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If you admire the aesthetic of open kitchen shelves but are hesitant about the expense or effort of dismantling your current cabinets, you can easily repurpose them into shelving yourself. While it’s more complex than just taking off the cabinet doors, we’ll guide you step-by-step on how to revamp those old cabinets into stylish open shelves.
How to Repurpose Existing Kitchen Cabinets into Open Shelves
Start by clearing out and cleaning the cabinets you plan to convert. This is the perfect opportunity to remove any accumulated dust or grime (and marvel at how much dirt went unnoticed over the years). Then, decide whether to keep or remove the central divider that separates the cabinet’s two sides. Leaving it in place is an option, but it may add some complexity to the process as you move forward.
To eliminate the middle divider, employ a double-edged pull saw to slice through the plank’s top and bottom. If the piece resists removal after sawing, tap it gently with a hammer to loosen it. After removing the divider, take out the interior shelving. Smooth any rough edges with a putty knife, patch small holes or dents with putty, and sand the surface until it’s even. For a polished appearance, Better Homes & Gardens recommends attaching trim to the front edges of the shelves.
Check out their instructional video for a visual guide on the transformation process:
Following this, Better Homes & Gardens advises sealing any interior cabinet seams with paintable caulk. Complete the project by painting the shelves, both inside and out, using enamel paint or cabinet-specific paint in your preferred color.
