7 Versatile Ways to Transform Kitchen Cabinets with Glass Doors

Hello visitors to the site “Secrets of the Master”! Quite recently, in the article “Calculation and assembly of doors for a wardrobe”, I promised to talk about some methods for independently finishing cabinet facades. As you know, the main and most common filling of a sliding wardrobe system is a mirror or glass. And how this mirror or glass is processed will subsequently affect the overall appearance of any wardrobe, i.e. no matter how bizarre its geometry is in shape, the main advantage and beauty is still the façade (face)!

In fact, there are quite a lot of processing methods. From the simplest to the most complex, high-tech and costly. I think there is no point in talking about everyone, because not everyone will be able to process glass/mirror with sandblasting or a special alkaline suspension, engraving or silk-screen printing at home. Therefore, we will consider a couple of options for the simplest and at the same time quite beautiful decoration of wardrobe doors, which any craftsman can do independently.

How to update an old cabinet?

In any home, the closet occupies a very important place.
It is a pity that over time it loses its original appearance: the appearance of cracks and faded paint make it unattractive, it goes out of fashion and looks out of date. We have to think about his future fate. There are at least two ways out of this situation:

• buying new furniture;
• updating an old closet.

With your own hands you can give your wardrobe a new life, turn it into a unique object, while saving significant money.

Make your own cleaning solution

Gather the necessary ingredients. Most ammonia-free cleaners use mild soap, such as baby soap, as well as water and disinfectants such as alcohol. These are the three main components. Distilled water should also be used when mixing ingredients. It does not contain impurities such as calcium and limescale, which can leave spots, streaks or streaks on the glass. These products can most likely be purchased at a home improvement store or in the supply section of your local grocery store. You will need:

• baby soap;
• distilled water;
• isopropyl alcohol (91% is preferred, but a lower percentage will do);
• container with sprayer.

How to restore?

Any antique cabinet requires a little restoration, which will significantly improve its appearance.

You can restore the wardrobe yourself if you use the advice of experts:

• A metal brush is used to treat decayed wood, after which the dead tissue is removed.
• The fine dust formed in this case is washed off under running water.
• Sometimes there are holes from nails, some unevenness and cracks in the wooden elements of the cabinet. All this must be cleaned with a spatula. It is necessary to apply several thin layers of putty to match the wood. Each layer must dry before applying the next.
• Then dry all layers in fresh air for 1-2 days. Do not dry wood in the sun.
• Sometimes there are metal parts in furniture that have become covered with rust over time; such places should be treated with a special solution.
• The restored surface can then be painted or decorated at your discretion.
• A self-adhesive film that imitates wood, stone, or metal is perfect.

Step-by-step instructions for decoupage

Before starting work, thoroughly prepare the surface intended for decoupage.

Step 1. Wash it with soapy water or a special glass cleaner.

Step 2. You will need regular alcohol. Apply it to the canvas and wipe with a dry cloth to degrease the surface.

Stage 3. Dry the prepared canvas thoroughly.

Applying an image to a canvas using decoupage

Stage 1. Carefully cut out the elements of the design. If it consists of many small parts, it is not necessary to cut out the entire image. You can divide it into components.

Cutting out an image

Stage 2. Glue is applied both to the glass sheet and to the prepared drawing. It is important to spread it in a thin layer so that it is not noticeable when it dries.

Stage 3. The prepared image is applied to the glued surface. Using a paper towel, apply pressure to remove air bubbles.

Stage 4. After this, a layer of varnish or glue is applied to the finished drawing. Remove excess with a wooden stick. Your decoupage is ready.

How to elegantly age an image

If you want to give the image an antique effect that will emphasize the design individuality of the interior in Victorian, country, or shabby chic style, then it is not so difficult to do. We offer ways to get the desired result.

The effect of antique decoupage from scrap materials

Prepare a decoction of onion peels, freshly brewed coffee beans or strong tea. Just hold the image for a while in one of the proposed compositions.

The effect of antique decoupage from artistic materials

Pour turpentine into a suitable container and add literally a couple of drops of oil-based paint in the color of burnt sienna. Keep the image there for a while. In this way you can achieve the effect of ancient parchment.

The effect of antique decoupage from building materials

Add a little bitumen to white spirit until a pale color is obtained. Apply the resulting composition to the pasted image. To get a cracking effect, go over the image with a metal brush.

