Melamine Faced Plywood: A Complete Buyer's Guide for Cabinet and Furniture Makers Melamine faced plywood is a plywood panel with a melamine-impregnated decorative paper bonded to one or both faces under heat and pressure. It combines the structural stability and screw-holding strength of plywood with a finished, wear-resistant surface — which is why it is widely used for cabinet carcasses, wardrobe panels, shelving and shop fittings. What the Panel Actually Is Three layers