Reuse Your Old Kitchen Cabinets Instead Of Throwing Them Out With A DIY Bar Cart

Before you pull the trigger on buying a new (and probably overpriced) furniture piece for your home, why not consider the overlooked cabinets you have around the house first? Creatively repurposing your old furniture is not only cost-effective but also allows you to own a trendy and current furniture piece in your home — ironic as it may sound. With a little imagination and basic DIY skills, you can try turning an outdated kitchen cabinet into a trendy bar cart that you can wow your friends with the next time you host a dinner party. 

This flip is particularly relevant as it promotes sustainability and counters today's throwaway culture. By taking apart an old kitchen cabinet, updating its individual parts, and adding wooden geometric details to its doors, you can take a forlorn cabinet from conventional to contemporary — and at a minimal cost, too: There are tons of affordable decorative elements that you can source. Hexagonal solid brass doorknobs or a basic set of cabinet legs will add a touch of pizzazz to your new bar cart.

Start with a thorough clean-up of an old cabinet. Remove its doors, hardware, and inner shelves first, then sand down its interior and exterior, filling the holes in with wood filler. If the cabinet doors are flat, you could give them more depth by lining their edges with wood trim, joining the corners at 45-degree angles. Then, try adding a geometric pattern fashioned with thin wood strips; flex your design muscles by creating your own pattern. 

Now that your cabinet doors have a fresh new facade, it's time to paint all of the cabinet's components. Select a color that will harmonize with your existing decor, or choose one of the bright and playful paint colors that are trending in 2025. The old hinges can also be spruced up by spray painting them a different color, and you can even customize them with a glossy look or a sleek matte finish. When the paint has dried, it's simply a matter of putting the parts back together.

Old kitchen cabinets aren't the only furniture pieces that can be upcycled. Discarded filing cabinets make good bar carts as well, especially if the pull-out drawers can fit bottles and glasses. Old entertainment centers, which usually feature an open portion for players or speakers, can be fitted with a wire bottle frame, allowing you to store wine bottles horizontally while using the drawers for other bar paraphernalia.

Remember that your choice of hardware can influence your cabinet's look. There are a ton of contemporary cabinet knob options or push-open fixtures to fit whatever aesthetic you're aiming for. You can literally elevate your new bar cart with new legs: Go for wooden cabinet feet with metal caps, or edgy metal legs. For the finishing touch, perhaps top the new bar cart with an old kitchen countertop.

Needless to say, you can play around with the customization options of this DIY project. If you want to give a visual upgrade to the insides of the cabinet, line them with a striking peel-and-stick wallpaper for a pop of color. Want your bar cart to be mobile? Swap your bar cart's legs for retro swivel wheels with a locking system for an industrial-chic vibe. The material of your cabinet topper can also make a huge difference. A heavy wood countertop will yield a homey, rustic vibe, a glass one spells sleek and modern, and a marble countertop will give an elegant look to your bar cart.