How to paint?

A cabinet that has gone out of fashion, but is still quite strong and will last for many years, can simply be repainted. In this simple way, a new design of cabinets, chests of drawers and any other old furniture is created. In this case, we are talking not only about giving freshness to dull surfaces, but also about completely replacing the color scheme, which will add originality to the product. Painting is the most common option for updating an old item. Despite its simplicity, it is necessary to approach this process correctly. For a long-lasting result, you must first prepare the furniture walls.

Below is a step-by-step master class.

It will help you to carry out high-quality and competent painting at home:

• it is important to first clean the surfaces of paint residues: one layer will easily remove the sanding disc; special brushes can handle several layers as an attachment;
• all walls, doors and other parts must be sanded manually or using a tool;
• leveling occurs by applying a primer or putty to hide defects that have arisen during many years of use;
• you need to wait until the leveling layer has completely dried, and after that you can start painting;

• To apply a layer of paint on all sides, take a brush, roller or sponge; however, it is faster to use a spray gun or spray gun. With this method, the paint is applied under pressure, so the doors, shelves and walls inside the cabinet are well painted;
• As a rule, several layers of paint are applied. This ensures rich color and good surface preservation. It is better to paint the cabinet with acrylic, alkyd enamel or other high-quality paint;
• the paint must be allowed to dry completely, after which a layer of varnish can be applied. It makes the cabinet look glossy and shiny. If you prefer a matte surface, you can skip varnishing. However, the use of this coating has a protective function, prevents abrasion and gives the tone greater depth. You can use not only glossy, but also matte and silky finishes.

Versatility

You can use smart partitions for business or to delimit space in an apartment: you don’t have to build a wall or install bulky structures. It is enough to install glass that can become dark when you need to remove something from your eyes, or, on the contrary, become transparent if you need to visually enlarge the space.

This solution is perfect for skylights. You don't have to think about how to darken them, insulate them or isolate sound, since the film copes with all these tasks perfectly.

Decor

If you decide to keep and decorate an old cabinet with your own hands, you can decorate it in different ways. There are many techniques that are used for decoration.

Decorative plaster

This is a rather complex decoration option. First, a product covered with old paint must be treated with sandpaper. Using a stencil, it is necessary to apply decorative plaster to the volumetric elements on the cabinet facades. The stencil itself must be removed before the plaster dries. Then the uneven parts are smoothed using a spatula. Finished decorative elements are varnished or painted; gilding or antique patina is possible.

Photo printing

A sliding wardrobe or just an old wardrobe can be greatly updated with photographs or photo wallpaper. Any photographs are enlarged using large format printing in a printing house. The surface is decorated with a panel or a collage of photographs, most often these are sliding wardrobes with smooth doors. However, the service of such printing is expensive, so a budget option is often used - photo wallpaper, which is sold in any repair store. Choose a wide variety of themes - nature, beautiful cities, animals and much more. If you use starch-based glue, you can later change the boring pattern.

Stained glass film

You can decorate an outdated piece of furniture yourself without having any special skills. It’s very easy to stick stained glass film, which is fashionable this season, onto the glass cabinet door. This will add presentability to old furniture. In addition to its decorative function, the film protects the glass from impact and scratches. Removing the film is very simple, and this decorative technique looks very impressive, because the imitation is as close as possible to real stained glass.

Beautiful facade design

An apartment with ordinary, standard wardrobes is no longer interesting. Progress does not stand still; the range of styles, finishes, and colors is so diverse that the customer often has difficulty making a choice, so before purchasing it is important to decide on the purpose of the cabinet and its location. This will not be difficult to do if you pay attention to the numerous photos of design developments on the Internet.

The facade is the part of the cabinet that people pay attention to first. There are many ways to beautifully and unusually decorate the facade of a cabinet using a variety of natural materials - bamboo, rattan, natural wood, leather. Glass or mirror doors for cabinets, with a pattern or photo printing on them, are very popular. The main types of facade design include:

• mirrored ones are good in small rooms because they have the property of visually enlarging the space;
• glass - frosted (lakomat) or colored (lakobel) glass is used, which has a special film on the back side that protects the surface and reduces the risk of breakage from impact;
• practical chipboard is a good budget option, but it cannot be called too creative; in order to attract attention, it is better to use this material in combination with other, more effective ones;
• processing glass facades using sandblasting patterns or mirror ones with original painting etched on them - there is room for the creative abilities of designers to run wild.

