Buying replacement kitchen doors should not feel like you’re filling in a mortgage application.

Most of our customers already know roughly what they need. There is a cupboard in front of them, a tape measure is in one hand and probably a half-finished kitchen staring accusingly back at them. They need the right size door, the right preparation options and a clear price.

That is why we have introduced our new Bare MDF Kitchen Door Selector.

The new selector makes it much easier to choose one of our standard Bare MDF Shaker kitchen door sizes, see the current price and select optional extras before adding the door to your basket.

You can add hinge holes, a pair of hinges or priming. If the dimensions you require are not available within our standard range, there is also a clear route to our bespoke MDF Shaker doors.

It sounds simple. That is rather the point.

A good ordering system should remove complexity instead of proudly presenting you with more of it.

What Is Our New Bare MDF Kitchen Door Selector?

Our new selector is a simpler way to configure and order our standard-size Bare MDF Shaker kitchen doors online.

You begin by choosing the dimensions of the door or drawer front you need. The selector then displays the current price for that particular size before you add it to your basket.

You can then decide whether you need any additional preparation or hardware.

Options include hinge holes, hinges and priming. Each available extra is clearly shown alongside its additional cost.

This means the important decisions sit together in one place.

You do not have to jump backwards and forwards between different pages trying to work out which service applies to which door.

More importantly, if the size you require is not available, we do not encourage you to choose something that is merely “near enough”.

There is a clear option to move across to our bespoke Bare MDF Shaker doors instead.

Why Did We Build A New Kitchen Door Selector?

Kitchen doors are deceptively simple products.

They are essentially rectangular panels attached to cabinets. How difficult can that possibly be?

Quite difficult, as it turns out.

Once you start replacing kitchen doors you encounter different heights, widths, drawer fronts, appliance doors, hinge arrangements and cabinetry that somebody altered fifteen years ago for reasons now lost to history.

That is before you reach kitchens built from several different ranges.

Replacement projects are particularly good at exposing these little anomalies.

A cabinet might look standard but the existing door could be a few millimetres different from the size you expected. Two apparently identical doors can sometimes turn out not to be identical at all.

We wanted our website to reflect that practical reality.

The new selector therefore follows the same broad sequence we would expect someone to use when thinking about the door itself.

Choose the size.

Check the price.

Select the preparation you need.

Choose the quantity.

Add it to your basket.

No archaeological expedition through six product pages required.

How Does The Bare MDF Kitchen Door Selector Work?

Using the selector starts with the most important piece of information: the size of your door.

Choose the relevant height and width from the available standard dimensions.

Once the size has been selected, the price is displayed immediately.

You can then choose any optional extras relevant to your installation before selecting how many doors you require.

The overall idea is to let you understand exactly what you are configuring before the product goes into your basket.

That makes comparing options much easier.

It also makes it harder to accidentally order a door without something you intended to include.

How Do You Choose A Standard Kitchen Door Size?

The available door dimensions appear within the Set Size selector.

Measurements are shown in millimetres using height and width.

For example, you might see a size shown as:

555mm x 297mm

You simply choose the dimensions that correspond with the door you need.

Using millimetres matters because kitchen fitting is an area where apparently tiny differences can become surprisingly obvious.

A 5mm discrepancy does not sound dramatic when discussing a room.

Put it between two kitchen doors and suddenly it can look enormous.

Kitchens contain repeated horizontal and vertical lines. Our eyes are extremely good at spotting when one of those lines does not quite behave itself.

If the size you require is listed, select it.

If it is not listed, resist the temptation to choose the nearest one and hope enthusiasm will compensate for geometry.

That is what our bespoke option is for.

How Does The Price Update Before You Buy?

When you select a standard door size, the current price is displayed next to your selection.

You can therefore see what that particular Bare MDF Shaker door costs before adding it to your basket.

This is especially useful when you are planning an entire kitchen refurbishment.

Not every door will necessarily cost the same because different sizes use different amounts of material and require different manufacturing considerations.

The selector gives you the price associated with the configuration you are actually looking at.

