Guide · WardrobesWardrobe finishes, compared
The shutter finish is most of what you see of a wardrobe. Here is how the common ones look, how they wear, and where each one suits.
A wardrobe is often the largest surface in a bedroom. The box inside does the work, but the shutters are what you see every day, so the finish on them sets the feel of the whole room. These are the finishes you will be offered most often, in plain words.
Laminate
A printed or textured sheet pressed onto the board. Laminates come in a very wide range of colours, wood grains, stone looks and textures, in matt, suede and gloss.
They take daily use well, wipe clean and are easy to replace if a door is damaged. The edges are covered with an edge band, which should match the face. For most bedrooms and children’s rooms, laminate is the practical choice.
Acrylic
A high-gloss sheet with a deep, mirror-like shine. Acrylic gives a clean, modern face in strong or soft colours.
The shine shows fingerprints and fine scratches, so it suits shutters that are opened by handle rather than by hand on the face. It costs more than laminate.
PU paint
A smooth lacquer sprayed in layers and finished in matt, satin or gloss. Because it is painted, it can wrap around edges and curves with no visible joint, and it can be made in almost any colour.
It gives a seamless, crafted look. It needs more care than laminate: a chip has to be touched up by a painter rather than replaced, and it costs more.
Veneer
A thin slice of real wood pressed onto the board, then polished. No two sheets are the same, which is the point: veneer brings the warmth and grain of real timber.
It suits master bedrooms and rooms that should feel calm and natural. Like any wood, it is sensitive to strong sunlight and damp, and it needs a good polish to keep its colour.
Glass
Lacquered glass in a solid colour, or clear, frosted or fluted glass in a frame. Lacquered glass is flat and easy to wipe; clear or fluted glass shows what is inside, so it suits a display section or a walk-in rather than the whole wardrobe.
Glass shutters are heavier, so the hinges or sliding tracks must be chosen for the weight.
Mixing finishes
A wardrobe does not need a single finish. A common mix is veneer or PU on the shutters you see most, laminate inside, and a strip of glass for a lit display section. Mixing lets you spend on the faces that matter and keep the rest practical.
How to choose
- Who uses the room? Children and guests are hard on shutters; laminate forgives more.
- How much light does the room get? Strong sun changes the colour of veneer and some paints over time.
- Do you want handles, or handle-free shutters that you open by the edge?
- Should the wardrobe stand out, or disappear into the wall?
On a site visit, we bring real samples so you can see each finish in your own room’s light before you decide.