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Turn a Drawer into a Cabinet

Hi all!  Are you getting your Christmas shopping done?!  It is sneaking up on us, I wish time would slow down, it always goes too fast!
I am probably a little too excited about this project, but in reality I should be!  I am going to show you how to turn a drawer into a cabinet, and quite honestly it is so easy.  Which is why I am so excited, because repurposing is one of my favorite things and easy makes it even better!
How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create

See how fun this is?!  Dang.  I love a good trash to treasure.

I made this project early last spring and shared it on My Repurposed Life as one of my contributor posts…I have been waiting too long to share it with you!

How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create

It is amazing what a little imagination and paint can do!

old drawer

I have had this drawer for about 4 years.  I got it for free off of Craig’s list with a bunch of other scrap wood.  Since then it has been patiently waiting for a makeover and a new purpose in life.

prying off drawer front
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I started by removing the drawer front since it was split and cracked on the sides.  I used a crow bar and slowly pried it off.  If your drawer has a front like this you will need to remove it to make a cabinet.

gluing and fixing up drawer

The drawer needed a little repair, since the sides were loose from the drawer bottom, I added some Gorilla Wood Glueand clamped the drawer while it dried.

cutting trim with a miter

While the glue was drying on the drawer I picked some left over trim that I had ripped out from my teen boy’s room makeover.  This would be the frame for my cabinet door.  I cut one end at 45 degrees on my miter saw and then measured it to the drawer to make the second cut.

adding a front for the cabinet

I did this all the way around until I had all four sides cut.  Then I used wood glue and my Ryobi Nail Gun to attach them at the corners. Note: I recommend using nail in fasteners on the corners if your trim moulding is too thin for pocket holes which is the best method, I was out of fasteners which is why I used nails, but I find it a weaker joining method on mitered corners…just saying.

adding shelves to drawer cabinet

I wanted shelves inside the cabinet so I used some more trim from the same pile, it was a little wider than what I used for the frame.  I cut it to size and glued and nailed it on the sides and the back.
You can add as many shelves as you would like, I only did two.

How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create

Here is a shot of what I had done up to this point.

adding chicken wire to frame

I have wanted to use this Chicken Wire that I picked up from the side of the road, for FOR-EV-ER. (said like in The Sandlot-awesome movie)  This project was perfect for it!  I clipped it to fit my frame.

filling holes with spackle

Then I filled the holes in the drawer with Spackle, if I was staining I probably would have skipped this step.  I wanted to paint so I knew I need cover up the holes so they wouldn’t show.   I also sanded the drawer and cleaned it with TSP beforehand, the cleaning was really needed.

painting drawer cabinet

Time for paint!  I used a homemade chalk paint with white for my first coat, and then added another coat of white.  Tip: For a smoother finish make sure to sand with fine grit paper between coats.

adding hinges for door

I rounded up some hinges and a pull that I pulled off of some shutters…at least I think that is where they came from…  I started by attaching the hinges to the old drawer cabinet first.

attaching door to cabinet

Then I attached my chicken wire to the back of the frame with staples, and screwed the door to the hinges on the cabinet.  Last I added my pull.  Oh and I do want to note that I sprayed the chicken wire with oil rubbed bronze spray paint to darken it up a little before I attached it to the frame.

make your own magnetic door catchWhen I got to installing the door I realized I needed a magnetic door catch.  I didn’t have any…so I made my own.  I used some button magnets and a small scrap piece of wood.  I hot glued them in the top and bottom corners so the magnet was flush with the top.  Then I hot glued on these metal plates I had which I believe were part of a magnetic catch system at one time…
How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create

They keep the door closed perfectly, and that is it.  Done.  I put felt pads on the bottom for now so it can stand on it’s own, but I may add d-rings to the back and hang it in my bedroom.  Decisions, decisions.

How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create

I love how it turned out, simple and just cute!

How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create
How fun is that chicken wire?!  Ahhhh. 🙂  I am so happy I FINALLY used some, totally worth the wait.
How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create
This was a pretty narrow drawer so it can only hold small things, but any depth drawer would work to make a cabinet.
How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create
I love that it can go in any room in the house.  The bathroom, the kitchen which would be perfect for spices, or even in the kids room to hold lego miniatures.  I also have been debating adding cup hooks and turning it into a jewelry cabinet for my bedroom, wouldn’t that be fun!  Or you could hang mugs from them…so many ideas!
How to turn a drawer into a cabinet, full picture tutorial at MyLove2Create
This is a great beginner project for those of you who are waiting to take the plunge.  I promise you won’t be sorry, and don’t expect perfection…NO project is perfect!
Thanks for reading! 
Hugs!
Mindi
More great drawer projects:
cool ways to repurpose drawers, MyLove2Create
Old Drawer Cubby Organizer
cool ways to repurpose drawers, MyLove2Create
Under the bed Storage Repurposing Drawers
cool ways to repurpose drawers, MyLove2Create
Old Drawers into Porch Planters
cool ways to repurpose drawers, MyLove2Create
Video Game Storage made from drawers
I will be linking to these partiesSavvy Southern Style.

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5 Comments

  1. How pretty! This looks like it wouldn't be to hard to do. I really like how you added the chicken wire. This gives me some ideas for our bathroom makeover. Thanjs for sharing

  2. I'm taking this idea and making a console type table to fit on a wall where I need a narrow depth table – like a small buffet! I make not make it out of drawers but the instructions on how to do the doors really helped me with my idea! Thanks so much for sharing this.

  3. What a great idea 💡. Glad I came here, my husband has been collecting drawers for me (I use them to store all my crafting supplies) I am going to make a few with different size drawers. Thank you for sharing!