Lovely DIY Kitchen Cabinets
Updated on March 4, 2019
When we think about the concept of updating our house, which is a long term goal we have and have been working on and investing in for a while now, our mind goes back to the same place almost every time we consider our next move: the kitchen. That’s because our kitchen cabinets, which are such a big part of both the kitchen’s aesthetic and function, are totally out of date and haven’t been changed since the house was built. That’s why we’ve had our eyes peeled for different types of DIY cabinet updating tutorials for so long!
Just in case you’re as interested in the idea of overhauling your cabinets yourself as we were, if not more, here’s a list of the 15 best designs, concepts, and resources that we’ve come across so far in our search for guidance and inspiration.
1. Apothecary style kitchen cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are great, but what if what you’re really finding a lack in, that you also feel like you use much more often, is the number of drawers in your main room? Then maybe you’d get along a little better with this apothecary inspired kitchen cabinet style outlined step by step on Ana White! It’s got function and style because it looks quite vintage compared to the average modern kitchen.
2. Straight forward kitchen cabinets
Perhaps you’re actually a bit of a beginner when it comes to home renovation projects like this and you’re really just looking to create something basic and homey as a learning experience in your cabinet overhaul? In that case, we have a feeling you might get along a little better with something like this simple, straight forward kitchen cabinet tutorial outlined step by step on DIY Pete.
3. Ceiling space cabinet extensions
Perhaps the cabinets that you currently have in your home are just fine in their function and style but you’re an avid cook or you come from a big family that uses a lot of dishes, so you’re actually more interested in giving yourself even more kitchen storage space? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Thrifty Decor Chick created additional wooden cabinets in the space between their cupboards and the ceiling.
4. Lower cabinet rollouts
Perhaps you’re actually looking for a way to change up the kind of cupboards and cabinets you have because you want to store things more efficiently than the classic kind lets you? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at the way Family Handyman made, installed, and stocked up these fantastic roll-out style cabinets in the spaces of their original ones.
5. Door-less cabinets
Perhaps you love the idea of making new cabinets but you just can’t decide what kind of door to put on them, particularly since your family is kind of bad for leaving cabinet doors hanging open anyways? Well, who said your cabinets have to have doors in the first place? We love the way DIY Network build sleek, simple frames for theirs but left them open on the front for easy access.
6. Glass cabinet makeover
Perhaps the look and style you’ve been trying to establish in your kitchen is one that’s a little more modern rather than being quite so reliant on things like wood finishes? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at the way Bendheim outlines their process for installing glass fronts into cabinet doors.
7. Chicken wire cabinets
Are you actually really intrigued by the idea of making a set of new cabinet doors that let you see right through into the cupboards behind but you’re just not sure that glass will quite suit the more down home aesthetic of your space? Well, if you’re open to explicitly farmhouse inspired ideas, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Home Bunch installed wide set mesh chicken wire into the front of theirs instead!
8. Upcycled barn wood cabinets
Just in case you’re still really interested in the idea of working with farmhouse or rustic inspired aesthetics when it comes to your cupboards but you’re looking fro something a little more explicitly styled, here’s an idea that will help you turn your cabinets into an opportunity for upcycling as well! We adore the way Hometalk used upcycled barn wood to create authentic looking cabinet doors.
9. Pallet wood kitchen cupboards
Are you in love with the visual style of the idea we showed you above but you don’t actually have access to real reclaimed barn wood and you’re open to trying out the next best thing? Then turn your attention to Natural Building Blog instead to see how they created a similar look out of upcycled pieces of pallet wood!
10. Antique stained and painted cabinets
Perhaps you’re a little more experienced in DIY techniques that involve things like paints and stains rather than actual woodworking, so you’d rather simply give the cabinets you actually have a bit of a makeover? Well, if your interests as far as decor schemes lie in a sort of vintage look, here’s a tutorial from Instructables that shows you how to paint lovely antique cupboard doors.
11. Wood pallet to extra dish cabinet
What if the cabinets you already have in your kitchen are actually quite fine and don’t really need updating, but you’re just starting to learn that there simply aren’t enough of them? In that case, we think you might get a real kick out of the way Omer O made a lovely rustic external cupboard from the same kind of well weathered reclaimed pallet wood that you saw earlier. They even show you how to mount it on the wall safely and firmly!
12. Cabinets with LED lights
Maybe your cabinets are actually okay the way they are but you can’t help wondering whether you might be able to make them even better than they are in some creative way? In that case, we think you’ll really appreciate the way Ibni outlines the process of installing some simple white LED lights underneath the bottom of the cabinets to keep your counters a little brighter.
13. Wood painted kitchen cabinets
Maybe the look you’re going for in your kitchen only requires a coat of paint but you don’t yet have much experience painting wood and you’re quite new to the world of home renovations, so you feel like you could use some guidance even with so simple a project? In that case, we think you’ll find this easy wood painting tutorial featured on Thirty Handmade Days very useful indeed!
14. White painted kitchen cabinets
Did we almost catch and keep your attention when we started talking about painted cabinets but you’re convinced that white is the best option for you given your existing colour scheme and you’re concerned about whether the paint will covered the dark natural wood of your current cabinets? Then you simply must take a look at the way Nina Hendrick outlines some tips and tricks for handling precisely that kind of project to get a neat, pristine white that looks very pure and clean!
15. DIY window seat from a kitchen cabinet
Have you actually, by this point in the list, already chosen a cabinet transformation but now you can’t help wondering whether or not there’s a way that you can reuse those old cabinets you’ve just taken out so that they don’t go to waste? Well, we’re personally in love with the way Bless’er House turned theirs into a lovely little window seat and outlined the process nice and clearly for other people to try too!
Do you know another DIY enthusiast who is intent on making, installing, or updating their own cabinets but could definitely use a little bit of guidance? Share this post with them so they have all kinds of resources to help them out!