Real Wood vs. Laminate Finishes: Understanding the Difference and Making the Right Choice

Real Wood Cabinets Behind Closed Doors

When it comes to cabinetry and storage solutions, the choice between real wood and laminate finishes is a crucial one. At Behind Closed Doors, we pride ourselves on offering both options to cater to a variety of needs, styles, and budgets. Understanding the differences between these materials, and knowing when to use one over the other, can help you make an informed decision for your next home project.

Real Wood: Timeless Elegance and Natural Beauty

Characteristics: Real wood is a natural material that exudes warmth, beauty, and character. Each piece is unique, with its grain patterns and natural imperfections adding to its charm. Wood can be stained, painted, or left in its natural state, offering versatility in design. Our extensive product line includes a wide range of wood species, from rich mahogany to elegant oak, ensuring that you find the perfect match for your style.

Walk In Closets Design in Delaware

Why Choose Real Wood?

  • Durability: Real wood is incredibly durable and can last for decades when properly maintained. It’s a great choice for high-traffic areas like kitchens or living rooms, where you want your investment to stand the test of time.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: There’s nothing quite like the look and feel of real wood. It adds a touch of luxury and sophistication to any space, making it an ideal choice for those who value craftsmanship and quality.
  • Resale Value: Homes with real wood cabinetry often have higher resale value, as buyers recognize and appreciate the quality and longevity of natural materials.

Project Examples: We’ve completed numerous projects using real wood, from elegant kitchen cabinets to custom-built bookcases and living room cabinetry. These spaces not only look stunning but are built to withstand daily use, providing our clients with long-lasting beauty and functionality.

Laminate: Modern, Affordable, and Versatile

Characteristics: Laminate is a synthetic material made by fusing multiple layers of paper and resin. It’s available in a wide variety of colors, textures, and patterns, including convincing wood-look finishes. Laminate is a popular choice for those looking for a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing style.

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Why Choose Laminate?

  • Affordability: Laminate is typically less expensive than real wood, making it a great option for homeowners who want a stylish look without breaking the bank.
  • Durability: Modern laminates are highly durable and resistant to scratches, moisture, and heat. They’re perfect for areas that see a lot of wear and tear, such as bathrooms or laundry rooms.
  • Low Maintenance: Laminate is easy to clean and maintain, requiring no special treatments or refinishing, making it a practical choice for busy households.

Project Examples: Our laminate projects include sleek and modern home offices, durable laundry room cabinets, and stylish bathroom vanities. These spaces benefit from the practicality and affordability of laminate while still offering a high-end look.

Why We Offer Both: Tailored Solutions for Every Home

We believe in providing our clients with choices that fit their unique needs. While many of our competitors shy away from using real wood due to the higher costs and complexity involved, we embrace the challenge. Our team of skilled craftsmen and designers is equipped to handle both real wood and laminate projects with equal expertise, ensuring that you get the best possible outcome, no matter which material you choose.

Extensive Product Line and Finishing Touches

Beyond the material choice, we offer an extensive product line that includes a wide variety of door and drawer faces. From traditional raised panel designs to sleek, modern flat panels, we have options to suit every style. To complete your cabinetry project, we offer high-end countertop options and a large selection of hardware, including handles, knobs, and pulls that add the perfect finishing touch.

Crowning Your Project

The final piece of the puzzle is choosing the right countertop and hardware to crown your cabinetry. Whether you prefer the luxurious feel of granite or the modern appeal of quartz, we offer a range of countertop options that enhance the beauty and functionality of your space. Our hardware selection further elevates your design, providing the finishing touches that make your cabinetry truly unique.

Let us help you create a space that’s not only beautiful but also perfectly suited to your lifestyle. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and explore the possibilities!

Five Common Mistakes to Avoid when Designing your Custom Closet

As the premier custom closet company in Coastal Delaware and Maryland, we’ve designed and installed hundreds of closets for our customers. Over that time, we’ve seen a lot of closets that quite simply don’t make sense. Hence the need for our clients to redesign them! Fortunately for our clients, we have a team of expert designers to leads them through the design process from start to finish to make sure their closet functions for them. If you’re ready to get started on a custom closet project with us, check out these five common mistakes to avoid! And then give us a call to guarantee they don’t happen with you project!

Not Making The System Adjustable

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Your mix of clothing will change over time, so you’ll need a system that can evolve with your wardrobe. Installing an adjustable system eliminates the headache of not having the right makeup of space as you add in new clothing. If you’re going to invest in a custom closet, you want it to function for you over the long haul!

Not Making the Shelves Deep Enough

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Shallow shelves can leave to a sloppy look, with clothing and shoes hanging out over the edge. Avoid this common mistake by ensuring that your shelves are deep enough to fit a range of clothing and shoes.

Not Tailoring Your Closet to Your Needs

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There is no one-size-fits-all closet! Which is why you need to do some inventory before designing your custom closet to make sure you’re incorporating the best components for your wardrobe! Maybe your work attire takes up the most space. Maybe you have more shirts than dresses. Maybe you’d prefer hanging your clothes instead of stacking them up. Our closet designer will run through all of this during the design process to make sure your closet functions for you!

Not Adding Adequate Lighting

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Lighting can often be overlooked in closet design, but it’s essential to create a space that functions as good as it looks! It’s hard to get dressed in the morning if you have to search for things in the dark. Try installing a focal chandelier in the center of the closet to make a statement or go more subtle with recessed puck lighting to show off purses and accessories, LED lighting to illuminate your wardrobe behind glass doors, or ribbon lighting above closet rods to provide more functional light.

Not Having the Right Type of Shoe Storage

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Not all shoes storage is the same! Cubbies can hold informal footwear such as sandals, flip-flops, slippers, and sneakers. Angled shelves with shoe fences can prop up your pumps and dress shoes. Flat shelves at ground level are best for everyday shoes to make the transition easy. Feeling overwhelmed? That’s why we’re here to help!

Contact us today to get started designing your custom closet—without these common mistakes!

 

 

 

 

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