Reduce, Reuse, Restore:

Create a Kids Play Kitchen Set from an Upcycled Cabinet

From vintage cabinet to kids play kitchen set! No need to drop a couple hundred on a brand-new play kitchen when you have the materials right around you.    Learn how to make one for the kids in your life using some imagination, an old cabinet you already have, materials around the house and some adhesive. This creation serves as the perfect gift for any kid in your life! 

HOW TO UPCYCLE A CABINET INTO A MINI PLAY KITCHEN

That old cabinet might be an eyesore now, but just wait for what a little imagination and elbow grease can do! Our friend Kenna (@thefliphubb) was able to transform a vintage lawyer cabinet she had lying around and turned it into something her daughter will enjoy for years to come. 

Watch Kenna’s process in the video below.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

For a written breakdown explaining how Kenna constructed her play kitchen, look at the steps below!

 

Directions

1. GATHER YOUR MATERIALS

Reusing and restoring is all about taking what you have lying around and turning it into something beautiful! Like Kenna, look for any scrap wood, paint, or decorative materials you have in your garage or shed that might work for this project. 

2. PUT TOGETHER A PROJECT PLAN

Now that you’ve looked around and know what you have on hand, take a good look at your cabinet and materials to come up with a plan. How do you want to use these materials?

Kenna used scrap wood to frame out the kitchen sink, oven, mini fridge and make a faucet for the sink.

3. CREATE THE BACKSPLASH

Kenna used scrap plywood and tiles to create a backsplash for the mini kitchen. She secured the tiles to the plywood using Loctite® Powergrab Ultimate Crystal Clear, leaving enough exposed wood at the bottom of the panel to screw the backsplash to the back of the cabinet. 

4. MAKE THE FARMHOUSE SINK

Saw your scrap plywood into 5 squares to create a box. This will serve as your kitchen sink! Secure this to your cabinet by adding it to the side or cutting out part of your cabinet and dropping it in.

5. ASSEMBLE YOUR SHELVES, BUILT IN FRIDGE AND OVEN

Kenna framed out the remaining shelves of her cabinet to be a fridge and oven duo. She created doors for each using scrap wood and plexiglass that she had lying around, attached together using Loctite® Powergrab Ultimate Crystal Clear. 

6. ADD YOUR ACCENTS

What’s a kitchen without a little character? Make your project complete by adding knobs and handles to your fridge, oven and securing some round wood pieces to the top of your cabinet for a stovetop. Get creative like Kenna and add decorative wood flowers for a unique touch. Use Loctite® Powergrab Ultimate Crystal Clear to adhere them to your cabinet doors. 

7. TIME TO PAINT

Lastly, time to finish off your project with some paint! This will give your mini kitchen some style and personality. Plus, you can match it to your home décor. 

 

We just know Kenna’s daughter will love her new play kitchen!