with a serious concern [expansion/contraction]....yet you want to set up a mini kitchen..and its a lower level. I'd get white thermofoil...Ikea will have that and its pricepoint will allow something creative/ more spendy elsewhere...hardware....counter ....backsplash....it doesn't take a FLOOD to have an issue w expansion/contraction. WATERSIDE homes / climate variability/ subgrade location/etc

Yeah I may just opt for plywood and pay more now than later

Because plywood will do well with humidity? Just asking, I am not a pro.

pay double now w shortages of materials w covid. Are you building these? Paint grade MDF and high gloss white cabinets for lower area then if you want to get materials and build these. Im not hearing anything good about material availability and costs. BASEMENT? maybe wait. Prices for materials can and may actually go back down. No one REALLY knows. but this is terrible time to take this on yourself. If it needs to occurr now[ many folks perhaps do have the time] I would seriously scout around your local cabinetmakers. Some may have some inventory of materials they can do this with you/ or sell to you. Find out what you can locally first.

If you have a relative humidity problem in your basement, you'll be well served to address the root cause of that issue before selecting and installing any components or finishes. In the end, you'll have a healthier, more comfortable living environment for you-- and whatever cabinetry you choose.

What Charles said first. The healthy living issues with humidity should take precedence over cabinet concerns.

For IKEA - I have had IKEA cabinets (the old Akurum kind - in a wood flat panel design) in my unconditioned garage in dripping wet, humid NC for 15 years. They still are perfect. I have a wall hanging cab for dog stuff, and 3 large / tall 30x96(?) for bulk storage - think drinks, laundry detergent, paper towels, etc)

My garage IS insulated and finished, with decent quartz epoxy flooring - but it's still an unconditioned garage in NC.

Good to know. Yeah I put a dehumidifier in the basement, which maintains the humidity at 55%. So I’m thinking I should be good

Plywood will not be a better choice but IMO get a dehumidifier first for any cabinets but I have installed Ikea at the beach no issues , they are IMO still the best for the money .

I have never had IKEA cabinets, but I do have a damp basement, and the wood cabinets a prior owner had put in were ruined because they were in contact with water on the floor. Definitely fix the humidity issue first if possible; if not, a dehumidifier is a must, and battery powered water alarms ("basement watchdog" is one brand) are helpful to catch actual flooding (they will not help with humidity induced problems, though).

IKEA base cabinets do have the advantage that they sit on plastic feet, so if there is a leak they shouldn't soak it up the same way that cabinets with sides that touch the floor would.

Old (50s) steel cabinets can be found secondhand, and may be another option, but visit retrorenovation.com to review the pros and cons.

Sure, any water issue can be fixed, and ideally should be, but whether the cost is worth it depends widely. If the OP wants a kitchen in the basement, then protecting that investment by fixingthe water issues makes sense - but they should be aware that it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to do depending on foundation construction, soil, topography, and precipitation. Keeping a basement dry may require French drains and multiple sump pumps running 24/7, with battery backup, as it does in my neighborhood.

Thanks everyone. Yeah it’s actually just 3 cabinets for a small bar area. I do have 2 sump pumps as well and have had no water leaks. I just wasn’t sure about the ikea cabinets being made from particle board. If those would stand the test of time in a basement, where humidity is typically higher

Ikea cabinets will stand the test of time just fine.

The reason a basement stays damp in a heated/ cooled environment is that it does not draw as much on the HVAC system and therefore, in the summertime, the A/C also acts as a dehumidifier. It stands to reason that a cooler environment that requires less "on" time from the A/C will have more humidity than an area (say, the first floor) that has the A/C run more. I run a dehimidifier in my basement for this very reason - and it's full conditioned and shares a system with the first floor - but the zoning keeps it cool with much less A/C power.

https://youtu.be/omZvd2Vd3PA

Installed IKEA cabinets in our basement more than 10 years ago. Very pleased.

Yes, i run a dehumidifier during the summer. Also built a base upon pressure treated wood rather than use the IKEA legs.