Dress Up A Plain Cabinet!

I needed a new cabinet for the kitchen and found one on Craigslist. It wasn't really what I wanted and it wasn't real wood... just pressboard with a plastic covering that looks like wood. Not what I wanted, but it filled a need for a time, so I bought it. Rather than keep it the way it was, I wanted to dress it up a bit.... and the little job I did made it so much more appealing.  :)


I have done this before, on bookshelves or a hutch... this time it was a really fast job just to get it done and back in use.

 Just choose some fabric... I like to use calico fabric.  I have also used wall paper instead and that works too. I like using fabric though because there are so many patterns to choose from and I already have a stash of it here, meaning I don't have to pay anything extra to do the job. :)

You can see that my hurried job, has a couple of wrinkles in it, but they were not at all visible when we were using the cabinet.

 Just cut the fabric to size... I cut it a couple of inches larger than needed so that I don't run short.  Fold one edge over...at the top (ironing it making it easier)... and using a hot glue gun, run a bead of glue along the top of the section.... only a few inches at a time,  and lay the fabric on it. It will be hot, so be careful. After the top is done, start down the sides. This is where it is a good thing to have those extra inches... because if you were off a bit on the top, it will really show up at the bottom... on the sides.  Continue all around until all sides are glued.  If desired, you can also glue lace to the front of the shelves for an old-time look.  I have a wood (real wood! :) hutch that I bought at a garage sale many years ago... maybe 15 or more.... and I glued fabric in the back of it and put lace on the front of the shelves... it still looks nice and I plan to keep it.

Anyway, this is an easy way to make a plain cabinet ... or bookcase... or hutch... special. It can match your decor.... or contrast with it... or whatever you want. It can become a conversation item and be stunning... or it can just pretty up your home a bit. It isn't a big job, but it really looks nice... especially when dishes are displayed in it.... sorry I don't have a picture of that. These actually are the pictures I used to sell this cabinet on Craigslist... it served its purpose, but it was time to move it out and change things again. We still haven't figured out WHAT we are going to use in place of it, so we still have to hunt in the totes in the garage for the cookbook we need... or the utensil. :)

We recently had new windows put in and the windows you see here have been made smaller now.... the bottom of them was raised several inches. I need more countertop space in here, but didn't want to have something over these low windows, so we raised the windows to a height that will allow a countertop cabinet to be right under them.....  now we are thinking of options... and waiting for the Lord to provide something on Craigslist. We'll see. :)

The fabric in the back of the cabinet really helped with making this cabinet more homey and beautiful while we used it. Maybe it's an idea you have used... or will someday. I'm sure I will be using it again... probably many times. :)  Thank you for visiting... I hope you have a wonderful week.



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