Optional extras are treated in much the same way.

Where an additional service carries an extra charge, that cost is displayed clearly alongside it.

There should be no need to discover halfway through checkout that a series of mysterious extras has appeared from nowhere.

Which Optional Extras Can You Add?

Our selector brings several of the most common preparation options together beneath the size selection.

Depending on what you need, you can choose options such as:

• Hinge holes
• A pair of hinges
• Priming

You are free to choose the relevant extras rather than buying a package containing things you do not need.

That is important because customers approach bare MDF kitchen doors in very different ways.

One customer might be reusing existing hinges.

Another may want new hinges supplied.

A joiner with their own workshop might want completely bare MDF so they can carry out all preparation themselves.

A homeowner might prefer us to take care of some of the groundwork.

The door should fit around the job, rather than forcing the job to fit around an arbitrary bundle of extras.

What Do Hinge Holes Add To Your Door?

Concealed kitchen hinges normally sit inside circular recesses machined into the rear of the door.

Selecting hinge holes means this preparation can be carried out for you rather than leaving you to create the hinge cup recess yourself.

For experienced kitchen fitters, this kind of machining is routine.

For somebody fitting their first replacement kitchen door, it can feel rather less routine.

There is something particularly nerve-racking about placing a large drill or router cutter against a perfectly good new door.

One small error can turn confidence into some exceptionally creative vocabulary.

Having suitable hinge preparation completed beforehand can therefore make fitting much easier.

You should still confirm the requirements of your kitchen before ordering.

Existing kitchens do not all use identical hinge arrangements.

When Should You Add A Pair Of Hinges?

The selector also allows you to add a pair of hinges where appropriate.

If your existing hinges are in good condition you may decide to reuse them.

There is nothing inherently wrong with doing so.

A good quality kitchen hinge can continue performing perfectly well for years.

However, old hinges can become worn.

They may develop play or start to sag. Adjustment mechanisms can also become damaged after years of enthusiastic screwdriver use.

Fitting a brand new kitchen door to a tired hinge can undermine the finished result.

Think of hinges as the suspension system of the door.

When everything works properly, you barely notice them.

When something is wrong, you notice the things that are wrong constantly.

Why Might You Choose Priming?

Bare MDF needs to be properly prepared before receiving its final decorative finish.

Selecting our priming option can reduce the amount of preparation you need to carry out yourself.

MDF has a smooth face, but machined areas and exposed edges behave differently when coatings are applied.

They can absorb primer and paint more readily.

Proper preparation helps create a uniform base before the final colour is applied.

Some customers want to carry out every stage themselves.

That can make complete sense if you have the tools, space and experience required.

Others would rather avoid spending their weekend discovering quite how absorbent an MDF edge can be.

There is no correct answer for every customer.

The important thing is choosing the level of preparation that suits your project.

What If You Need A Bespoke MDF Kitchen Door Size?

Not every kitchen conforms to standard dimensions.

Older kitchen units can be particularly unpredictable.

Custom cabinetry, boiler cupboards, built-in appliances and previous alterations can also create dimensions that simply do not appear within a standard range.

That is why our new selector includes a prominent Need A Bespoke Size? option.

If your required measurement is not available, you can move directly to our bespoke bare MDF shaker doors.

This is much better than trying to force a standard door into a non-standard opening.

A few millimetres can affect gaps between doors, alignment with neighbouring cabinets and the overall appearance of the finished kitchen.

Bespoke replacement kitchen doors are particularly useful when the cabinets themselves are still perfectly serviceable.

Why rip out an entire kitchen because one or two doors have unusual dimensions?

Making the door fit the existing kitchen can often be the far more sensible approach.

Who Is The New Door Selector Designed For?

The selector is designed for anybody who wants to buy Bare MDF Shaker kitchen doors without unnecessary complication.

That includes homeowners, DIY renovators, landlords, property developers, kitchen fitters, carpenters and joiners.

Some customers will already know precisely what they require.

Others may be replacing kitchen doors for the first time.

The selector works for both.

