Concrete-Look Highboards — Impact, Care and Styling

A concrete-look highboard is a mid-height cabinet combining industrial design with practical storage, featuring a surface usually made from melamine-coated chipboard with a deceptively realistic stone texture.

The raw, urban industrial look has firmly established itself in interior design. While real concrete would be far too heavy, porous, and impractical for furniture construction, modern wood-based materials offer a clever alternative. Such a piece of furniture bridges the gap between a classic chest of drawers and a ceiling-height wardrobe. In the following guide, you will discover what matters regarding dimensions, material construction, and assembling these pieces of furniture.

Material Construction and Surface Texture

When discussing a concrete look in furniture making, it technically refers to a decor finish. The carcass and front panels generally consist of robust chipboard or MDF (medium-density fibreboard). A printed and textured paper layer is applied to this and sealed with a melamine resin coating.

This construction offers decisive advantages for everyday use. The surface behaves like a well-sealed industrial floor – it is impact-resistant, scratch-resistant, and repels moisture. The texture is often slightly roughened to mimic the pores and structure of real fair-faced concrete. As a result, no distracting light reflections occur, and fingerprints remain virtually invisible on the grey, mottled pattern.

Dimensions and Room Planning for Highboards

Choosing the correct dimensions determines whether the furniture feels overbearing in the room or blends in harmoniously. Because Highboards are usually between 100 cm and 130 cm high, they offer ample storage volume without completely blocking the wall space.

For narrow hallways or smaller living rooms, the depth is the most crucial factor. A highboard that is 30 cm deep or 35 cm deep does not protrude too far into the walkway. This depth is entirely sufficient for storing books, crockery, or documents in lever-arch files. If planning furniture for an alcove, a model roughly 70 cm wide is ideal. These compact dimensions fit well even in awkwardly shaped rooms. When more space is available, wider models from 120 cm can be chosen, which are often equipped with multiple doors and drawers.

Styling in Living and Sleeping Areas

The cool, grey appearance of the concrete look requires the right counterpart in the room so the interior does not appear too sterile.

• Contrasting with wood: Combining this with warm wood tones like Sonoma Oak or Wotan Oak softens the severity of the concrete. Many furniture manufacturers integrate wooden elements directly into the front panels or top surfaces of concrete cabinets.
• Dark accents: Anyone wishing to pursue a consistent modern industrial style can combine the furniture with black metal fittings. Alternatively, a Highboard Black can be placed directly next to a grey unit to create a clean visual separation.
• Living room: Here, the unit integrates seamlessly into an existing Concrete-Look Living Room Unit. For television and multimedia equipment, a low-profile Concrete-Look Lowboard makes a suitable addition.
• Bedroom and hallway: A spacious Concrete-Look Wardrobe complements the bed area. For smaller garments or as hallway furniture for hats and scarves, a more compact Concrete-Look Chest of Drawers serves very well.

Tools and Tips for Assembly

Self-assembling a highboard requires a systematic approach. As these cabinets carry a notable weight, it is advisable to carry out the assembly with two people.

Required Tools

• Cordless screwdriver (with matching bits, usually PZ2 or TX20)
• Cross-head screwdriver (for fine adjustment of hinges)
• Spirit level
• Rubber mallet
• Folding ruler

Assembly Steps

1. Preparation: Spread all components flat on a soft rug or cardboard packaging to prevent scratches to the decor finish.
2. Inserting fixings: First, insert the wooden dowels (with a drop of wood glue if necessary) and the connecting bolts of the cam fittings into the pre-drilled holes in the base and side panels.
3. Assembling the carcass: Join the side panels to the base and top panel. The cam fittings are tightened by turning them half a turn with a screwdriver.
4. Nailing the back panel: The carcass must be positioned at an exact right angle (measure diagonals with the folding ruler; they must be identical). Then position the back panel in the rebate and nail it firmly in place. This provides the cabinet with its structural rigidity.
5. Wall mounting: A tall piece of furniture must strictly be secured against tipping over. Use the included anti-tip safety bracket and anchor the highboard firmly to the wall with appropriate wall plugs.
6. Doors and drawers: Finally, clip or screw the hinges into place and adjust them via the adjustment screws until the gap alignment is uniform.

Cleaning and Surface Care

Furniture with a melamine resin coating is exceptionally easy to maintain. Dust can simply be wiped away with a dry cloth. For light soiling, a damp cloth with warm water and a drop of mild washing-up liquid is sufficient.

Strictly avoid abrasive cleaning creams, scouring pads, or solvent-based cleaners. These will roughen the protective layer, allowing moisture to penetrate into the chipboard, which leads to swelling of the material. Standing water on the surface or along the edges should always be wiped dry immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How long does it take to assemble a highboard? For an experienced DIY enthusiast, assembly usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours. For models with numerous drawers or complex soft-close damping systems, the time required may increase accordingly.

Can concrete-look furniture be painted? Because the surface consists of synthetic resin (melamine), standard wall or wood paint will not adhere to it. If the colour of the unit is to be changed later, the surface must be sanded down and pre-treated with a dedicated adhesion primer for plastic surfaces.

Which wall colour suits grey furniture? To avoid darkening the room, light wall colours are recommended. A crisp white, soft sand tones, or pastel shades create an attractive backdrop. Avoid using too many dark grey tones on the wall, as the furniture might otherwise blend into the background completely.