What Makes Furniture Boards so Versatile?

Whether you're an amateur hobbyist or a professional woodworker, furniture boards are one of the most versatile materials in your arsenal. With options for a wide range of different functions, aesthetics, and features, furniture boards such as MDF, particle board, and plywood are suitable for building all types of furniture. Here's why. 

What are furniture boards?

Furniture boards are sheets of material used for constructing furniture or shelving. They can be made from various materials, including solid wood, plywood, medium-density fibreboard, chipboard, and melamine-faced chipboard. 

The wide variety of furniture boards makes these materials extraordinarily versatile and helpful. Here are some of the different types of furniture boards available.  

Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF)

An engineered wood made of waste wood fibres compressed with wax and a resin binder, MDF is a versatile type of furniture board suitable for many different projects. Panels of MDF are denser than particleboard or plywood and are easy to cut and drill accurately. The smooth surface of MDF is also ideal for applying paint, so this material is an excellent choice for painted furniture. 

MDF is available in various varieties with different features. For example, moisture-resistant MDF is ideal for use in bathroom or kitchen furniture, which will be in a humid environment. Fire retardant MDF has properties that make it suited for use in places with specific fire safety regulations. At the same time, exterior MDF is a good substitute for softwood, hardwood, or plywood in outdoor settings such as garden furniture or shop fronts.

Although MDF is perfect for painting, there are other ways to get a stylish finish on your furniture boards. Coloured MDF is available in many varieties, so you can choose the perfect look for your furniture. It's also available in various thicknesses from 3mm to 50mm, so you can get the sheets best suited to your project. 

Note: because MDF is manufactured using formaldehyde glue, it's essential to wear protective equipment while cutting it because of the release of harmful particles. 

Chipboard

Chipboard, also known as particle board or low-density fibreboard, is a sheet material made of small wood chips bound together with resin. It is similar to cardboard and is less dense than MDF. Cheap and valuable for various projects, particle board is available in multiple grades for different conditions (moisture, load bearing, etc.). It's often used as panels in walls or under flooring. 

Melamine Faced Chipboard (MFC)

Another versatile type of furniture board is Melamine Faced Chipboard or MFC. These boards have a core of particle board with layers of melamine on the exterior. The melamine faces come in various colours, designs, and textures which may imitate other natural materials such as wood or stone. 

More cost-effective than timber, MFC is an excellent material for making furniture because of its sturdiness and attractive appearance. Providing more diversity of textures and appearance than MDF or particle board, MFC is a perfect option for many furniture projects. 

Plywood

Another engineered wood product, boards made of plywood, are a good compromise between the durability of wood and the affordability of other types of boards. Made from thin veneers of hardwood (birch, oak, mahogany, teak) or softwood (pine, beech) adhered together using glue, plywood is denser than solid wood. It is robust thanks to the alternating grain directions of each veneer. 

Plywood is available in various grades for different purposes, making it a highly versatile option for furniture projects. The grades are based on the appearance of the top veneers rather than the interior veneers. Grade B/BB plywood has a clear and unblemished appearance with only minor natural knots and features, making it great for use in clear finished furniture where a wood-like appearance is desired. BB/BB is a lower grade, although it may sometimes be suitable for clear-finishing. 

Wood

Of course, natural wood can also be used as a furniture board. Wood furniture boards are made from timber, such as oak, beech, or pine. Solid wood furniture boards are incredibly durable and long lasting, perfect for furniture that will be used for decades. 

The downside of using boards made of pure wood is that it is far more expensive than any other manufactured wood-based products on the market. Depending on the nature of the project, wood may not be suitable because of its vulnerability to fire and moisture. For situations where the furniture will be exposed to humidity or needs to be fire retardant due to building regulations, an MDF board with these properties may be more suitable. 

How can I use furniture boards?

To understand the versatility of furniture boards, you must consider some of the many ways they can be used.

Cabinets

When it comes to building cabinets, furniture boards will be your first choice of material due to their versatility and durability. But what type of sheet should you use specifically? This depends on the kind of cabinet you're making. For big cabinets that you're working on alone, plywood is often a good board choice because it is lighter and easier to work with than some alternatives. Veneered MDF is another good option -- these sheets have an MDF core with high-quality veneers of natural wood on top for a great appearance that is also more cost-effective and easy to work with. Or, if you're building cabinets that need a smooth finish and can be painted on top of, medium-density fibreboard is a good choice. This can provide smooth, grain-free cabinet doors with a sleek and stylish appearance. 

Kitchens

For kitchen furniture, you need long-lasting and reliable materials. Furniture boards are the answer. For example, melamine-faced chipboard is an excellent material for the inside cabinets and kitchen drawers. Thanks to its scratch-resistant nature, it keeps your furniture looking fresh after years of use. Its surface is also easy to clean, which is a crucial consideration when designing indoor furniture for kitchens. Another way versatile furniture boards shine in the kitchen is in flooring and wall linings. Easy to cut and lay and extremely cheap to buy in bulk, particle board makes the perfect material for under your floors or lining your walls in the kitchen. 

Bathrooms

In bathrooms, it's essential to use moisture-resistant materials for your project. Moisture-resistant MDF is a type of furniture board perfect for use in bathroom cabinets and other projects. Melamine faced chipboard is another excellent option for bathroom applications thanks to the durable and easy-to-clean nature of the sheets. If you're looking for authentic-looking wood and stone textures to add a luxurious feel to your bathroom, MFC is the best and most affordable way to go. 

Outdoor furniture

Moisture resistance and long-lasting durability is also key consideration when making outdoor furniture. Various furniture boards such as exterior MDF and exterior grade or marine plywood are best suited for outdoor uses such as tables, chairs, decks, and walkways. 

Furniture boards: Your most versatile material

No matter the scale and scope of your project, furniture boards are one of the most versatile materials you can use. Affordable, dependable, and easy to work with, furniture boards such as particle board, plywood, MDF, or MFC can be attractive and affordable options for your next build. With a vast range of features, textures, colours, and sizes available, you'll be sure to find every type of furniture board you need. 

Are you looking to buy high quality furniture boards for your upcoming project? Visit Cworkshop, a London-based materials cut and edge specialist. With a wide range of collections, including MDF boards, plywood, particle board, MCF boards, furniture fittings, and bespoke sliding or shaker-style doors, Cworkshop is the one-stop shop for any woodworking pro or DIY enthusiast.