DIY Rustic Kitchen Cabinets Ideas

24 Dec DIY Rustic Kitchen Cabinets Ideas

The heart of any home is the kitchen – it’s where families and friends gather to cook, eat, talk, and laugh. There’s just something warm, cozy, and inviting about a rustic kitchen with antique-inspired cabinets. Going for a rugged, distressed look with your kitchen cabinets brings lovely imperfections and raw, natural elements into your space.

So if you’re renovating your kitchen or building a new home, consider implementing some rustic designs. DIY rustic cabinets allow you to customize your space completely to your taste without the high price tag. Plus, half the fun is in creating them yourself!

Let’s explore some inspiring rustic kitchen cabinets ideas you can DIY on any budget. Get ready to fall in love with the vintage, farmhouse charm.

Salvaged Wood Crates for Shelving

One of the easiest DIY rustic kitchen cabinets ideas is to use old wooden crates as open shelving. Crates bring a wonderful weathered texture, emphasize the natural grain, and feel pleasingly imperfect.

You can find wooden crates for cheap at flea markets, antique shops, or even farms. Look for ones that match your kitchen’s color scheme. Give them a light sanding before assembling and securing to the wall studs. Then artfully arrange your dishes, cookbooks, or kitchen tools inside.

The unfinished, raw crates contrast beautifully against painted walls. Their natural imperfections tie the whole rustic look together.

Faux Reclaimed Cabinet Doors

Real reclaimed barn wood cabinets might blow the budget. But you can fake the funky, distressed look for less!

Start with new plywood or MDF cabinets boxes. Then get creative with the doors. Glue randomly spaced wood planks onto cabinet door fronts to mimic authentic reclaimed wood. Mix up the plank lengths, widths, and spacing. Use a mix of wood stains across the planks for extra depth.

Once the glue dries, lightly sand the edges and surface for a worn look. Finish by sealing with polyurethane or wood wax for protection. Add antique-style black hinges and knobs to complete the vintage farmhouse vibe!

Rustic Open Shelves with Black Pipe Brackets

Exposed pipes and metalwork embody modern rustic style. Use black iron piping to make brackets for open shelves instead of cabinets. This saves cost and complements the rugged aesthetic.

Measure and cut the pipes to desired shelf length. Weld perpendicular strips of pipe to the underside to support wood boards. Make as many shelves and pipe supports needed for your space.

Rest the piped shelves on basic wood boards stained or painted to suit your kitchen cabinet’s colors. The black metal piping plays beautifully against natural wood tones. It looks simultaneously industrial yet country chic.

Bleached and Whitewashed Finishes

Bleached and whitewashed finishes give new wood rustic flair. Both remove coloring to expose the raw grain and texture beneath for a weathered, timeworn look.

Bleaching breaks down pigments and lightens wood over multiple applications. Whitewashing coats wood in translucent pickling mixtures to lift color. Do this finish for cabinet boxes, doors, or open shelving.

Try whitewashing new pine boards in watered-down white paint or vinegar solution. For bleaching, apply hydrogen peroxide or commercial wood bleach liberally with steel wool for abrasion. Seal the pores after for protection. Then install your faded, driftwood-like masterpieces!

Unfinished Wood Door Fronts

Another budget DIY kitchen cabinet idea is using plywood or MDF cabinet boxes while showcasing real wood doors. Opt for unfinished oak, pine, cedar planks, or reclaimed wood. Attach them in varied vertical, horizontal, or diagonal directions. You can also mix wood types for eclectic rustic charm!

Alternatively, wood panel just the lower third portion of cabinet fronts rather than the whole surface. The bare plywood or MDF shows through the top, looking like worn paint to emulate age and patina. Contrast those neutrals with rich natural wood below for a striking two-tone effect.

Either way, keep the wood doors unstained and unsealed. Their raw imperfect state enhances the depth, knots, grain, and color variations that make wood so gorgeous. Use simple black metal hardware to complement the woods’ unfinished nature without competition.

Salvaged Brick Backsplashes

Rustic farmhouse kitchens incorporate reclaimed terracotta bricks or old chipped stones along the countertops. Luckily salvaged building materials are abundant if you know where to source them affordably.

Scour demolition sites, architectural salvage warehouses, antique dealers for discarded bricks with character. Clean and sterilize them before installation. Apply mortar along the wall and press bricks into place, leaving slight gaps for grout application later.

Once mortar dries after several days, mix enamel grout and press into brick crevices for stability and rustic appeal. The salvaged bricks lend vintage personality for a backsplash that looks straight out of the 19th century!

Weathered Wood Accent Walls

Accent walls do wonders by focusing eyes on one space-defining feature. For rustic charm, an accent wall using salvaged wood planks makes a stunning statement. Varying natural wood tones, textures, grains star as artwork themselves!

Use reclaimed roof beams, siding off old barns, or fencing planks. Arrange them in horizontal staggered rows or diagonally like parquet flooring. Leave slight gaps between planks to expose wall behind it. The negative spaces make the wall feel depthful and dynamic.

You can also whitewash the wall first before overlaying wood planks. This way the white base peeks through adding further visual interest. Studding the planks randomly with vintage-looking nails completes the weathered barnwood masterpiece!

Rustic Cabinet Handles and Hardware

Don’t forget the handles and hardware when designing DIY rustic cabinets! Iron fixtures, distressed metal, leather straps epitomize the rugged worn style.

Try hammered copper or pounded silver handles for stunning antiqued metallic integrated right into cabinet door fronts themselves. Otherwise black wrought iron hooks, latches, or sliding barn door hardware ooze handcrafted personality.

