Materials and finishes for custom-made technical elements

When it comes to custom-made technical elements, we're not just talking about aesthetics, but about structure and cladding . The load-bearing part is often made of plasterboard, MDF, plywood, or metal, while the finished surface can be painted, laminated, covered with films, decorative panels, or other materials that match the rest of the furniture.

Plasterboard is the most common base for light coves, niches, coves, and technical false walls. Lightweight, modular, and easily trimmed, it lends itself to integrating spotlights, LED strips, air vents, ducts, and flush-fitting trap doors. It's the ideal solution when you want smooth, seamless surfaces, ready to be painted like the rest of the wall or ceiling.

For elements subject to greater wear and tear or impact (passageways, utility tables, built-in benches, low niche frames), MDF and plywood come into play. These materials, when properly treated and painted, offer sturdier edges and allow for detailed workmanship: milling, grooves, rounded corners, flush-fitting doors. In humid environments or near bathrooms and kitchens, marine plywood or low-absorbency supports are more reliable.

Metal elements (aluminum profiles, steel frames, folded sheet metal) are used in situations requiring pinpoint precision, mechanical strength, and very thin edges: recessed lighting, frames for inspection panels, frames for flush-to-wall hatches, profiles for graphics or modular paneling. These elements are often powder-coated or lacquered the same color as the walls, so as to disappear from view, or left in a contrasting color for a more technical look.

Aesthetically, technical elements can be painted , coated , or masked . Water-based paint, matte or satin, is the most common choice when you want to blend false walls, hatches, and grooves into the rest of the room: everything appears to be part of the wall, but is actually accessible for inspection. In other cases, laminate coverings or vinyl films coordinated with furniture and doors are used, so that a technical space becomes a sort of "extension" of the furnishings.

More unique solutions are also available: textile acoustic panels integrated into technical false walls, custom-designed wood or metal grilles, backlit panels that conceal wiring, speakers, electrical panels, or home automation systems. The chosen material must offer a good balance between aesthetics, maintenance, and the ability to be dismantled if necessary.

The choice between plasterboard, MDF, metal, or composite panels is never just a matter of taste. It depends on the technical element's purpose: support, conceal, illuminate, absorb sound, or allow access to utilities. Only by starting from this function can we identify the right material and the finish that best complements the style of the home or office.