenced by strength, moisture resistance and ability to withstand impacts. All these characteristics are higher in MDF, so a panel made from fine wood fraction still has a chance to live longer. In addition, chipboard does not really like re-screwing screws or hammering nails.
- Environmental friendliness. Formaldehyde, which is part of chipboard, can release dangerous fumes when heated strongly, so it is considered a more harmful material. But in ordinary life it is completely safe. And yet, if there is a choice, it is better to give preference to MDF.
- Flammability. In terms of this indicator, laminated chipboard wins; it is more resistant to heat and fire.
- Price. In terms of loyalty to the wallet of the future owner, laminated chipboard is the leader, but due to its longer service life, this saving may be dubious.
Appearance. In appearance, both materials are not very different from each other. However, MDF has more possibilities for creating a more attractive design. The material can withstand milling and creating patterns, and can be finished with natural veneer. So in beauty it is not much different from solid wood.
Most often, products made from chipboard are purchased for quick furnishing of premises and subsequent replacement with higher quality items. MDF remains an investment for a longer period.
What to choose
You can choose different materials for different rooms. It depends on the wishes of the owners, their capabilities, as well as the purpose of the room.
- Living room. The room is not subject to changes in temperature and humidity, so both materials will look equally good here. However, preference is still given to the more resistant and durable MDF, which also has more sophisticated patterns.
- Bedroom and children's room. For both premises, environmental friendliness plays a major role, so if it is not possible to use natural wood, the choice is still made in favor of MDF.
- Kitchen. The undisputed leader is MDF, which is more resistant to moisture and temperature changes. Laminated chipboard is used if you need to leave the room quickly, but there is not much money.
- Bathroom and toilet. Both materials are not very suitable for furnishing these rooms due to their dislike of moisture. But if there is a need to equip a “wet” room with a set of wood waste, then choose the more moisture-resistant and durable MDF. In this case, special attention is paid to finishing the edges of the product.
- Hallway. Usually there is not too much load on the furniture in the hallway. For the entrance area, it is still better to buy furniture made of MDF, but laminated chipboard will also work well.
Modern Kitchen Design Ideas
The kitchen is not only a room for preparing food, but also a place for a pleasant pastime while eating. Therefore, the kitchen should combine functionality, comfort and coziness. Recently, designer kitchens combined with a living room or loggia have become widespread, which allows you to expand the kitchen space.
The corner kitchen, decorated in warm orange-brown tones, is very cozy and spacious. The white countertop harmonizes with the overall design, the cabinets with a closed facade are orange, and the set is closed by a brown pencil case. Built-in lighting creates the impression of spaciousness.
Glossy white corner set is an excellent solution for a small kitchen. The fronts of the cabinets have different coatings: PVC film and small metallic flowers, which gives the cabinets originality. An open cabinet closes the set. A distinctive feature of the set is an open bar counter that matches the color scheme of the entire kitchen. For a festive feast there is a folding table with chairs.
A set with ceiling-length cabinets in beige tones in a classic style gives the kitchen space, but at the same time creates coziness. The furniture body is made of chipboard, and the cabinet fronts are made of moisture-resistant MDF board, painted with enamel. Facades with showcases, grilles and frosted glass. Lower tier cabinets with drawers, wall cabinets with hinged doors. Many decorative elements give the kitchen a solemn and luxurious look.
A bright fuchsia kitchen is an unusual design solution for a small kitchen. The design contains three main colors: fuchsia, black and white. Furniture made of chipboard with plastic coating. The black countertop and white appliances go well with the closed facades of the fuchsia cabinets.
A kitchen island in brown looks very original. The main element of such a kitchen is a cabinet table, which is placed in the center of the room and serves as a work surface or dining table. The table can be of various shapes: square, oval, round, semicircular or with a folding surface. This layout is only suitable for large kitchens.
