Guide · 7 min read
What is Valchromat®? The coloured-through wood, explained
What is Valchromat®? A wood panel coloured all the way through and stronger than MDF: how it works, how long it lasts and how to clean it.
Short answer
Valchromat® is a coloured-through wood panel: an engineered board where every wood fibre is dyed with organic pigment, so the colour is solid from face to core. People often assume it is just coloured MDF, but it is denser and around 30% stronger. The surface is a deep, velvety matte, the colour resists fading and shows no pale core when chipped, and the edges need no veneer, paint or plastic banding. Designers and furniture makers use it when they want the colour to be part of the material, not a coat on top. Below is what it is, how it differs from MDF, how long it lasts, and how to care for it.
In this article
What is Valchromat® wood?
Valchromat® is a coloured-through wood panel made by the Portuguese manufacturer Investwood. Natural wood fibres are dyed individually with organic pigment, then bonded under high heat and pressure into a dense, homogeneous board with colour running all the way through. The result is closer to a coloured solid material than to a sheet board: you can shape it and leave it on show.
In practice, this means that when you cut, rout or chamfer a Valchromat® panel, the exposed edge is the same rich colour as the face. There is no pale core hiding under a coloured skin, and no plastic edge banding to peel away later. A maker can leave edges raw and tactile, shape soft details, and let the colour and matte surface carry the piece. You cannot do that with painted or laminated boards.
A square frame in solid-colour Valchromat®, so even the cut edges carry the shade.
How is Valchromat® different from MDF?
Valchromat® is coloured all the way through, denser and roughly 30% stronger than standard MDF, and it handles moisture better. Standard MDF is a budget building board: a grey-brown core that only looks finished once it is painted, veneered, or wrapped in laminate, and the moment it chips or scratches, the dull core shows through. Valchromat® needs no covering: the colour is in the board, the surface has a deep matte, almost suede-like quality, and the coloured edges can be left on show. The table puts them side by side.
| Property | Standard MDF | Valchromat® |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Surface paint or laminate only | Dyed through the whole board |
| Density | Around 700 kg/m³ | Around 830 kg/m³ |
| Strength | Baseline | Roughly 30% stronger |
| Scratches and chips | Expose the pale core | Same colour underneath, far less visible |
| Moisture | Low resistance | Moisture resistant (indoor) |
| Exposed edges | Need edge banding or paint | Can be left raw and coloured |
| Surface and feel | Flat, needs covering to finish | Deep matte, velvety, tactile |
| Typical use | Hidden carcasses, painted panels | Design furniture and interiors, on show |
Is Valchromat® strong and durable?
Yes. According to the manufacturer, Investwood, Valchromat® has a density of around 830 kg/m³ and is about 30% stronger than standard MDF, and it is more homogeneous through its thickness. That matters for furniture that has to carry weight: shelves stay flatter under load, panels resist sagging, and fixings hold well because there is more material packed into the board.
The colour-through trait is also a durability feature in daily use. On painted furniture, the first knock on a corner leaves a pale mark that catches the eye. On Valchromat® the colour beneath is the same as the colour on top, so everyday scuffs are far less noticeable and the piece keeps looking new for longer. The organic dyes are also formulated to resist fading from normal indoor and artificial light.
A shallow wall cabinet, 14 cm deep, in solid-colour Valchromat®, made for a small home.
Is Valchromat® water resistant?
Valchromat® is moisture resistant, which is one of its advantages over standard MDF, and it is classed for use as a load-bearing panel in humid indoor environments. That makes it well suited to rooms like kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways where ordinary MDF would struggle with damp air. That is why the Grounded wall-mounted shoe rack uses a Valchromat® Wall Protector in all nine colours: the coloured-through board takes the scuffs and moisture your shoes would otherwise leave on the wall.
Moisture resistant is not the same as waterproof, though. Valchromat® is an indoor material and should not sit in standing water or take constant direct wetting. For any spot near water, a surface finish such as a hard wax oil or varnish is recommended, both to protect the board and to make it easier to wipe clean.
How do you care for Valchromat® furniture?
For day-to-day cleaning, wipe the surface with a soft, slightly damp cloth to lift dust and marks, and avoid harsh or abrasive cleaning products that can dull the finish. Because the colour runs through the board, light surface scratches are easy to live with and often barely register.
Most Valchromat® furniture is given a protective finish. At Quirky Moose we finish our pieces with Rubio Monocoat®, a hard wax oil that deepens the colour and protects the surface. It does not need re-oiling at set intervals; if a piece looks tired after years of use, Rubio Monocoat® Refresh Eco Spray brings back the sheen. Painted MDF usually needs a full repaint.
A solid-colour Valchromat® seat on a birch plywood base, finished with Rubio Monocoat®.
Why we build with Valchromat®
We wanted to make colourful furniture where the colour is not a thin layer that wears off. Valchromat® lets us do that. It gives our pieces deep, solid colour that survives daily life, the strength to work as wall-mounted storage in small homes, and clean coloured edges we can leave raw. According to the manufacturer, Investwood, the boards are made from forest-thinning wood fibres and coloured with non-toxic, organic dyes. Every piece is designed and made in Copenhagen and finished by hand. If you are weighing it up for a small space, our guide to small-space storage and furniture is a good next step. Wondering how a Valchromat® Wall Protector holds up behind everyday shoes? See our guide to the best shoe storage for a small hallway, or browse our narrow hallway storage ideas that clear the floor.
Frequently asked questions
What is Valchromat® made of?
Valchromat® is made of wood fibres, usually from pine forest thinnings, bonded with resin under heat and pressure, with organic dye added to every fibre before pressing. That is what gives it solid colour all the way through the board instead of just on the surface.
Is Valchromat® stronger than MDF?
Yes. According to Investwood’s figures, Valchromat® is denser (around 830 kg/m³ against roughly 700 kg/m³), about 30% stronger, and more moisture resistant than standard MDF. Its colour also runs through the whole board, so chips and scratches barely show, and its deep matte surface looks and feels finished without any coating. Standard MDF is a cheaper substrate and is fine when it will be hidden, painted, or laminated.
Is Valchromat® waterproof?
No. Valchromat® is moisture resistant and handles humid indoor rooms well, but it is not waterproof and should not sit in standing water or be used outdoors. A hard wax oil or varnish finish adds protection and makes it easy to wipe clean.
Does Valchromat® colour fade over time?
The organic dyes are made to resist fading under normal indoor and artificial light, so Valchromat® furniture keeps its colour well. As with most materials, avoid prolonged harsh direct sunlight, and a protective finish helps preserve the shade.
How do you clean Valchromat®?
Wipe it with a soft, slightly damp cloth and avoid aggressive or abrasive cleaners. Because the colour is through the board, small scratches are easy to live with, and a finished piece can be refreshed with Rubio Monocoat® Refresh Eco Spray instead of being repainted.
Where can you buy Valchromat®?
Valchromat® boards are made by Investwood in Portugal and sold as full sheets through specialist timber and panel merchants, mainly to joiners and furniture makers. If you would rather have finished furniture than raw boards, every piece in our Valchromat® collection is made from it in Copenhagen and finished with Rubio Monocoat®.
Valchromat® is what our NicNac trinket shelves are made from, and the coloured edges are a large part of why. If you are considering one, our complete guide to trinket shelves covers choosing the size, filling it well and hanging it straight.
Colour that goes all the way through
Wall cabinets, trinket shelves, and stools in solid-colour Valchromat®, made in Copenhagen for small homes.
Solid oak and Valchromat®, designed and made in Denmark.
