The finishes at a glance
| Finish | Look | Durability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate | Matte, textured, wood-grain or gloss | High, scratch and heat tolerant | Kitchens, wardrobes, kids rooms, rentals |
| Acrylic | Deep high gloss | Good, but shows scratches | Feature shutters, wall cabinets, modern kitchens |
| Veneer | Real wood | Moderate, needs polish upkeep | Living rooms, wardrobes, TV walls |
| PU paint | Seamless painted, any colour | Moderate, can chip | Premium shutters, curved or profiled doors |
| Membrane (PVC foil) | Moulded profiles | Lower, can peel near heat | Budget profiled shutters away from the hob |
Laminate
High-pressure laminate is the workhorse finish. It handles heat, scratches and daily cleaning better than anything else at its price, and it comes in hundreds of colours and textures. Modern matte and anti-fingerprint laminates look far better than the shiny sheets of ten years ago. For most kitchens and wardrobes, laminate is the sensible default.
Acrylic
Acrylic gives a mirror-like gloss that laminate cannot match. It is bright and easy to wipe, but it shows fine scratches and fingerprints, especially in dark colours. It costs more. Our low-cost guide notes that choosing laminate over acrylic saves roughly ₹40,000 to ₹80,000 on a kitchen. A good compromise is acrylic on the wall cabinets and laminate on the base units, which take the knocks.
Veneer
Veneer is a thin slice of real wood, so every sheet is different. It brings warmth to a wooden TV unit or a bedroom wardrobe. It needs polishing and is less forgiving of water and direct sunlight, so it is a poor choice near a kitchen sink.
PU paint and membrane
PU-painted shutters give a seamless finish in any colour and suit profiled or curved doors, but they can chip on edges in a busy kitchen. Membrane (PVC foil) is a budget way to get profiled shutters. It can peel when exposed to heat, so keep it away from the hob and oven.
How to choose
- Heavy daily cooking: laminate on base units, acrylic or laminate on wall units.
- Children at home: matte laminate everywhere they can reach.
- Living room feature wall: veneer or fluted panels for warmth.
- Bedroom wardrobes: laminate, or veneer for a premium look, with a mirror shutter. See modern wardrobes.
The finish is only the outside
A premium shutter on a weak carcass fails just as fast. The board grade underneath matters more. Read our plywood guide before deciding where to spend.