Materials for bespoke joinery
Wood materials & finishes
for bespoke joinery.
Painted cabinetry, natural grain or a textured panel. Explore the options we offer for media walls, wardrobes, shelving and fitted storage, then choose the combination that suits your room.
Explore the seven optionsStart with the whole piece.
Paint and spray describe how a surface is finished. Veneer, solid timber and faced boards describe its construction. They are not interchangeable labels, and one cabinet can use several of them.
A painted exterior with a board-finished interior may suit your storage. A timber face might be the part you want to invest in. We work through the visible surfaces, hidden structure and details together.
Applied finish
Painted on site
Joinery finished in your home, with the colour and sheen agreed as part of the design.
Where it works
Fitted shelving, painted cabinets and units that need to sit comfortably alongside the surrounding walls.
Details to consider
Preparation matters as much as the paint colour. We agree how faces, edges and joints will be finished, and allow for the work to take place in the room. A hand-applied finish has a different surface character from a workshop spray finish.
What affects the price
Preparation, detailing and time on site.
Applied finish
Workshop sprayed
A sprayed coating applied to prepared components in the workshop before installation.
Where it works
Cabinet doors, drawer fronts and visible panels where a consistent painted appearance is a priority.
Details to consider
Choose the colour and sheen together: the same shade can look quite different in a matt or more reflective finish. We also agree how installation joints and any subsequent touch-ups will be handled.
What affects the price
Preparation, coating specification and component count.
Decorative surface
Vinyl wrap
A decorative film applied over a suitable core, with the appearance selected from the available range.
Where it works
Cabinet fronts and panels where an available plain-colour or wood-effect finish suits the design.
Details to consider
We check the chosen wrap against the door profile, edges and intended position. Heat exposure, cleaning and repair requirements depend on the specific product. A wood-effect wrap is distinct from real timber veneer.
What affects the price
Chosen film, door profile and edge detail.
Decorative faced board
EGGER / MFC
MFC means melamine-faced chipboard: a board core with a decorative surface. EGGER is a manufacturer, rather than a separate type of timber.
Where it works
Cabinet interiors, wardrobe storage, shelving and visible units where a coordinated board finish suits the brief.
Details to consider
Plain colours and wood reproductions offer different looks and textures. The selected decor, matching edging and the way exposed corners meet are all part of the specification. We confirm the actual board product rather than describing every EGGER finish as MFC.
What affects the price
Board specification, edging and layout.
Real timber surface
Real wood veneer
A thin layer of real wood bonded to a supporting core, giving the visible surface natural grain.
Where it works
Broad cabinet fronts, shelving faces and feature panels where the grain is an important part of the design.
Details to consider
Grain direction and the relationship between neighbouring panels need planning. We agree the timber, tone and protective finish, together with the treatment of exposed edges. Natural variation is part of the material; a small sample cannot show every mark in a full panel.
What affects the price
Veneer selection, grain matching and finishing.
Solid timber
Solid hardwood
Solid timber used where its grain, depth and ability to take a shaped detail contribute to the piece.
Where it works
Selected shelving, solid edges, door components and bespoke machined or fluted details.
Details to consider
Species, section sizes and construction are chosen for the design. Timber movement needs allowance, and intricate machining can add considerably to the work. Solid hardwood does not need to be used in every hidden component to create a well-made piece.
What affects the price
Timber species, section sizes and machining.
Product-specific construction
Composite options
Manufactured panels that combine materials, with the exact core and decorative face confirmed for your project.
Where it works
Selected fluted panels, slatted features and decorative surfaces where a manufactured system suits the required pattern.
Details to consider
Composite describes a broad group of products, not one finish or quality level. We specify the actual panel, edge treatment and intended use. A decorative slat panel is not automatically suitable as a shelf, and its appearance alone does not establish acoustic performance.
What affects the price
Panel system, cuts and edge treatment.
Bring the finish into your room.
Photographs help narrow the choice, but screens cannot show the exact colour, sheen or feel. We discuss suitable samples as part of selecting the finish. Look at them beside your flooring and under the lighting you use in the evening, especially when matching an existing oak or painted surface.
Planning a timber feature? Explore our wooden media walls. For the central feature wall, read our marble and Venetian plaster guide, or explore slatted panel design.
Questions before you choose
Can I mix materials in one design?
Yes. Cabinet interiors, doors, shelves and decorative panels can use different materials. We specify each part so you can see where a particular finish is being used.
Is a wood-effect finish the same as real veneer?
No. Real wood veneer has a natural timber surface. A wood-effect decorative surface reproduces the appearance of grain. Both can have a place in a design, but the quotation should make the distinction clear.
Which options work for fluted details?
We can discuss machined timber details and suitable manufactured decorative panels. Flute depth, spacing, edges and whether the detail sits on a working door all affect the specification.
How do materials affect the price?
The area, construction, finish preparation, edging and machining all matter. A detailed fluted door can require more work than a plain front of the same size. We price the proposed design and its agreed materials rather than applying one universal price per finish.
Choose the materials around your design.
Send us your room photographs, approximate dimensions and the finishes that catch your eye. We can discuss the options and prepare a guide price for your bespoke project.
Discuss your projectMedia walls · Fitted wardrobes · Office shelving and storage
Product reference: EGGER decorative boards. Specific products, colours and constructions are confirmed in your project specification.