20 DIY Kitchen Cabinet Plans You Can Build Today (with Pictures)

Kitchen cabinets are some of the most useful appliances in the home. They store your food, dishes, and plates, all while adding great decoration to your kitchen. I’m sure you know all of this already. Something else you might already know, but many people don’t, is how expensive kitchen cabinets are.

The average cost to install new kitchen cabinets is around $5000. That is a hefty price tag for something that appears so simple. Because of how expensive they can be, you might want to learn how to build kitchen cabinets of your own. Luckily, there are tons of free kitchen cabinet plans that you can build today. Let’s look at some of the best.

The 20 DIY Kitchen Cabinet Plans

1. Ana White’s 18-inch Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Base

Kitchen cabinet bases are more affordable than wall cabinets, yet they often offer more space and are easier to reach. This Ana White 18-inch Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Base Plan is great for anyone wanting to update their base cabinets.

The plans are very detailed and easy to follow. They include detailed instructions, graphics, lists, and pictures of the final product. The instructions even link out to some pretty incredible YouTube videos. This makes it super easy for anyone to follow along.

The final product is absolutely adorable. These cabinet bases will look great in any kitchen. Whether you like a rustic or modern look, they are completely stunning and will fit just about anyone’s style.

2. How to Specialist How to Build a Farmhouse Kitchen

One kitchen style that has been growing in popularity over recent years is the farmhouse look. This farmhouse look is rustic yet cozy, making the home warm and inviting for inhabitants and guests alike. Sometimes, it can be tricky to find farmhouse decor that isn’t crazy expensive.

The How To Specialist’s plan for How to Build a Farmhouse Kitchen is incredibly helpful for this reason. They detail how to make a stunning farmhouse kitchen cabinet. The instructions include pictures, lists, graphics, and detailed directions.

As you would expect, the final product is incredibly rustic. It has an old-timey look, almost as though it belongs on Little House on the Prairie.  At the same time, the final product looks incredibly durable and sturdy, ensuring that it doesn’t feel old.

3. Tom Builds Stuff’s How to Build Frameless Base Cabinets

As we already said, base cabinets are incredibly affordable, spacious, and efficient. This makes them a favorite in almost every kitchen around the globe. Tom Builds Stuff tells you exactly how to build frameless base cabinets.

The instructions are easily the most detailed on this list. They include pictures, graphics, and detailed directions. At the beginning, there is a lot of explanation about options you can choose from and additional features. This helps you create the exact cabinet you want.

Because of how many options there are in this plan, this one is definitely better for more experienced builders and woodworkers. Still, the instructions are detailed enough that intermediate builders may want to challenge themselves with it.

4. Wood Work City’s Kitchen Cabinet Plans

Many experienced woodworkers don’t like plans with a lot of introductions or useless information. Instead, they want a simple blueprint to follow. If that sounds like you, you will like this Woodwork City Kitchen Cabinet Plan.

This plan is much less detailed than some of the others. There’s a brief introduction, but then the only instructions are in the form of blueprints. Experienced woodworkers will be able to follow along, but beginners and intermediate workers might find themselves needing a bit more help.

Still, the final product is stunning, so long as you are already experienced. These cabinet plans are comprehensive and will look great in any kitchen. Simply click on the picture and start building today.

5. Bitter Root’s DIY Easy Shaker Cabinet Doors

Are you getting tired of your old cabinets but don’t have the money or willpower to get completely new ones? Just change the door. The only thing people notice on cabinets is doors anyways. This will save a lot of money and time.

Bitter Root DIY offers a great plan for DIY Easy Shaker Cabinet Doors. The plan is very detailed, complete with pictures, instructions, and lists. The instructions are formatted really well, which makes it easy to know where you left off.

The final product is absolutely beautiful. The shaker cabinet doors are simple yet classic. They will definitely upgrade your home without costing you a fortune. The cool part about these doors is that you can attach them to other shelving, not just kitchen cabinets.

6. Our Home From Scratch’s Sliding Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Plans

When I was younger, I used to think that kitchen cabinets with sliding drawers were a sign of class and affluence. As an adult, I still feel this way. If you are looking to update the interior of your cabinets, check out the Our Home From Scratch’s Sliding Kitchen Cabinet Drawer Plans.

To get the plans, you will need to subscribe to their newsletter. This may be annoying, but it is definitely worth it if you want to install sliding kitchen cabinet drawers. The plans even come with a calculator to ensure you get the specific measurements to your kitchen. This seems like a great bargain for signing up for a newsletter.

