Repurpose Old Kitchen Cabinets

Every time I watch them swing a mallet at perfectly good, but slightly dated, kitchen cabinets on a home improvement show, I cringe. It might be satisfying to watch the cabinets you’ve wanted to get rid of for a few years turn to splinters, but what a waste of good cabinetry.

Photo by Andrew C.

When we redid our kitchen, we carefully removed our old cabinets and used them for storage in my shed. (It was supposed to be my art studio, but it was so far from the house that I’d weed the garden on the way and never actually made it to the studio!) I have a super organized shed and didn’t have to spend a penny on shelves and cupboards. Kitchen cupboards in decent condition can also be used for storage in garages or pantry areas.

Another option is to send a message out on Freecycle letting people know you have a nice, used set of cabinets to give away. While they may seem dated to you, someone who is remodeling their old garage or working on a kitchen in an area where there has been flooding or another big disaster may be more than happy to get your cabinets, apply a coat of primer and paint and install them in his or her home.