Here are some of the types of wood that are best for painted cabinet doors. Poplar, for years has been the paint-grade wood of choice for furniture makers and cabinet shops. It has Soft Maple as a competitor because Poplar tends to be more labor intensive to sand and finish, but Soft Maple is more expensive.Click to see full answer. In this way, what is the best wood to use for kitchen cabinets?The best wood for cabinetry is widely considered either red oak, poplar, maple, mahogany, or plywood.Furthermore, what wood is harder maple or poplar? Workability. Because it is one of the softer hardwoods, poplar is easier to saw and machine than hard maple. Silver and big-leaf maple are softer and not as dense as the harder red or sugar maple and machine more easily, but are still harder than poplar. Hard maple sands to a smoother finish than poplar. Beside above, is Poplar a strong wood? The question may arise in your mind: “But is poplar wood strong?” and the answer is yes, but it isn’t as hard as most hardwoods, with a hardness rating less than that of some species of cedar, which is a softwood.What wood is cheapest for cabinets? Hard Maple Cabinets Hard maple is a fine-grain and light-color wood slightly more expensive than oak but less dense. A popular choice for semicustom and custom cabinets, maple can be stained, but it is most often dressed with a clear or natural finish to achieve a light, contemporary look.