Veneer Veneer refers to thin slices of wood which are glued onto a substrate such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) to produce decorative wood-like panels. Veneers are frequently used in doors, cabinets, flooring, and parts of furniture. Veneer is obtained either by "peeling" the trunk of a tree or by thinly slicing large rectangular blocks of wood. Veneers provide the look and feel of solid wood at a much lower cost.