If you are planning a kitchen, a wardrobe or a run of shelves in Nairobi, the first question is usually which board to build it from. At Kenyos Wood in Nairobi we stock quality boards in the three most common choices: chipboard, MDF and blockboard. Each one has a job it does best. This guide explains MDF vs chipboard vs blockboard so you can choose with confidence, and then see the boards side by side at our showroom at 44 Enterprise Rd, Industrial Area.
Chipboard: the everyday choice for kitchens and wardrobes
Chipboard (also called particle board) is made from wood particles pressed into a flat, even sheet. Most of the chipboard we sell comes already laminated, so the face you see is a finished decor rather than raw board. That makes it the quickest route to a finished cabinet: cut it, edge it and assemble.
Our chipboard range covers plain whites such as Kenyos White, woodgrains like Original Walnut, Savina Oak, Hosta Oak and Sonoma, solid colours such as Khaki, Petrol Blue and Light Green, and marble-look boards. Several decors also come in a UV finish, a high-gloss topcoat that gives a mirror-like surface and better scratch resistance than a normal finish.
Chipboard comes in more than one sheet size. Depending on the decor you will find 8×4 ft and 9×4 ft sheets, and some decors, such as Sonoma, Cordoba and Kaman Ceviz, come as large 7×9 ft boards for full-height wardrobe doors and wide panels.
Where chipboard works best
- Kitchen cabinet carcasses and doors
- Wardrobe carcasses, shelves and drawer units
- Wall units and living room shelving
MDF: smooth, dense and stable
MDF (medium-density fibreboard) is made from fine wood fibres, which gives it a dense, uniform core with no voids. That uniform core is why MDF is popular where clean, stable edges matter. We stock Black MDF laminated white on both sides: a dense black core with a double-sided white laminate, suited to shelving, office furniture and cabinetry.
Because the core is so even, MDF is a good choice when you want crisp edges and a flat, consistent surface across a large panel.
Blockboard: strength for doors and heavy shelves
Blockboard has a core of solid wood strips sandwiched between veneers. That construction gives it strong screw-holding and good resistance to warping, which is why it is the board people choose for doors, heavy shelving and tables: anywhere a panel has to carry weight over a span.
Quick comparison
- Chipboard: widest choice of laminated and UV gloss decors; ideal for cabinets and wardrobes.
- MDF: dense, uniform core and clean edges; ideal for shelving and precise cabinetry.
- Blockboard: solid wood core with strong screw-holding; ideal for doors, heavy shelves and tables.
Which board should you use for a kitchen in Kenya?
Many kitchens in Nairobi use more than one board. A common approach is laminated chipboard for the carcasses and doors, with a stronger board where you need extra load-bearing, such as long shelves or a tall unit door. If you want a high-gloss look, choose a UV chipboard decor for the doors and keep a plain white board, such as Kenyos White, for the inside of the cabinets.
Whatever you choose, plan the fittings at the same time. Rails, handles and other kitchen and wardrobe fittings are easier to get right when you know the board thickness and layout.
Choosing a decor you will live with
Board type decides how a cabinet performs; decor decides how it looks every day, and that is where good interior design starts. In home interiors in Kenya, light woodgrains and whites keep a small kitchen feeling open, while darker decors such as Kenyos Dark Grey or the walnut boards add depth. If you cannot decide, compare two or three decors under daylight at the showroom before you commit. Our home page also lets you shop boards by colour family.
Get your boards cut to size
Once you have chosen your board and decor, we can cut and edge it to your sizes, so the panels arrive ready to assemble. See our board cutting and edging service, or send your cutting list straight to us on WhatsApp.
Shop the boards in this guide
Prices and stock for the chipboard, MDF and blockboard mentioned above:
Talk to us before you buy
Not sure which board suits your project? Send us a message on WhatsApp on 0759 888 222 with what you are building and the look you want. You can also visit our showroom at 44 Enterprise Rd, Industrial Area, Nairobi, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, and compare the decors in person. We have been helping Nairobi homeowners, carpenters and fitters since 2017, and we can deliver to your site once you have ordered.