How to Make Cabinet Doors

Cabinet doors vary in size, style, wood type, and finish. When you decide to make your own cabinet doors, you get to choose at every turn so your cabinets have the exact look and feel you see in your mind’s eye. Using the simple steps outlined below, you will learn how to make cabinet doors using the materials and designs that best suit your home decor and kitchen design.

The first step of learning how to make cabinet doors is picking between flush slabs or flat panel door types. The flush slab style is chosen less frequently by homeowners, but both types can later be fitted with hardware for opening and closing cabinets—likewise, both styles can be left as-is, depending on the style of the kitchen and the homeowner’s taste.

When choosing your cabinet style, you’ll also be choosing the type of wood your cabinet doors are made of. Most people remodeling a kitchen will choose Douglas fir, red or white oak, or scentless cedar, but the options are only as limited as to where you’re picking out your cabinet doors. If you’re looking for a different type of wood, ask the cabinet door provider before heading down to have your doors milled. Finally, know whether the wood cabinet doors you’re picking out are plywood or fiberboard. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but the primary difference is the starting price—fiberboard cabinet doors are usually easier on the budget. Depending on how the wood has been finished though, it may not be better for the longevity of your cabinet doors.

Having your cabinet doors made entirely of wood that has to be milled is more expensive than using cabinet doors that can have an exterior made of plywood or fiberboard glued to cheaper wood or another material. That said, milled wood cabinets are usually prettier and always longer-lasting. The dimensions of your cabinet doors can also change the price, so make them as small as you can without losing surface where fingers will pull cabinet doors open if you plan to forego hardware altogether.

For those using flat panel cabinet doors, cut cabinet doors from sheets of plywood using a table saw so as not to lose your balance while cutting your raw materials. If you’ve chosen to have finished edges, use the router of your choice to create these edges once you’ve completely cut the plywood cabinet door from the sheet it came from.

Next, it’s time to apply the wood finish or paint you’ve chosen for your cabinet doors. Be sure to have a place to set them once you’ve applied your finish or paint so they won’t be nicked or otherwise disturbed after being painted. Be sure to use a brush with fine bristles to keep you from leaving marks in the paint or finish, as your cabinets will be a front-and-center fixture in your kitchen.

Finally, you’ll attach two hinges to one side of the door and measure and drill holes for the hardware on the other side, presuming you plan to use hardware. In any case, attaching your hinges is a must, and is usually quickly done. Try to pick hinges and other hardware that match the rest of your kitchen or the direction you plan on taking the space through a remodel.

Now you know how to make cabinet doors for your kitchen, garage, or any other room of the house. Remember, the first time is always the hardest, so it would be a shame for you to never make cabinets again once you know how to get the job done!