Whenever you finish the plan, the results are awesome. You get smooth rolling shelving within your drawers. This makes it easy to access that bag of chips or the last coffee mug hiding in the back of the cabinet.

7. Fine Woodworking’s Kitchen Cabinets – The Engineer’s Way

Many people look forward to home renovation because they get to be crafty and look at beautiful decor, but not everyone feels that way. Are you more excited about the math and working with your hands portion of building the kitchen cabinets? If so, check out Fine Woodworking’s Kitchen Cabinets – The Engineer’s Way.

This plan takes a very critical look at how to create the best kitchen cabinets for your kitchen. The author Tim Killen goes into detail about how to approach cabinet building like an engineer. This includes professional and efficient software. He even provides the blueprints that he made.

Given that this blueprint takes a much more professional look at cabinet building, it’s no shock the final result turned out great, according to Killen. No final product photos were provided. So, we have to take their word for it. Given how much effort was put into the building of the cabinet, I would venture to say it turned out awesome.

8. Jaime Costiglio’s DIY Freestanding Kitchen Pantry Cabinet

Does your kitchen have extra space that you simply don’t know what to do with? Make the most of this space by installing a freestanding kitchen pantry cabinet. This kitchen cabinet will take up the excess space, all while adding additional storage within the kitchen.

Jaime Costiglio offers wonderful plans for a Freestanding Kitchen Cabinet Pantry. The plans are full of pictures and graphics to make designing the cabinet easy. In between pictures, instructions are given to make things a bit easier to understand. In addition, a link to a more step by step blueprint is given.

Of the plans on this list, this one is my favorite. The final result is breathtaking. Honestly, it would look great in just about any room, not just your kitchen. Consider adding this to your dining room as well. Stunning and versatile!

9. Cherished Bliss’s DIY Kitchen Island

If you have a lot of empty space in your kitchen but not a lot of cooking area, consider adding a kitchen island with cabinets. The kitchen island will take up the excess room, give you more working room, and provide more storage space.

Cherished Bliss offers free plans for a DIY Kitchen Island. This island includes drawers and cabinets. The plans are extensive, complete with lists, graphics, instructions, and pictures. They are incredibly easy to follow, but you may need a bit more skill to execute them correctly.

Honestly, this final product is amazing. It looks like something you would buy from the store. Based on the final product pictures, this DIY island looks incredibly classy and timeless. You could make it match your style preference, though, by selecting different paint and handles.

10. Woodshop Diaries’ DIY Kitchen Cabinets – Only From Plywood

If you really like the idea of building your cabinets from plywood but do not like the format of the Rockler plan, you’re in luck. Woodshop Diaries uploaded a wonderful plan that teaches you how to build kitchen cabinets that are made completely from plywood.

The plans are beautiful to look at, comprehensive, and easy to follow. They include pictures, graphics, videos, lists, and paragraph instructions. Just about any type of learner will be able to grasp building these cabinets.

Additionally, the final product is awesome. Don’t let the fact that it is made completely from plywood deceive you. The shelving looks professional and very aesthetic. This design would look great in modern or minimalistic kitchens, but you could paint them to go with another style as well.

11. Shanty 2 Chic’s DIY Cane Cabinet

Not all kitchen cabinets need to be attached to a wall or island. Some cabinets can be freestanding, as we have already seen. This freestanding cabinet has a DIY cane front, which is highly attractive and perfect for a kitchen or dining room where style matters.

Shanty 2 Chic provides wonderful plans for this DIY Cane Cabinet. They include pictures, lists, and paragraph instructions. There is also a link to another location for the same plan that it was based on. This makes it super easy to learn everything you need to know about building these cabinets.

Like some other cabinets on this list, these cane cabinets are awesome. They have a vintage yet clean look. You can easily put this in a large kitchen, but you could just as easily put it in a dining room or living room. It’s one of those pieces of furniture that could go anywhere and fit in perfectly.

• See Also: Cost to Install Kitchen Cabinets (Average Price Guide)

12. DIY Wall Cabinets

These basic DIY plans will teach you how to build large wall cabinets that are perfect for your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or garage. These cabinets are very large and sturdy and can be used for a variety of different purposes. The base of these cabinets is made from readily available finished plywood and putting them together is easier than you might expect. Using these plans, you can save yourself hundreds on a set of good wall cabinets. You can finish them out any way you wish, including with paint or stain.

