Interior materials guide
Plain-English guides to the boards, finishes and hardware that go into your furniture.
Choosing the right interior materials decides how long your kitchen, wardrobes and furniture last. Two cabinets can look identical on day one and behave completely differently after two Kolkata monsoons.
These guides explain the types of plywood and the best plywood for furniture, plus MDF, HDF, HDHMR, particle board, engineered wood, laminates (sunmica), PVC boards, handles and lighting, so you can read a quote with confidence.
Best wood for furniture: 10 types used in India
A guide to common furniture woods in India and which one suits your piece.
Engineered wood vs plywood: which is better?
A clear comparison to help you choose the right board for each piece of furniture.
Gola profile handle: handle-less kitchens explained
How gola profiles create a sleek, handle-free kitchen, and whether they suit you.
HDF board: what it is and how it compares with MDF
A plain-English guide to high-density fibreboard and where to use it.
HDHMR board: what it is and when to use it
High-density, high-moisture-resistant board and how it compares with MDF and ply.
Home lighting design: 12 ideas for every room
A practical guide to lighting your home in layers, room by room.
MDF vs plywood: differences and which to choose
When MDF makes sense, when plywood is the only sensible choice, and why.
PVC foam board: uses, pros and cons
A waterproof, termite-proof board for wet areas, and where it falls short.
Particle board vs plywood: which is better?
Why particle board is cheaper and when that saving costs you later.
Sunmica in English: what is sunmica?
The everyday Indian word for laminate, and what you should know when choosing one.
What is engineered wood? Types, uses, pros and cons
A simple explanation of manufactured wood boards and how to tell them apart.
The short version for humid cities
Use BWP (boiling-water-proof) ply for kitchen base cabinets and anything near water. Use termite-treated MR ply or HDHMR for wardrobes, beds and TV units. Avoid plain particle board and MDF in damp areas. Seal every edge with machine-pressed edge-banding, and ask for the brand and grade in writing.
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