If you know your measurements, you can quickly configure the door.

If you are still working things out, the structure helps show you which decisions need to be made.

Is It Useful When Replacing Existing Kitchen Doors?

Absolutely.

Replacement kitchen door projects are one of the main reasons we wanted to improve the ordering process.

Replacing the visible doors and drawer fronts can dramatically change the appearance of a kitchen without replacing the cabinets beneath them.

If the existing carcasses remain strong and suitable, there may be little reason to tear everything out.

That can reduce waste, disruption and cost.

It also lets you invest more of the budget into the parts of the kitchen that actually need attention.

There is an important caveat.

Not every old kitchen deserves rescuing.

Cabinets affected by serious moisture damage or structural problems may be better replaced.

New doors cannot perform miracles.

They can transform a tired kitchen.

They cannot magically repair a cupboard that has developed the structural characteristics of damp Weetabix.

Can You Use The Selector For A New Kitchen Project?

Bare MDF shaker kitchen doors are not restricted to updating your kitchen. They can also be used within new cabinetry projects where you want greater control over the finished appearance.

This can work particularly well for joiners and DIY kitchen builders. You might source or manufacture the cabinets separately, then use our MDF Shaker doors to create the visible frontage. Because the MDF is supplied unfinished or with selected preparation options, you can choose your own final colour.

That gives you much more freedom than selecting from a small collection of factory finishes. It can also help when you want different pieces of cabinetry to feel connected.

For example, the kitchen, utility room and fitted storage could all use the same Shaker door style but different paint colours.

How Can Trade Customers Use The Selector?

Trade customers generally value speed and clarity. A kitchen fitter who has already measured the job does not need an elaborate guided tour. They need to find the size, choose the relevant options and order the door.

The selector makes that process straightforward. It can also help when a project contains several different door sizes. Standard dimensions can be added quickly. Any unusual measurements can then be handled through the bespoke route.

For property developers, this makes it possible to standardise where practical without being defeated by the inevitable odd cabinet that refuses to conform.

Why Choose Bare MDF Kitchen Doors?

Bare MDF kitchen doors give you a decent level of control. Rather than buying a finished kitchen door in a colour selected by somebody else, you can choose how the final door should look.

That is particularly useful if you want a very specific paint colour. You could match existing cabinetry, coordinate the doors with other joinery or simply choose something that is not available within conventional kitchen ranges.

It also means the same basic door can work across very different interiors. One customer might paint a Shaker door deep navy. Another may choose an off-white. Someone else might choose a particularly adventurous green that causes heated discussions amongst family members.

The MDF does not care. It simply gives you the starting point.

Why Is MDF So Well Suited To Shaker Kitchen Doors?

MDF is widely used for painted cabinetry because it offers a smooth and consistent surface. Unlike natural timber, it does not contain knots or unpredictable grain patterns. This consistency makes it particularly suitable for machined Shaker designs. The rails, stiles and recessed panel detail can be produced cleanly without the natural variation associated with solid wood.

Once correctly prepared, MDF also provides an excellent base for paint. The phrase correctly prepared is important. Bare MDF is not simply a finished kitchen door somebody forgot to colour in. The preparation process plays an important role in the quality of the final appearance.

Edges and machined areas require particular attention because they absorb coatings differently from the flat surface. Get that preparation right and MDF can produce an exceptionally clean painted finish.

What Does Bare MDF Actually Mean?

Bare MDF means the door has not received its final decorative coating. It gives you the freedom to select and apply your own finish. That makes Bare MDF doors particularly popular amongst joiners, decorators and confident DIY customers. You can create a finish tailored to the rest of the room instead of compromising around an existing colour range.

The trade-off is straightforward.

You need to finish the material correctly. Preparation might involve sanding, sealing, priming and applying the final paint system depending on the configuration purchased. Always use products suitable for MDF. Kitchen doors experience regular handling so a durable finish matters.

How Should You Measure Replacement Kitchen Doors?

