101 Uses for Old Kitchen Cupboards

At DIY Homefit when helping customers with kitchen refurbishment we sometimes get asked about the removal of old kitchen furniture. Whilst the usual routes are either the local tip or a Council collection – or perhaps Freecycle if the items are in good enough condition…

– we have also noticed that more people are starting to be creative about re-using kitchen furniture elsewhere. So in this article we want to give you a few ideas as to how you might do this –  ok maybe not quite 101 but a few to get you started!

There are various ways you can re-use your kitchen furniture. If you use the a complete carcass from a kitchen cabinet then that gives scope for a range of box-style creations. But you could also use old kitchen cupboard doors as pieces of  flat wood, for which there are many potential uses. Here are our Top Five Uses – in no particular order:

Container Gardening

Old kitchen cabinets or kitchen drawers would be perfect for this.  They could be painted with weatherproof wood paint in any colour of your choice. Imagine them filled with glorious plants and flowers, you get the picture!

Shabby Chic Shelving

Why go to the effort of making something look old and distressed when your old kitchen cupboard doors already are! Just use two layers of paint in different colours, letting bits of the bottom layer show through. Any flaws in the kitchen furniture will just make the item look even more authentic!

Pet Bedding

What pampered pet would not like to snuggle up in its own drawer bed? Old drawers can be used for so many things and can fit neatly and unobtrusively pretty much anywhere. But we reckon pet bedding simply takes the biscuit!

Under Bed Storage

Forget the fancy PVC and/or vacuum-able contraptions from the mail-order catalogues! An old drawer or kitchen cupboard carcass can accommodate spare bedding easily, protect it from damp, and slide neatly under a bed.

Making Music

Every heard of a cajon? It’s a box-shaped percussion instrument originally from Peru. What better box to use than an old kitchen cupboard or drawer?! If you’re a side or two short then there’s bound to be another piece of kitchen furniture you use to construct that side and simply attach it on.

We hope that’s given you food for thought and will give you more ideas over the coming months; and now you know what to do with your old kitchen furniture it’s a great incentive to go for that full kitchen refurbishment you’ve been waiting for!  

Why not have a look at our gallery of kitchen pictures then browse through the rest of this website to get some exciting inspiration!