Repurposed Cupboard Door Bookshelf

Cuteness!  I have to admit I had my doubts while building this project, but I am happy to say that I love it!

I was gifted a whole kitchen of cupboard doors from a friend, so naturally I am always scheming up ways to repurpose them into something useful.  Like my Cabinet Doors into Children’s Desk, or my Corner Cabinet Planter, or even my Cupboard Door into Command Center.

Since I had three cupboard doors the exact same size I decided they needed to become a book shelf.

I started by removing the door hardware.  Using plywood scraps I propped up the cupboard door to get a visual of how it would look as a shelf.

I always have lots of scrap 1×2’s laying around, so I decided to use them and build 4 frames, which would become the shelf supports.  You could use plywood for the dividers, but I wanted a more open look on the sides.

First, I cut the scraps to the size I needed and then proceeded to drill pocket holes with my Kreg Jig K5.  I drilled two 3/4” pocket holes into the ends of the shorter pieces.  On the long pieces I drilled two pocket holes for attaching the shelf support frames to the cupboard doors.

Here I am building my support frames, using Gorilla wood glue and 1 1/4” pocket hole screws.  Always clamp before drilling in pocket holes to make sure the boards stay flush.

Because of the decorative edge on the outside of the cupboard doors I needed to inset where I would be attaching my divider frames.  The perfect tool to use was my combination square, it allowed me to mark all of my boards the same without measuring every time (top left).  I used wood glue and clamped the shelf support into place and drilled in my pocket holes.  On the bottom right you can see I did this with two of the cupboard doors.

Next, I grabbed my third cupboard door and attached one of the cupboard doors with the shelf supports already attached onto the top, again using wood glue and 1 1/4” pocket hole screws.

Now all I had to do was attach the last one on the top.  In the left photo you can see I have it clamped and ready to be screwed together.  On the right I have filled in all my pocket hole screw openings with spackle.

Once my spackle was dry I sanded is smooth and wiped down my new bookshelf in order to get it ready for primer.   I also dug out my $1 legs that I got at the same time as the legs I used when I built my Rustic Industrial Table.  They got a quick spray with oil rubbed bronze spray paint.  Can you see the chicken wire in the background?  I sprayed it to match the legs.

The bookshelf was finished with Rustoleum’s Ocean Mist spray paint.  I added my chicken wire to my shelf support openings with my staple gun, and screwed the legs onto the bottom.

This is the final product.  I think cupboard doors were meant to be shelves!

It was way to dark and overcast to get decent photos inside, so I did my staging outside.

The inset portion of the cupboard doors make a perfect place for books and decor items, as well as a nice ledge. 🙂

I had several ideas of how to dress up the sides, but with crazy things happening in my week I went with the chicken wire.  I think it adds a little farmhouse feel.

I know the inside wires could use some covering up, but I ran out of time.  I have some ideas of how I will do it, but I am curious as to what you would do?

Thanks for reading!  I would love for you to visit and follow me for more great repurposing and building ideas!

Hugs,
Mindi
see more of Mindi’s posts on MRL below:

Hanging Cedar Wall Planter

DIY Dog Bowl Holder

Spindle Crate

Reclaimed Wood Photo Display

Desk Organizer

Repurposed Cupboard Door Lap Desk

Kingsize Headboard Bench

Chalkboard Coat Rack

Caddy or Tray Repurposed from Hymnbook Holders

Easy DIY Trivets

Repurposed Cupboard Door Bookshelf

Rustic Industrial Narrow Bookshelf

Repurposed Cupboard Door Shelf

Repurposed bar stool leg Bench

Reclaimed Wood Shelves

Old Drawer Cabinet

Old Drawer Cubby Organizer

Repurposed Storage Bench

Dresser Turned Bench

Avengers Subway Art

Kid Storage Bench

Rustic Industrial Coffee Table

DIY A-Frame Crate

DIY Octagon Mirror

Repurposed Shutters and Desk into Potting Bench

Repurposed Bench Planter

DIY Corner Planter

Stackable Pallet Crates

Cheap Cabinet into Nice Bench

Corner Cabinet Makeover

Old Picture Frame Chalkboard Easel

Kid’s old drawer media cabinet

Leather Belt Crate

License Plate Coat Racks

Large Rustic Clock

Repurposed Crib Dog Crate

Rustic Industrial Kid Chairs

Repurposed Cabinet Doors into a Desk

DIY Storage Crates

Cubby Shelf Makeover

Pallet Top Table

Industrial Rivet Chalkboard

Under the Bed Storage

DIY Tray Stand and Old toolbox

Entry Table Made from Reclaimed Lumber

Stool Turned Side Table

Curtain Tie Backs into Towel Hooks

Old Chairs into New Bench

Old Drawers into Porch Planters

French Inspired Piano Bench Makeover

Cupboard Door into Command Center

Table Top into Game Box

Night Stand Makeover

Faux Metal Finish Upcycled Shelf

Curtains to Bench top

Repurposed Peg Hook Shelf into Fun Book Shelf