Accurate measurement is probably the most important part of ordering replacement kitchen doors. Whenever possible, begin with the existing door rather than the cabinet opening. If the current door fits correctly, measure its actual height and width in millimetres. Do not simply assume that the nominal cabinet size is also the door size.

For example, a cabinet described as 600mm wide does not necessarily use a door measuring exactly 600mm. The door needs clearance around neighbouring doors and cabinet edges. Measure carefully. Write the figures down. Then check them again. When cutting the simple rule is check twice and cut once.

A simple room sketch can also help when ordering several different sizes.

What Exactly Should You Measure?

Measure the height and width of the existing kitchen door. Use millimetres rather than centimetres because the additional precision matters. Take the measurement across more than one point if you suspect the door has been altered or damaged.

You should also identify what the panel actually does.

Is it a standard cabinet door?

A drawer front?

An integrated appliance door?

A narrow cupboard?

Different applications can have different hardware requirements. Make a list before starting the order. It is far easier than trying to remember which of the six white rectangles leaning against the wall came from which cupboard.

Why Should You Measure Every Door Separately?

It is tempting to measure one door then assume all similar-looking doors are identical. Sometimes they are. Sometimes they are most definitely not. Kitchens change over time. Cabinets are replaced. Appliances move. Previous owners carry out modifications.

Fitters solve unusual problems in ways that may only become obvious years later. Measuring every door protects you from assuming a pattern that is not really there. Once you have confirmed several doors genuinely share the same dimensions, you can confidently order multiples.

This is particularly important with older kitchens. A kitchen assembled over several periods can contain a surprisingly eclectic collection of dimensions.

Why Is Measuring Twice Still Good Advice?

The old phrase measure twice, cut once survives because it remains painfully accurate. Take your measurement once.

Record it.

Then repeat the measurement independently. If the two figures disagree, stop and work out why. One extra minute with a tape measure costs virtually nothing. Ordering a replacement because you accidentally read 596mm as 569mm is somewhat less efficient.

MDF is an excellent material. Unfortunately, MDF has never developed the ability to grow several millimetres after somebody realises their mistake!

How Can You Avoid Common Kitchen Door Ordering Mistakes?

The most common mistake is assuming rather than measuring.

Do not assume every door is a standard size. Do not assume every hinge position is identical. Do not assume the dimension printed on an old kitchen invoice necessarily describes the finished door. Look at the actual kitchen in front of you. Another common mistake is forgetting about finishing.

Bare MDF gives you flexibility but the doors still need a suitable coating system before everyday use. Decide how you intend to prime and paint them before they arrive. That might involve doing the work yourself or passing the doors to a professional finisher.

Finally, check quantities carefully. Walk around the kitchen with your ordering list before checking out. Corner cabinets, narrow doors and small drawer fronts possess an almost supernatural ability to disappear from lists.

Why Does A Better Selector Make Buying Kitchen Doors Easier?

A good product selector should largely disappear into the buying process.

You should not finish using it thinking about the software. You should finish using it knowing exactly which door you have ordered. That is what we wanted to achieve. The size selection, price and optional extras all sit within the same part of the page. The bespoke kitchen door sizes route is clearly visible when standard sizes do not solve the problem.

The quantity control sits immediately before the basket button. It follows the decisions customers naturally make. There is also a broader principle behind this. Buying building products online should not mean stripping away the practical knowledge associated with traditional trades.

The website should simply make that expertise easier to access. A configurator is a tool. Like a tape measure, router or hinge jig, its job is to make the overall task easier.

What Happens After You Add A Door To The Basket?

Once you have selected the size and relevant options, choose the quantity required then add the configured door to your basket.

You can then repeat the process for the other doors and drawer fronts within your kitchen. This is useful because real kitchens rarely contain twenty identical doors. A single project might require full-height cabinet doors, narrow doors, drawer fronts and several bespoke panels. Building the basket item by item allows you to configure each component appropriately.

Before checking out, compare the basket against your measurement list. Check every size. Check every quantity. Check the selected extras. Do it even if you are absolutely convinced everything is right. Confidence is useful. Sadly, it is not a recognised unit of measurement.

