Hello! I am happy to be here! It’s Mindi from MyLove2Create!
Today I am sharing how to make a Cabinet Door Magazine Rack!
This is a pretty easy project and very useful too!
I am excited to show you how I made it! Let’s get started!
How to make a DIY Magazine Rack:
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Supplies:
- 2 small cabinet doors, mine were 16” wide 11 1/2” tall (or you can use plywood cut to desired size)
- scrap 1×2 wood pieces cut @ 15 degree angle 9 1/2” long point to long point, ends not parallel
- scrap 1×4 @ 16” (bottom)
- Any fabric (I used leather cause I had some I had gotten for free
- Scrap book paper (optional)
- Mod Podge Matte Finish
(optional) - Carpet tacks
- Wood Glue
- Kreg K5 Pocket-Hole Jig
- drill
- hammer
- Nail gun
- Wood Glue
- finishing supplies (spray paint)
- Hot Glue Gun
- paper, pencil, scissors
I have had these two small cabinet doors for a while and I knew I wanted to make something out of them. It has taken months to come up with an idea, but this one seemed to be the perfect one!
1: Cut top aprons and bottom piece
Since I was repurposing the cabinet doors I started with cutting my aprons out of some scrap 1×2 pieces. If you don’t have cabinet doors, you could just cut plywood to the size you want, or to the dimensions of my cabinet doors in the supply list above.
Cut your 1×4 bottom piece to the length of your cabinet/plywood sides. Mine was at 16”.
Setting my Miter Saw at 15 degrees I cut the two aprons with the top part (long point to long point) at 9 1/2”. You can see me doing a dry fit to see if it was the correct distance using my bottom board as a guide with my cabinet doors.
at 15 degrees I cut the two aprons with the top part (long point to long point) at 9 1/2”. You can see me doing a dry fit to see if it was the correct distance using my bottom board as a guide with my cabinet doors.2: Sand and drill pocket holes
Once I had all my pieces cut I sanded them smooth. Then I used my Kreg K5 Pocket-Hole Jig to drill 1/2” pocket holes into my aprons, drilled 1/2” pocket holes because my cabinet doors were 1/2” thick. You can drill pocket holes with an angled cut, your end just needs to sit flush with the bottom of the jig, so it will be at an angle.
to drill 1/2” pocket holes into my aprons, drilled 1/2” pocket holes because my cabinet doors were 1/2” thick. You can drill pocket holes with an angled cut, your end just needs to sit flush with the bottom of the jig, so it will be at an angle.3: Attach apron pieces to sides
Using wood glue I clamped my aprons to my cabinet door, flush with the outside and top edges. I used my Right Angle Clamp to help keep the apron in the correct place while I drilled in the first 3/4” screw.
to help keep the apron in the correct place while I drilled in the first 3/4” screw.Once the two aprons were attached to one side, I then attached them to the other cabinet door.
4: Attach the base to the sides
I slid in my 1×4 base between the two sides and then used my Nail gun to nail it in place with 2” finish nails through the cabinet doors.
to nail it in place with 2” finish nails through the cabinet doors.5: Fill holes and Paint
I always have left over spray paint, so I grabbed one of my BLUE 🙂 cans and spray painted my magazine rack.
If you choose to fill in your pocket holes, and any other gaps you would do this with wood filler or spackle before you paint. Fill the holes, let dry, sand smooth, wipe clean, then paint. I choose not to fill my holes. Lazy.
6: Make a template and cut fabric sides
I traced the side of my magazine rack on a piece of paper and then cut it out to make a template for cutting the fabric sides. You can see I purposefully left a gap. I did this so that you can hold the aprons (1×2’s) as handles it works great!
Because I had gotten a free stash of leather off the side of the road eons ago…it seemed the natural choice for me to use it for my side pieces. I traced my template onto my leather and cut it out.
7: Add fabric sides to magazine rack
To add my fabric sides I started by Hot gluing the bottom piece in place, then I glued one side then the other.
the bottom piece in place, then I glued one side then the other.Once the hot glue was holding the fabric in place I trimmed off any excess, but just because I used leather and it doesn’t fray. If you are using fabric that frays, you will need to cut it a little bigger than your template, fold the edges in and iron them flat so that it matches the template size, then hot glue it onto rack.
In order to secure the fabric I drilled small pilot holes and then hammered in Carpet tacks. With the hard wood of the cabinet doors, it was necessary to drill holes first. However, I didn’t on the first time I tried to nail in a tack and it spilt the wood. I had to glue and clamp it. Oops!
. With the hard wood of the cabinet doors, it was necessary to drill
holes first. However, I didn’t on the first time I tried to nail in a tack and it spilt the wood. I had to glue and clamp it. Oops!8: Mod Podge on some decorative craft paper (optional)
I thought it would be fun to add some decorative craft paper on the inset portions of my cabinet doors. After measuring, I cut my paper to size.
Then I added Mod Podge Matte Finish to the inset portion, put on the paper making sure to smooth out any bubbles, and covered it with another layer of mod podge. Next, I wiped off any excess mod podge from the edges with a wet paper towel. Then let it dry.
to the inset portion, put on the paper making sure to smooth out any bubbles, and covered it with another layer of mod podge. Next, I wiped off any excess mod podge from the edges with a wet paper towel. Then let it dry.
Fill it with books or magazines and you are done!
Here is a shot of the inside, you can fit quite a bit of stuff in this rack!
I love the fabric/leather sides! I enjoy using leather in projects like my Leather Belt Crate, and my DIY Magazine Rack.
The apron handles make it super easy to carry and move around.
I have actually thought that this would be a great addition to the craft room storing random craft supplies like paper!
Or even vinyl, because if you have vinyl it totally needs containing! And look, you cans see my “how to transform laminate furniture” bench with my “Two easy steps to build stackable crates” inside!
Wouldn’t you know it? The kids have decided that it is perfect for stuffed animals too! So many ways to organize and store you stuff!
What you would use it for?
Hugs!
Mindi
see more of Mindi’s posts on MRL here
Several of your projects feature cabinet doors. I am wondering how you got them.
Chris,
I was lucky to get about 40 from a good friend who picked them up from an auction. I love, love, love using cabinet doors for simple projects.
You could try looking at your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I also recommend asking your friends and family on Facebook. You never know who might have something laying around that you want. 😉
gail
SO timely. Just moved and brought with me stash of old long-shelved cabinet doors, as well as the shelves (10′ lengths) Renovated the garage of new place into my ‘she shack’ and had a 12’x22′ empty space to fill with all the crap…err..craft supplies, art studio and music room. These ideas for storage and coat racks, desk organizer and others have come at just the right time. Thank you thank you.
Awesome Lou! So happy that you have found something useful to do with the stash of cabinet doors and shelves!
gail
Fantastic idea Mindi, love it and color you painted it also. Had to save it in case Mr.Furry ever decided he’ll build one. Great job on the tutorial.. Need to get one of those Krieg jigs, would make it lot easier for hubs. Holiday gift idea. Very handsome magazine rack and different. Looks like you have pretty nice work shop set up in your garage.We have to work outside as no garage.
Thank you so much JaneEllen!! I think a Kreg jig is a perfect gift idea! Thanks for saving this project! I do a lot of work outside too, since my workshop is so small…I have even worked in my kitchen! Ha ha!
That is cute…
This is such a creative use for cabinet doors! Love this project!