When designing or renovating your kitchen, cabinet doors play a major role in defining both style and durability. Two of the most popular finish options for Australian homes are laminate and acrylic — each offering unique benefits depending on your lifestyle, budget, and design goals.
If you’re unsure which one suits your home best, this guide will help you compare the two side-by-side and make the right choice for your next renovation.
Why homeowners love it:
- Modern and luxurious look: Acrylic doors create a premium, glossy surface that instantly elevates your kitchen’s style.
- Long-lasting shine: The UV-resistant surface keeps colours bright and prevents yellowing or fading over time.
- Moisture and scratch resistant: Each acrylic sheet is sealed along the edges to prevent delamination and moisture damage.
- Easy to clean: A simple wipe with a soft cloth keeps the surface spotless and fingerprint-free.
Pro tip: Acrylic doors work beautifully in upper cabinetry, where natural or artificial lighting enhances their reflective finish and makes the room feel larger.
Why it’s a classic favourite:
- Extremely durable: Made from layers of paper and resin pressed under high pressure, laminate doors are resistant to moisture, impact and everyday wear.
- Affordable: Perfect for budget-conscious renovators who want style without overspending.
- Design flexibility: Available in matte, textured, or glossy finishes, laminate can replicate timber, stone or painted cabinetry at a fraction of the cost.
- Low maintenance: Simply wipe down with soapy water for a clean, refreshed look.
Pro tip: Use laminate for base cabinets or high-traffic areas. It’s more forgiving to daily wear and won’t show fingerprints as easily as acrylic.
Appearance:
Acrylic doors deliver a high-gloss, reflective finish that creates a modern and luxurious look, perfect for sleek and contemporary kitchens. Laminate doors, on the other hand, offer more versatility — available in matte, woodgrain, and textured finishes, they can adapt to both modern and classic styles.
Durability:
Laminate is known for being highly durable and impact-resistant, making it ideal for busy kitchens. Acrylic doors are also durable and UV-resistant, ensuring long-lasting colour, but they require slightly gentler care to avoid scratches on the glossy surface.
Maintenance:
Acrylic surfaces need to be wiped regularly to remove fingerprints or smudges, while laminate doors are lower maintenance and tend to hide everyday marks more easily.
Heat Resistance:
When it comes to heat, laminate performs better, handling higher temperatures with less risk of damage. Acrylic can warp or discolour if exposed to excessive heat, so heat shields or good ventilation are recommended near ovens and cooktops.
Cost:
Acrylic doors are a higher investment due to their premium finish and reflective surface, while laminate doors are more budget-friendly and offer a wide variety of styles for less.
Best For:
Choose acrylic if you want a modern, glossy, and statement-making kitchen, and laminate if you prefer a durable, practical, and family-friendly option that fits your budget.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you’re after a modern, high-end aesthetic, acrylic doors deliver the glossy finish and light-reflecting appeal that make a kitchen look spacious and luxurious.
If you want a more practical, durable and affordable option that offers plenty of colour and texture variety, laminate doors are the perfect match.
For many homeowners, the best solution is a mix of both — acrylic for overhead cabinets to enhance light and luxury, and laminate for base cabinets to handle the daily hustle.
All our cabinet doors are manufactured locally in Perth using high-quality materials and precision cut to your exact measurements, available flat pack or pre-assembled.
Whether you prefer to DIY or have our experts handle the installation, we make it easy to achieve the look you want — on your timeline and within your budget.
Start your kitchen transformation today
Call (08) 9456 3108 or email sales@ekitchens.com.au
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