Which would be better to use for flat door panels on a painted bathroom vanity – MDF, plywood, or solid wood?

– deLancey

Hi deLancey,

While all three make excellent materials for painted cabinetry, on a bathroom vanity I would use a close-grained, hardwood plywood (like birch plywood) for the door panels, cabinet sides, shelves, and tall drawers; and a close-grained, solid hardwood (such as birch, maple, or poplar) for the door frames, small drawers, and cabinet face frame.

MDF (medium density fiberboard) is fine for most painted cabinetry, but it won’t hold up as well to the high humidity and moisture in a bathroom as plywood. Solid wood shrinks and expands in width as the humidity changes, which could cause the paint line to crack over time where the panel meets the frame in a moist bathroom.

Regardless of which material you choose for your vanity, be sure you have a properly sized bathroom exhaust fan, that’s vented to the outside, to remove moisture from the bathroom; and run the fan while showering or bathing and for 15-20 minutes afterward.

Good luck with your project,


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Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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