A photo drawing can also serve as decoration for the front elements of cabinets. Using this technology, you can make a piece of furniture that will look aesthetically pleasing and beautiful. Today it has become fashionable to produce translucent panels and decorate facades using imitation embossing and artificial stone.

Beautifully designed furniture creates a mood, making the room more stylish, original and attractive. In the photos of furniture catalogs you can find different options for beautiful design of facades.

When choosing a cabinet with a front designed in a certain style (even if you are “crazy” about it), be careful, since the overall decor in the house may be at odds with the style of a particular piece of furniture. In this case, there will be some dissonance in the room, and you risk getting not an original piece of furniture, but a simple pile of furniture.

Source: mblx.ru

Useful tips

It’s a pity if you have to throw away old but high-quality furniture, especially wooden ones. But such products can be updated and used for more than one year. To choose the right decoration method, it is important to take into account the material and degree of wear of the old cabinet.

Natural wood

Previously, wooden furniture was made of very high quality. Before updating, remove dust with a dry cloth. Then check the fasteners and if they are broken, they need to be repaired or replaced. It would be nice to treat the inside of the cabinet with an antibacterial agent; a more budget-friendly option is simple vinegar. It will destroy the unpleasant odor.

Then the choice of decoration method is made.

• Toning. First, all surfaces are leveled using wood putty, matched to the color of the cabinet. After the layer has dried, uneven areas are sanded with sandpaper. Treated and even surfaces are treated with a special structuring tinting for wood. Choose a decorative tinting color darker than the original shade of the cabinet. This treatment will completely transform the appearance of the product.

• Aging. Furniture made from natural wood can be “aged”. The antique-worn effect of the cabinet surface is achieved as follows: light wood tone is painted in any dark shade depending on the color palette of the room. Then, after the paint has completely dried, you need to rub several fragments with a candle, after which light paint is applied, for example, beige, white, cream. When the second painted layer is rubbed with sandpaper, abrasions will be visible through some light areas. which are darker. When decorating a dark cabinet, make craquelures. To do this, apply craquelure varnish to the surface. After it dries, small cracks form, which are highlighted using dry pigment or oil paint of the desired shade.

Method No. 4 Sliding wardrobe with stained glass windows - economical option

Only very wealthy people have the opportunity to decorate wardrobe doors with stained glass windows. We offer a decoration method that will allow you to experience all the delights of stained glass decoration without significant costs.

The technology is extremely simple. A translucent stained glass film with an adhesive surface is applied to the mirrored door of a sliding wardrobe. The film transmits light, which returns to us through reflection. The result is a glowing effect similar to reflection from colored glass. Applying stained glass to a wardrobe mirror is as easy as a regular vinyl sticker. Check out the decorative effect.

How to decorate a closet with your own hands?

Every Russian family has, or once had, an old Soviet wardrobe. Someone said goodbye to this a long time ago, throwing it in the trash. Did you know that this work of art of Soviet thought can be given a second life? If this article had fallen into your hands earlier, your old closet would have shone with new colors. And for those who still have a “Soviet centenarian” left somewhere in their dacha, there is an opportunity to create original cabinet decor with your own hands and complement the interior of the apartment with a truly designer attribute.

Any furniture gets old over time, but don’t rush to throw away a shabby cabinet - you can not only bring it back to life, but even make it better and more original

Types of mirrors for the hallway

A mirror on the wall in the hallway is an acceptable option if there is a free wall. The classic option is a large mirror in the hallway.

We also recommend:

When the mirror is positioned horizontally, the space expands quite significantly, but the ceiling becomes lower. This arrangement is best not used for rooms with low ceilings.

A vertical wall mirror is a traditional option, convenient as it allows you to see the reflection in full length.

Cabinet restoration methods

At the moment, there are many suitable acrylic paints, adhesives and impregnations available, thanks to which you can decorate a cabinet with your own hands without any problems.

