DIY Frames from Cabinet Doors

Making DIY frames from cabinet doors is a fun way to recycle something that could land in the trash. Old cabinet doors can easily be used as frames.

These DIY frames from cabinet doors are super simple. I often build my rustic frames for artwork and photos but this is twice as easy.

I have friends who are carpenters and cabinet makers and they are constantly ripping out cabinets when remodeling kitchens. I get asked if I would like the old doors to up-cycle. You may be able to find them at thrift shops or at home salvage shops.

cabinet door made into a chalkboard sign. Outer frame is white with black chalkboard on the interior, hand painted roses arch over the top and chalk lettering reads, welcome to our porch.

Many times I will paint the door itself. This one is painted with chalk paint to create a chalkboard. The frame is painted white and distressed for a rustic feel.

The pink roses are hand-painted, a link to how to paint roses is included at the end of this post.

Cabinet doors come in all sizes and shapes.

cabinet doors stacked on a table with plants beside them

Many times they will have holes from the handles and pulls. That is easy to fix.

Use some wood filler and a credit card or putty knife to fill them in. Both work to do the job.

cabinet door laying on a table with a tub of wood filler and a credit card on top

Take a good size scoop out of the tub with the corner of the credit card and scrape it over the hole in the cabinet door.

hand scraping wood filler into holes on cabinet doors with a credit card

Firmly press the filler into the hole and scrape away the excess. You can make a couple of passes to get the putty down into the hole.

cabinet doors laying on a table with wood putting filled the handle holes

When you scrape away the putty try to get it level with the top of the hole. It may shrink some when dry so this step may need to be repeated.

cabinet doors laying on a table showing how wood putting was sanded down even with surface

You can see the hole is filled now. Wipe away any filler that may have gotten into any areas other than the hole. Once the filler is dry, sand away any excess from the door face.

Read the instructions on the container to gauge how long it may take.

Once it is fully dried then paint the frame of the cabinet door any color you wish. The inside can be a contrasting color or the same as the frame.

I usually paint the inner flat panel but you can also put photos here using double sided tape or Mod Podge.

I have also seen people use clips, clothes pins, and things similar attached to hold the photo in place on the frame.

I need something like that on this frame made from fence boards, I am thinking wood clothespins painted either the same color or a slightly different tone for contrast.

wood boards put together into a surface to paint, pallet board

My painting is just sitting on the ledge of the cross piece, this is made similar to my pallet boards used for painting but the cross pieces are attached on the front instead of the back. This is another great way to make a DIY frame.