What Has Kitchen Fitting Experience Taught Us About Ordering Doors?

New Replacement Kitchen Doors approaches replacement doors from a practical kitchen fitting perspective.

Our director Harry Lupton is a joiner and carpenter with years of experience fitting kitchens.

That experience shapes how we think about the details customers encounter.

The visible door might be the thing everybody notices but its success depends on less glamorous considerations.

Measurements matter.

Hinge preparation matters.

Alignment matters.

Finishing matters.

As Harry explains:

“When you’ve fitted kitchens for years, you realise the door is the bit everybody sees but the quality of the finished job often comes down to the details behind it. Get the measurements right, understand your hinge setup and plan the finish properly. The whole installation becomes easier. That’s what we’ve tried to build into the new selector.”

Harry Lupton, Director, New Replacement Kitchen Doors

You should not need to become a kitchen fitter simply to order a replacement door. The point of bringing practical knowledge into the buying process is precisely the opposite. It should remove the traps that experienced fitters already know to look for.

Conclusion

Our new Bare MDF Kitchen Door Selector has been designed to make buying replacement kitchen doors simpler. Choose the standard size you need. See the current price. Select useful extras such as hinge holes, hinges or priming.

Choose the quantity, then add your configured door to the basket. If your kitchen requires an unusual dimension, use our bespoke Bare MDF Shaker door option instead.

There is no need to compromise the fit simply because the cabinet in front of you refuses to conform to a standard size.

That is ultimately what the selector is about. Less uncertainty. Fewer assumptions. A clearer route from your measurements to the finished kitchen door.

Ready To Choose Your Bare MDF Shaker Doors?

If you already have your measurements, you can start configuring your bare MDF kitchen doors using our new selector.

Choose the size you require then add the preparation options that make sense for your project.

Cannot find the dimensions you need?

Choose our bespoke MDF shaker door option and order the door to the measurements your kitchen actually requires.

There is no prize for making the wrong standard door fit the right cupboard.

Get the measurement right from the beginning and everything that follows becomes considerably easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Paint Bare MDF Kitchen Doors Myself?

Yes. Bare MDF kitchen doors are ideal if you want to choose and apply your own paint finish.

Proper preparation is important. Use products intended for MDF then pay particular attention to the edges and machined areas because these can absorb coatings differently from the flat face.

A carefully prepared surface will generally produce a much better final result than trying to compensate with additional paint later.

Take your time during preparation.

The glamorous bit might be the final colour but the boring stages underneath it often determine how good that colour looks.

Can I Order Different Door Sizes In The Same Basket?

Yes. Configure the first size you need then add it to your basket.

You can then return to the selector to choose other dimensions for the same project.

This makes it possible to build an order containing several different doors and drawer fronts.

Keep your measurement list beside you whilst configuring the order so you can check each item against the correct cabinet.

Do I Have To Add Hinge Holes?

No. Hinge holes are optional.

You may want an unmachined door if you intend to prepare the hinge positions yourself or if the panel is being used somewhere that does not require standard concealed hinges.

If you choose hinge preparation, make sure you understand the requirements of your existing cabinets.

Do not assume every kitchen uses exactly the same arrangement simply because concealed hinges look similar from the outside.

What Should I Do If My Required Door Size Is Not Listed?

Use our bespoke Bare MDF Shaker door option.

Standard sizes are useful for common kitchen dimensions but plenty of kitchens require something different.

Do not round your measurement simply to make it fit an available option.

If an existing door fits correctly, measure that door carefully in millimetres then use those dimensions as the starting point for your bespoke order.

Are Bare MDF Shaker Doors Only Suitable For Kitchens?

No. Shaker-style MDF doors can also work well for suitable cabinetry elsewhere in the home.

That might include utility rooms, boot rooms, alcove cupboards, fitted storage or other bespoke joinery projects.

Using the same Shaker door design across several rooms can create visual continuity.

You could keep the same basic door style throughout the property whilst changing the paint colours to give each space its own character.