Beautiful country style wardrobe with lightly worn elements

There are several ways:

1. Painting the front and side walls of the cabinet in different colors.
2. Decoupage of facades followed by application of varnish.
3. Pasting with paper or vinyl wallpaper (photo wallpaper).
4. Matting glass cabinet surfaces. And when using patterned stencils, you can make unique patterns on glass.
5. Do-it-yourself patination of the frames of the facades, as well as the internal open and side surfaces of the cabinet.
6. Artificial aging of wood.
7. The application was applied to glass facades.
8. The use of decorative plaster or polyurethane foam to make patterns on cabinet facades.

For your information. Initially, patination (patina) was an independent process. A layer of patina formed on the metal parts of the furniture, as well as on wood and glass.

Painting is the simplest solution that gives a lot of visual options

Wallpapering the back wall and drawers of the cabinet

Decorating a closet with textile wallpaper

An alternative to wallpaper - self-adhesive film

The choice of method for restoring an old cabinet with your own hands depends on the personal preferences of the residents, as well as the interior style of the room where it is planned to be located. The material from which the cabinet is made is also of great importance. You will not be able to age chipboard facades.

Reasons for finishing furniture

Self-adhesive with imitation veneer - expensive and therefore impractical

Many compatriots apply self-adhesive films to the surface of furniture and other elements of the surroundings.

There are two reasons in this case:

• the desire to hide certain defects and update the product;
• the need to give furniture a more original and exclusive look.

Along with ordinary furniture, modern wardrobes are decorated in a similar way, which, it would seem, do not need this type of decoration.

But, in fact, there are the following reasons to stick wallpaper on a closet:

• By ordering a budget full-wall wardrobe with sliding doors, you can save money on the cost of mirrors and limit yourself to MDF doors. Subsequently, unpresentable sashes can be finished independently and as a result, the price of the entire structure will be halved.
• Another equally relevant reason for decorating a wardrobe is the desire to decorate the walls in the room with the same materials.

So, there are reasons to stick photo wallpaper on the doors of the closet, all that remains is to find out what materials to use for these purposes, and how to successfully cope with the decoration.

Selecting materials for pasting

Photo wallpaper professionally glued to cabinet doors

The instructions for gluing the cabinet allow you to use different materials, starting with self-adhesive film that imitates veneer and ending with photo printing (

Antique restoration

This method is more labor-intensive than the one described above. To decorate an old antique cabinet, only natural wooden materials are suitable. There is no need to completely disassemble the cabinet. But you will have to move it outside.

Attention. The aging process of wood is accompanied by a large amount of waste wood shavings and dust.

Rust must be removed from metal parts. Large wood defects are covered with putty

Panels and frames are cleaned of old varnish and paint. Then they need to be carefully sanded. In the process you will need to use:

• sandpaper of different grain sizes or a sanding machine;
• metal brushes with thin wire, synthetic or abrasive-polymer brush, as well as a sisal finishing brush;
• tourist gas can with burner;
• stains, impregnations or natural oils for wood.

An aged wood surface can be obtained using the brushing technique.

You can learn more about the wood aging method by watching a video on YouTube.

After sanding, the resulting wood is treated with colored stain, waited until it dries completely, and then varnished.

Using this method, furniture becomes age-old. This method is perfect for decorating the surfaces of cabinets with your own hands in Country style.

This wardrobe will fit perfectly into the rustic interior of a living room or bedroom.

Glass rattling in interior doors: causes and elimination rules

Interior doors with mirror or glass inserts look impressive. In addition to aesthetic pleasure, they sometimes lead to a nervous breakdown. Not everyone can ignore the sound of glass and the feeling that it will fall out at any moment.

Reasons for glass rattling in interior doors

The problem is relevant not only for old structures, but also for new doors.

• Outdated doors do not have putty to hold the glass in place. This function is performed by glazing beads. Over time, the wood dries out, and the glass begins to shake and rattle. Repairs to dilapidated structures are carried out carefully. Outdated platbands and glazing beads crumble when pressed lightly.
• Modern interior doors can also have this problem. This is due to low-cost production technologies. The width of the glass is smaller than the groove, there is no fixing seal. Or the door leaf consists of several parts. Prefabricated models are assembled like a construction kit, without gluing parts.

Attention! Operating doors with a rattling defect is hazardous to health. When slammed, the glass will fall out and break. The problem must be resolved in a timely manner.

