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Purchasing furniture is an expensive ordeal, regardless of what the piece of furniture is, so if you can figure out how to build budget DIY kitchen cabinets, you’ll be able to save a whole lot of money. And if you happen to be a handy type of person and you’re good at DIY, you should consider building a DIY kitchen cabinet yourself to save some money.
However, it’s not exactly as simple as just building your own cabinet. Not only is it difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing, but if you make silly mistakes, you may even spend more money than if you were to just buy a brand-new cabinet.
Luckily, there are actually many different techniques that you can use to help the process along. From repurposing old cabinets that may have been in the family for years to buying a cheap IKEA cabinet and modifying it, there are plenty of ways you can build the perfect cabinet for your kitchen on a budget.
So, let’s explore 6 ideas for budget DIY kitchen cabinets.
Ideas for Budget DIY Kitchen Cabinets
Now, just building a kitchen cabinet isn’t something everyone can do. It takes some skill, creativity, and a little bit of know-how to get it right and build a piece of furniture that is boasts good enough quality.
The cool thing about creating a DIY cabinet is that you don’t have to start from scratch. In fact, there are quite a few ways that you can piggyback, so to speak, on another design or existing piece of furniture to create the exact cabinet you want and need.
Without further ado, here are 6 ideas for budget DIY kitchen cabinets that you can try at home.
Repurpose Old Cabinets
First, and perhaps most obviously, would be to repurpose an old kitchen cabinet. It’s not uncommon to have something in your home – perhaps a piece of furniture that’s been passed down through generations – that you don’t really like as is but could potentially be used in another way or in an alternative form. Or, maybe you’ve found a cabinet at an antique store and you’ve seen some potential in it.
Well, the good news is that there are actually lots of ways that you can modify a cabinet to improve the quality and durability and even change the entire aesthetic.
Here are a few ways you could do this:
- Change the Finish: By giving a cabinet a fresh coat of paint, or, if it’s unpainted, high-quality wood, a refreshing stain, you can completely change the appearance of a cabinet. Depending on how good or bad it is, you may need to give it a good sanding first, but changing the finish can do wonders for your cabinet.
- Add New Hardware: Change the hardware of the cabinet to add an extra flair. Things like new handles or doorknobs can make the world of difference when repurposing an old cabinet.
Modify a Stock Cabinet
Modifying a stock cabinet may not be everybody’s first thought when it comes to a cabinet DIY project, but it’s actually a great way to personalize a piece of furniture without breaking the bank. Here are a few ways you can do this:
- Change the Layout: Reconfigure the interior of the cabinet to better suit your personal storage needs.
- Add Custom Doors: Replace the boring standard doors of the cabinet and replace them with custom-made doors that suit your style, material and design preferences. These can be doors you’ve found elsewhere or even ones you’ve designed and made yourself.
- Paint or Stain: Give the cabinet a fresh coat of paint or stain the wood to get the desired color or look you’re going for.
- Add Glass Inserts: Replace solid wooden doors with glass inserts for an interesting, modern feel.
- Add Crown Molding: Give your cabinet more of an elaborate, custom look by installing a crown molding or trim.
- Install Soft-Close Hinges: Upgrade standard hinges to soft-close hinges for a quieter operation.
In fact, there are loads more ways you could modify a stock cabinet – these are just a few.
Reclaimed Wood Cabinets
Find wood from other old pieces of furniture, or from other sources, to build a new cabinet from scratch. This is far more difficult and requires additional expertise and time, but it’s a great way to save money on materials and create a cabinet that is exactly what you’re going for.
MDF Cabinets
Medium-density fiberboard (MDF) is a great option if you’re looking for a material that is cost effective and still looks good. In fact, it’s often used as an alternative to wood as it’s still fairly robust and looks good too.
IKEA Cabinet Hack
IKEA doesn’t always have the best name among people who are building custom furniture, but actually, if your aim is to construct a cabinet that is cost-effective, looks good, and suits your preferences, then using an IKEA cabinet as a base is a great starting point. From there, you can modify it as much or as little as you like.
Open-Shelving Cabinet
These days, open-shelved cabinets are very popular and they can also be practical if you’re wanting to store something like glasses or crockery.
You can actually build an open-shelved cabinet quite easily by using reclaimed wood or even MDF.
Final Thoughts on Budget DIY Kitchen Cabinets That Are Easy to Build
If you’re the kind of person who is quite handy around the house and is good at DIY projects, then it may be a fun idea to try your hand at building a custom kitchen cabinet.
The best part is that you can choose the option that suits you best, based on your skills, budget and preferences too. Whether you want to build a kitchen cabinet from scratch, used reclaimed materials, or modify an existing piece of furniture, you can create a piece that perfectly suits your needs.
If you are a DIY person looking for new cabinets that are made in the USA, Amishwerks is an excellent choice as well.