I'm in the middle of a kitchen remodel and, like many, I'm trying to keep expenses down while maintaining quality. One major expense was the cabinets, which led us to explore DIY options. We've decided to build our cabinets using pre-cut materials instead of buying completely assembled ones. It's been more hands-on, but it's really rewarding! We found a site called CabinetDIY.com that has a good selection of parts that you can put together without needing a lot of tools or experience. I'm curious if anyone else has gone the DIY route for kitchen cabinets? I'd love to hear your experiences, tips, any mistakes to avoid, and whether you would recommend it in hindsight.
6 Answers
I've built cabinets from scratch before, but it requires a lot of skill and good tools. It's definitely not a cheap process. If you’re not experienced, I’d recommend going for pre-cut options or even IKEA; they often come with better warranty and service.
I went with RTA (ready-to-assemble) cabinets for my small kitchen, and I spent about $5000. I briefly considered building them myself but decided the additional cost of them being pre-assembled was worth it given the time savings during a whole-house renovation. I did make a custom cabinet for a corner, and while it's beautiful, it wasn’t much less than the pre-made ones. If you don’t have a super specific need for sizes, I’d recommend sticking with stock cabinets; they're generally more economical.
IKEA is actually a solid option for affordable DIY kitchens. They have great designs that you can assemble yourself. If you want a high-end look, consider buying their base cabinets and upgrading the doors to something fancier. My friend did this, and the results were stunning. Check out SemiHandmade for some cool options!
Just wrapped up installing IKEA cabinets. They use a rail system that really simplifies hanging them up, and the assembly was pretty straightforward. If you have some basic skills, you can definitely handle it! I love how customizable they are.
I’m planning to DIY much of my kitchen, but I will opt for standard boxes made from more affordable materials while prioritizing quality features like faces and doors. It’s all about finding that balance!
If you're considering DIY, I suggest using flat pack cabinets and making sure to glue the seams. Also, using clamps and leveling tools while assembling can really help before you secure them to the wall. I watched a YouTube channel called SomethingPack that did a whole kitchen makeover, and it looked fantastic!
Are you talking about Studpack? They do some impressive stuff!
Just a heads up, the white interior might be a giveaway that it’s IKEA, but it still looks great!