I'm trying to tackle a cabinet project because my wife wants more storage in our 1300 square foot home. She's had this idea of doing an IKEA hack in our living room for years, but I've always resisted. Has anyone here done an IKEA hack before? Also, if I decide to build cabinets with shelves on top, can anyone recommend easy-to-follow plans? Is this project too big for someone who's not a pro? Just to add, I have all the tools needed and a basic understanding of cabinet making, but I've never actually done a project like this before. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Building your own cabinets can be super fun, but keep in mind, the cost of tools will likely outweigh what you’d spend on IKEA cabinets! If you decide to go the IKEA route, make sure to take all your measurements and keep a notepad handy. It'll be a fun experience together!
I totally wanted to DIY my cabinets too! I stumbled upon this blog that has really clear directions for a built-in cabinet project. I bought some unfinished upper cabinets from Home Depot since they fit my space better. It was my first project, and while it was challenging, I got through it with just a circular saw. And a tip: be careful with your measurements because the saw blade thickness can mess things up!
I did an IKEA-based built-in entertainment center and it turned out great! I used IKEA boxes but made a walnut top with a waterfall edge and custom doors. You really can't tell it's from IKEA. Just a heads up though, having a miter saw and table saw makes things a lot easier. Do you have those yet?
I have a table saw, but I'm missing a miter saw.