DIY A Budget-Friendly Kitchen Storage Solution With A Creative Upcycling Idea

Leftover materials may be a hassle to handle 99% of the time, but few of us can whine about having too many cabinet doors. As soon as you end up with one, you find a crafty way to repurpose your cabinet door around the house. For the more avid DIYers among us, the myriad project possibilities may even have them running to their local Restore to stock up on old panels. The molding and intricate craftwork offer an easy path to add bespoke decoration to the home. With a solid wood surface as a stable backdrop, there are also functional benefits to enjoy, which you'll quickly realize if you're low on kitchen storage.

Upcycling your cabinet door into a budget-friendly DIY hanging shelf is a creative way to upgrade your kitchen storage solutions. You'll give it a little style and substance with decorations and organization features, such as a Mason jar holder. To attach it to the wall, you can screw directly through the cabinet door and into studs or anchors. For a cleaner look and an easier time removing it, install D-ring hangers (like these Mxxipp Heavy-Duty D-Ring Hangers) on the door and hooks on the wall. Choose hardware rated to hold about three times the weight of the cabinet door and its accessories. Now, you have a sturdy, attractive fix where you can install hooks, bins, and more, and with a few adjustments, almost any door can work with your available space.

Before you figure out which add-ons to install, measure the wall area and prep your cabinet door. Remove the hardware, fill the holes with filler, and consider whether to resize the door. If so, measure the length you need, and use your table saw to remove the end. Cut the entire rail off so you can reattach it later. If the center panel has a routered raised design, you'll also have to cut that entire portion off from that end to reinstall later as well.

Once it's cut down, remove the stiles from the sides of the cut-off rail. Pound the rail back into the frame, slotting its tongues into the stile grooves on either side. You might have to router a rabbet on the center panel to let it slot back into the rail. More ornate stiles may also need cutting, sanding, or routing on the reinstalled side to make the outside edge profiling consistent.

Apart from the size, consider refreshing your cabinet door's look. Remove old paint or stain by applying a stripping solution, scraping the finish, and sanding with fine-grit sandpaper to restore the surface. Then, pick a suitable finish or paint color to match your kitchen's style. Consider these aspects as you resize your door. While you cut and take the door apart, you can remove the center panel, making it easier to add a color or pattern to contrast the border pieces. You can even add effects like stencils, textured fabric, or stylish contact paper.

Now that your shelf is ready to hang, you can get into the fun of decorating it and installing handy storage solutions. Start by borrowing from all the typical ways you can create cabinet door storage and stay organized while they're installed on the cabinets. Add hanging bins for bags or a bar to hold hand towels. Cut a metal sheet to perfectly fit the center panel to make an eye-catching magnetic spice holder. Or, take it easy and paint it with chalkboard paint to make a framed message center with storage around it.

The best storage solutions to attach to your repurposed cabinet door will often depend on where you can put it. Hang it by the sink, and a tray to hold your dish liquid and sponges would be practical. Install hooks for your cooking utensils when it's by the range, or clips for messages if you fit it near the fridge. Add panels for displays or all-purpose storage. Use features that mesh with the vintage aesthetic a painted cabinet door affords, especially if you DIY a distressed painted look or use antiquing glaze to reflect weather-worn charm. Additions like Mason jar holders or hanging wicker baskets offer utility and elegance while supplying a chance to repurpose other odds and ends from around the house. The cabinet door is a blank slate, so feel free to take this hack in any direction to get the look, function, and fit you want from your kitchen storage solutions.