Woodworking Woodworking Projects

How to Build Cabinets and Doors

For Your Kitchen, Bath, or Utility Room

Carpenter measuring wood
svetikd / Getty Images

Learning how to build cabinets and matching doors is very popular among novice woodworkers. Knowing this basic skill allows the woodworker to adapt his knowledge and skill to design and build almost any type of unit imaginable. Stock up with this series of sets of free woodworking plans to get any woodworker started in cabinetry.

  • 01 of 08

    Basic Cabinet Building

    A basic white cabinet

     Suwan Wanawattanawong / EyeEm / Getty

    The basic principles of cabinet building are really the same, no matter whether you are building units for your kitchen, bath, utility room or garage. Most cupboards are little more than a wooden box that is modified for the current installation. In these free woodworking plans, learn how to build some sturdy hanging utility cases that can be adapted for nearly any other type of installation.

  • 02 of 08

    Bathroom Sink Cabinet

    A bathroom oufitted with many cabinets

     Martin / Deja

    A bathroom sink cabinet is a standard variation of the same type of base unit used in a kitchen on which a kitchen countertop is mounted. These free woodworking plans for a bathroom sink model includes a deep drawer and a large under-sink storage compartment. Download the free measured drawings and bill of materials and build the assembly in your woodshop.

  • 03 of 08

    Utility Shelves

    Rows of pottery aligned on simple utility shelves

    Douglas Sacha / Getty

     

    Sturdy, well-built utility shelves are a great addition to any number of locations in your home, garage or shed. While some people might think of a utility shelf as a piece of wood (or plywood) connected to the wall with some shelf brackets, but such a shelf won't be very sturdy or attractive. Instead, follow this set of free woodworking plans to build some sturdy utility shelves that are durable and look great.

  • 04 of 08

    Dovetail Drawers

    The fine details of a dove tail drawer

     Difydave / Getty

    Learning how to make through dovetails is one of the basic skills for every fine woodworker. Through dovetails are commonly utilized when making drawers for kitchen cabinets or pieces of furniture. These woodworking plans follow along step-by-step and learn how to build dovetail drawers for your woodworking projects.

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  • 05 of 08

    Cove Raised Panel Cabinet Doors

    A laundry room full of cove raised panels

    slobo / Getty

    If you want to quickly and dramatically update the look of your kitchen, consider installing some new kitchen cabinet doors. While buying kitchen cabinet doors at the home center can be quite expensive, you can easily create some beautiful cove raised panel cabinet doors with little more than a quality table saw. Best of all, the cove raised panel cabinet doors you create will cost a fraction of the new cabinet doors at the home center. Follow along with these free woodworking plans, and learn how to make these cabinet doors with the workhorse in your woodshop, the table saw in your woodshop.

  • 06 of 08

    European Slab-Style Cabinet Doors

    The handles of a slab cabinet door

    yusufsarlar / Getty 

    The slab-style cabinet door is a very basic type of cabinet door that is quite popular in Europe. This simple cabinet door can be built from solid wood, banded plywood or even melamine. Part of the appeal of the slab-style cabinet door is that they can be finished in nearly any fashion. In these free woodworking plans, learn how to build some inexpensive, versatile European slab-style cabinet doors.

  • 07 of 08

    Louvers

    Louvered shutters made from western red cedar

     Turnervisual / Getty

    Louvers are a stylish way to build window shutters or partition doors. The louvers are actually a series of evenly-spaced strips of wood that cover the window or another opening. Because the slats of the louvers are at an angle, louvers provide a great deal of privacy while allowing plenty of air flow between the louvers. While louvered doors and window shutters are readily available at home centers, louvers aren't that difficult to build. Build louvers for any number of applications with these woodworking plans, including a router jig that makes cutting the elongated holes for the slats a breeze!

  • 08 of 08

    Hanging Cabinets with French Cleats

    French cleats secure heavy objects to the wall

    Tenbergen / Wikimedia

     

    A very sturdy way to mount any type of wall-mounted cabinet is to use a french cleat. Sometimes referred to as a wedge bracket, you can make a matching pair of french cleats with little more than a table saw. The wedge will hold quite a bit of weight and will secure the cupboard against the wall. It's also very easy to build. Learn how in this woodworking tip.