Which Material is Best for Wardrobe Doors?

Written by: Zoona Sikander, Interior Design Writer & Social Media Content Creator
Edited by: Emma Cyrus, Senior Copy, Content & Editorial Writer
Reviewed by: Rey Amini, Senior Interior Designer & Architect
Fact-checked by: Benjamin Ibanez, Development & FF&E Manager

If you're in the process of choosing a fitted wardrobe design, you're likely asking yourself which material is best for wardrobe doors. The answer depends on several factors, including the type of wardrobe you want, where you plan to put it and your budget.

If the prospect of so many choices overwhelms you, don't worry! We're here to help. At FCI, we've been designing and installing all types of luxury fitted wardrobes for nearly 40 years. Our wardrobe design experts are familiar with all the material options for wardrobe doors and the pros and cons of each choice.

Here is our guide to the most popular materials that will help you make the right selection for your space.

Choosing the right material for your wardrobe doors

There are many different types of materials available for wardrobe doors, which can make it difficult to choose the best one for your cabinet. Here we'll list the most commonly used options. At FCI, we don't use all of these materials as not all of them perform to the same level, however, this will give you an overview of the choices available to you.

MDF stands for medium particle fiberboard. It is scrap wood that has been hammered into sheets. The surface of the sheets is smooth and even due to the utilisation of small particles in the manufacturing process.
Particleboard is, like MDF, made of waste wood chips and sawdust. Wood chips of various sizes are compressed into several layers, which are then pressed together to form a board. The compact molecular structure of particleboard gives it a high bending strength.
Plywood is created by fusing numerous sheets of veneer wood together. The sheets produce strong layers that are dispersed equally in strength.
Solid wood is the most popular choice of material for wardrobe doors as it is a timeless classic that is always impressive to the eye.
Glass is an increasingly popular material for wardrobe doors and can easily be combined with other materials.

In addition to the types of material that make up the wardrobe doors, you will also have a choice of finishes such as lacquered, matt or eco-leather.

We are fanatical about luxury fitted wardrobe design.

Take a look at our range of contemporary wardrobes.

View Sliding Door Wardrobes

Large Handless Built-In Wardrobe by FCI London

View Built-In Wardrobes

View Large Wardrobes

View Corner Wardrobes

Contemporary & Luxury Floor to Ceiling Wardrobe by FCI London

View Floor-to-Ceiling

Integrated Walk-In Wardrobe by FCI London

View Walk-In Wardrobes

Book an appointment with a Wardrobe Expert

Pros and cons of Different Wardrobe Materials

Let's break down the pros and cons of each material:

Material	Pros	Cons
MDF	The smoothness of MDF makes it ideal for painting, so if you want to paint your wardrobe doors, this is your best option. It is also reasonably priced and more environmentally friendly than plywood because it is made from waste wood. The smooth edges can easily be cut into decorative panels and corners.	It uses more glue than particle board, which has a negative environmental impact. It also absorbs moisture easily which means it will deform if it gets wet.
Particleboard	In addition to being less expensive than MDF and plywood, it is frequently pre-laminated, making your decision-making process easier.	It is not as sturdy as plywood or MDF.
Plywood	Plywood is an extremely strong and durable material that is an excellent substitute for wood used in wardrobes. It is also light in texture, making it ideal for detailed designs such as intricate panels. Because it is a base for laminates, it enables you to decorate your wardrobe door in a range of colours without sacrificing strength. It's also available in larger sheets, so there is less waste.	It's more expensive than MDF and, because you can see the layers around the edges, they have to be finished off with laminate or veneer to hide this.
Solid Wood	Wardrobe doors made of solid wood are strong and beautiful with textures, colours and patterns that mimic nature.	It doesn't offer the same range colours and finishes as other materials. If not properly cared for, it can be vulnerable to nicks and scratches which are hard to fix.
Glass	Transparent or semi-transparent glass wardrobes tend to give you motivation to keep your wardrobe tidy and organised. The overall appearance of your wardrobe is lighter and glass wardrobe doors are resistant to the majority of wear and tear.	Glass surfaces are notorious for showing fingerprints and smudges easily, which means frequent cleaning and maintenance are necessary to keep them looking pristine. While transparent or semi-transparent glass provides visibility, it also means that the contents of your wardrobe are on display for everyone to see.

Which Material is Best for Wardrobe Doors?

How to choose the best material for your needs?

Choosing the right material for your wardrobe doors will help ensure that they last a long time in terms of style and durability. The material that you choose depends on the type of wardrobe that you opt for.

If your room is small and you go for a wardrobe with sliding doors, a plywood base with mirrored doors is a good option. The plywood can survive the stress of constant sliding while the mirrored glass adds the illusion of space to your room.

If you are a neat person and you like the idea of a walk-in wardrobe but don't have the space, glass wardrobe doors are a good option. This creates a similar feel to a walk-in wardrobe as you can see the clothing and accessories inside, but has the added benefit of keeping out the dust. If this idea floats your boat but you know you're not tidy enough to pull it off, you can choose a linen door inset that creates an opaque effect, giving you the "open plan" feel while keeping the contents of your wardrobe relatively unseen.

Our wardrobe experts recommend mixing and matching two or more material types to get the best of both worlds. They will guide you through your choice of wardrobe door material during the design process and ensure that whatever you pick will work perfectly in the final product.

Make sure to consider your needs and lifestyle

How big is the space where you will be building the wardrobe? What will it primarily be used for - storing clothing and accessories which you need to access every day, or linen and general storage items that you rarely take out? What style of wardrobe will you choose and do you want it to blend into the decor of your room or do you want it to stand out as a statement piece?

All of these questions will affect your choice of wardrobe style and therefore the material you choose for the wardrobe doors. We recommend sitting down with a piece of paper and making a list of criteria for your new wardrobe. Once you have a clear idea in your head, hop on a zoom call with us and we can explain the best materials that match the features you would like to include.

Shop around for the best prices

Once you're sure of the contemporary wardrobe design that you would like, it's time to start costing your options. At FCI, we know how to create a custom-fitted wardrobe that ticks all your design boxes and fits into your budget. We even have a handy wardrobe cost calculator that you can use to get a ballpark price.

However, nothing is as valuable as a chat with one of our wardrobe designers. They've been helping our customers create their dream wardrobes since 1985 and they understand how to work with budget limitations while never compromising on quality. We encourage you to get more than one quote as it sets your mind at ease. But we are also committed to bringing you the best value for money.

Have the doors installed by a professional

Once you have chosen your new luxury wardrobe supplier, it's time to schedule installation. While there are some wardrobes that you can install yourself, the fitted wardrobes that we design for you will always be installed by our own FCI installation team, never by yourself and never by a third party.

The reason for this is that we take full ownership of the project, giving you peace of mind that if anything should go wrong, we will be the ones to sort it out for you. Our teams are highly skilled and professional, working alongside you to ensure a smooth and easy process.

In Conclusion

Our expert wardrobe team will help you choose the best material for your wardrobe doors as part of your custom-fitted wardrobe design. We'll answer all your questions along the way and ensure that your wardrobe doors will stand the test of time in terms of reliability and refinement.

If you still need help, our expert wardrobe design team is available to offer you a free design consultation.