13. Rustic DIY Cabinets

Rustic cabinets can be the perfect addition to a variety of different kitchens. These will look great in cabins, vacation rentals, RVs, and more. They especially look good with a two-toned design with simple white uppers and dark brown lowers. These cabinets can be built with a peel-and-stick exterior finish or by using real reclaimed wood planks. Either way, the results are the same. The cabinets are gorgeous and can instantly transform a space. With some accessorizing and planning, you can have yourself a rustic kitchen without having to buy from a designer.

14. Reclaimed Wood Cabinet Wrap

Another way to get DIY rustic cabinets is to wrap your existing cabinets in reclaimed wood. A cabinet wrap is easy to apply. With some reclaimed wood, sandpaper, finish nails, and a saw, you can meticulously create a rustic look overtop your existing cabinets. The project can quickly transform a space and hide aging cabinets. You might need to build or replace the cabinet doors for the best results. Or you can simply wrap the ends and the island for a rustic appearance that will save you tons of money.

15. DIY Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets

Indoor kitchens are not the only spaces that can use DIY cabinets. You can also build your own outdoor DIY cabinets. These plans can help you build your very own outdoor kitchen. Using cinder blocks, cabinet inserts, and some framing, you can easily put together a vibrant outdoor kitchen. Outdoor kitchens can benefit from cabinets the same way an indoor kitchen benefits. You also don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars to build yourself a simple outdoor kitchen with storage.

16. DIY Patio Storage Cabinets

These outdoor storage cabinets are elegant, functional, and beautiful. They can instantly upgrade any outdoor space, including an outdoor kitchen or patio. They can also be built entirely from scratch. The full design is a little involved, but you can swap out some of the more complicated parts, like the stone countertop, with materials that you are more comfortable working with, if necessary.

17. Cabinet Height Extension

Sometimes you don’t need to build full sized cabinets to help upgrade your kitchen space. Many people have an unsightly gap between the top of their cabinets and the ceiling. This space can be frustrating to deal with or utilize. But now you can build a simple cabinet height extender that will raise your cabinets to the ceiling. This will help fill that gap, make your ceilings feel taller, and can give you a little more decorative charm in the kitchen. These plans call for some basic MDF boards, some trim, and 2×2 wood strips, and that is it. There is a lot of potential for customization, depending on what kind of molding you decide to go with.

18. DIY Upper Cabinet Storage

If you are looking to add some more DIY storage to your kitchen, you can always build upper cabinets that fit in the gap between your uppers and the ceiling. These simple boxes can easily be attached to your existing cabinets. With some small cabinet doors and some pulls, you can add some height, extra storage, and decorative features. Depending on the height of your cabinets and the gap you are working with, you can get some sizable storage out of these DIY plans. There are multiple ways to build these upper cabinet storage boxes, and some ways that are purely decorative. The option is up to you, but all of the choices are in the plans.

19. DIY Kitchen Cabinet Roll Outs

Sometimes you can revamp an existing cabinet with a little bit of DIY work. These cabinet roll outs can be built by hand and cost very little money. Roll outs can add a lot of functionality to your cabinets. They can be built yourself and they cost less than $20 per insert. You can put multiple into a single cabinet, or you can add one to each existing cabinet. All you need is some basic hardware you can get from nearly any hardware store, and some finished plywood and a circular saw. You can build one of these in less than an hour, or you can outfit your whole kitchen in a day or two.

20. Cheap Cabinet Refinishing Project

You don’t need to spend a lot of money to give yourself a kitchen facelift. These refinishing instructions can help transform old, worn-out cabinets for just $200. Using paint and primer and a few days of diligent work, you can easily turn an old, outdated kitchen into something fresh and new. This is perfect for a number of people, including people on a tight budget or people who are uncomfortable trying to build their own cabinets completely from scratch. The results are truly stunning.

Conclusion

Whether you are looking to build a whole kitchen from scratch or are just looking to refresh, update, and add to an existing kitchen, there are DIY plans here that should work for you. Some of these projects cost less than $100 and can add a lot to your kitchen. Other projects are more in depth but no less satisfying. Whatever you choose, there are plenty of ways to create DIY cabinets that are perfect for your personal situation, style, and budget.

See also:

• 15 DIY Wall Cabinet Plans You Can Build Today (With Pictures)
• Cost to Install Kitchen Cabinets

Featured Image Credit: ginsburgconstruction, Pixabay