Leather handles add great texture too. Cut wide strips with pointed ends from cow or bison hide. Then stud them onto wooden cabinets in place of regular handles. The leather develops a rich patina over time for the ultimate rugged look.

Riveted Metal Straps as Accents

Implement metalwork into rustic cabinets to mimic rural tools or equipment. Wrap galvanized iron straps with rivets around cabinet edges, doors, open shelves for an industrial touch.

Measure and cut sheets of metal banding material to size. Punch holes on either end then pop small aluminum rivets through. Squeeze the rivet shaft with pliers to flair ends and secure the metal permanently. Add as many decorative straps as desired for a more rugged personality.

The silver-toned straps contrast dynamically against wood cabinets with their embossed arcs and dots. Visible rivets lend a craftsman appeal like cabinets were assembled by hand. Display your metalwork proudly!

Exposed Hinges Flaunt Their Stuff

While hidden hinges keep cabinets sleekly streamlined, exposed hinges flaunt their functional stuff! Giant butt hinges that wrap over cabinet door edges add eye-catching mechanical detail. Visible pins becomes focal points.

Search antique shops or reproductions of exactly that – antique-style hinges! Ornate designs with curling straps, five-knuckle joints, and pivoting arms amplify the rustic allure tenfold.

Oversized black wrought iron hinges also make quite the visual statement. Feel free to mismatch odd hinge types across all cabinets for quirky charm. The raw utilitarian look plays up wonderful handbuilt uniqueness.

Natural Wood Countertops

Rustic kitchens incorporate natural wood not just in cabinets – countertops too! Hardwood species like oak, walnut, cherry, maple wear beautifully. Try a butcherblock style with end grain facing up. The varied block shapes and directional wood grains catch eyes instantly.

Softwoods can work too if properly sealed for protection from warping or water damage. Pine and cedar impart rustic whimsy especially paired with stone or brick accents nearby.

For something a little more sleek, wood planks can panel just part of the countertop surface. Mix with concrete, stone, or metal elsewhere to balance the textures and raw feel beautifully.

Repurposed Wood Crates as Drawers

Wooden shipping crates make fantastic DIY drawers infusing vintage rustic charm. Old vegetable/fruit crates offer weathered patina galore in stained wood with charming labels. Sturdy plywood dairy delivery boxes work too for larger scaled drawers.

Simply measure and cut a hole in the cabinet base where you want the crate drawer installed. Then securely fasten a crate into the cabinet opening using glue and finishing nails. You may need to remove a side plank or bottom slat for easy slide in/out access.

If the crate is too shallow to fill the cabinet depth, mount a plywood bottom inside for sturdiness. Optional step is lining the inside with drawer liner paper for a polished look!

Faded Terracotta Tile Backsplashes

Salvaged roof tiles or Mexican terracotta bring lovely Southwest rustic vibes as backsplashes. Their earthy reds, tans, orange colors infuse warmth beautifully. Distressed edges and crackled surfaces add antiqued character galore.

Use construction adhesive to apply tiles directly onto the wall. Leave 1/8 inch gaps between them – any slight unevenness enhances the handmade look!

Grout between the tiles using a sandy tinted mixture that matches tile color for a cohesive finish. The variegated tiles complement cabinets in natural wood tones for an ultra artsy splash of panache!

Galvanized Metal Covered Countertops

For seriously bold rustic style, metal skins countertops entirely! Made from galvanized sheet tin or corrugated steel roofing, the industrial metallic surface feels magic. Rivet on top of plywood base if using for counter work area. Or apply directly to cabinet case tops just for aesthetic effect.

Punch holes and use mechanical fasteners that get covered by cabinets pushes against the walls. This hides ugly screws maintaining the beautiful weathered metal façade. Buff any sharp edges for safety too.

The silver patina and occasional rust spots lend quirky utilitarian personality, contrasting wonderfully with wood cabinetry. Dents and scratches just add more beloved character!

Conclusion

Rustic DIY kitchen cabinets ideas allow you to customize with salvaged or inexpensive materials for gorgeous one-of-kind style on a budget. Whether you prefer a weathered wood look, chipped brick backsplash, or galvanized metal countertops – there’s infinite ways to infuse vintage farmhouse charm that fits your taste.

Take inspiration from these kitchen cabinets ideas and get creative repurposing old building supplies, antiques, or discounted lumber cuts. The imperfections lend authentic cozy appeal. Then display your homemade projects proudly knowing all the blood, sweat, tears make them even more special!

FAQs

What is the most affordable wood to use for DIY rustic cabinets?

Pine is the most budget-friendly solid wood. It stains beautifully, costs less than oak or maple, and has rustic visual appeal with pronounced wood grain and knots.

What are some easy ways to distress new wood cabinets?

Methods like bleaching to lighten, rubbing edges with sandpaper for worn corners, using steel wool and vinegar washes to fade color, chiseling small indentations for worm holes all can distress new wood affordably.

What kind of paint works well for the two-tone weathered cabinets look?

Chalk and milk paints are excellent choices for shabby chic finishes. Both provide matte, porous transparency that absorbs into wood for an authentic timeworn effect you’d get after years of aging.

Where can I source reclaimed wood, bricks, or terracotta tiles on a budget?

Check with local classifieds, antique stores, architectural salvage warehouses, even Craigslist. Sometimes letting demolition crews or secondhand material suppliers know what you’re looking for turns up great affordable leads!

What sealing product is best to protect rustic wood cabinets?

An oil-based polyurethane provides excellent durability and allows the wood grain to show through beautifully. Use satin sheen for a subtle luster that won’t detract from the natural raw wood tones.