Repair tools and materials

The reason for the rattling is the hollow space between the glass and the groove. To fix it, you will need silicone sealant or acrylic putty, but they are difficult to apply accurately due to the narrow gap. There are several secrets to replacing sealant with other materials. You will need:

• silicone tube from a dropper;
• paper knife;
• toothpicks or matches;
• glazing beads;
• acrylic putty;
• scotch;
• flat screwdriver;
• technical jam;
• glue;
• rubber gloves with a non-slip base.

Restoration in Art Deco style

Art Deco gained its greatest popularity at the end of the twentieth century. The characteristic features of this design are luxury, shine, and high cost of finishing materials. The colors of the interior and furniture are predominantly white, black, and gold. Accenting with purple, red, green and brown colors is allowed. Black and white portraits of famous people of the past would be appropriate here. This style is inherent in the gangster layers.

Stylish dark purple wardrobe with golden elements

In DIY furniture design, this direction can be expressed in different ways. Regarding cabinets and chests of drawers, these can be either plain facades and panels painted with acrylic paint in one or two colors, or decorated furniture using decoupage.

Decoupage napkins or film are a universal and practical way to give the interior and furniture a creative look. Its shapes, patterns, colors, prints are widely represented in paint stores. In Art Deco, these could be the same faces of the bandits of the past, or, as has become very fashionable, the figure of the unforgettable Marilyn Monroe.

First, the entire cabinet is painted in primary colors. To make the borders clear, use masking tape.

Then the panels are decorated using decoupage technique

The final stage is applying a protective layer of varnish

It would be interesting to use a special varnish that has crackle properties when covering decoupaged furniture facades.

Beginning of work

Do-it-yourself cabinet decoupage should begin with a thorough inspection of it. Be sure to pay attention to defects; they will need to be worked on separately and removed from the surface. The most convenient way would be to disassemble it, remove the doors and install updated fasteners. The inside of the cabinet is also inspected and processed. For fun, you can take photos before and after work, which you can later show to your friends and family.

Before decorating the cabinet, you need to sand off the old paintwork. This will help avoid detachment and unevenness in the future. A master class from famous carpenters advises covering the entire wooden surface with varnish so that subsequent shades of paint do not change their color as they are absorbed into the wood.

Self-installation of tinting films

Material and tool

In order to cover a window with a high-quality film with a tinting effect with your own hands, you will have to look for a tool in advance.

For such an operation you will definitely need:

• construction knife (but you can also use a retractable stationery knife);
• rubber spatula;
• a spray bottle to spray the soap solution;
• and, of course, high-quality tint film in the right quantity (it is rarely sold by the meter, more often in rolls).

Application process

The entire process of covering glass with film can be divided into 2 main stages:

1. Preparing for installation.
2. And the actual installation.

At the first stage, you will need to take the necessary measurements in order to know how long to cut from the roll. If the width of the film is not enough for the width of the glass unit, you will have to carry out more complex cutting to avoid unsightly overlaps.

Surface decoration

There are many DIY ways to update your cabinets. The most popular, even today, is painting cabinet furniture. The decor of a sliding wardrobe or a standard version simply cannot do without painting, and bright colors will help the old product sparkle with new colors. In order for the paint to last a long time and look beautiful, you need to follow the rules:

• Preferably use acrylic paints;
• sand the surface well;
• eliminate in advance any imperfections that become visible after painting.

Painting and painting

When painting, you should not forget about the style of the interior.

If you decide to paint your wardrobe with your own hands, then you have labor-intensive work ahead of you:

1. Before you start painting furniture made of chipboard, wood or MDF, you need to prepare the surface. Sand it and coat it with a layer of alkyd primer.
2. Once the alkyd primer is dry, apply an acrylic primer over it.
3. Then start painting with a roller or brush. It is better to use alkyd or oil paints. It is better to apply at least 2 layers.

If the surface of the wardrobe is not damaged, then it is better to leave it intact. If you really want something new, then make a drawing using a stencil, or if you have a talent for drawing, make a drawing yourself using acrylic paints. This decor will be original.

1. Sand the areas where the image will be applied using sandpaper and prime with acrylic primer.
2. Now you can create! Draw whatever your heart desires, not forgetting, of course, about the style of the interior, so that the decor of the wardrobe does not spoil the overall picture. It’s better to draw small elements: patterns, flowers, etc. This reduces the likelihood of “not fitting” into the overall harmony.
3. When the paint is dry, cover it with several layers of acrylic varnish (about 6-10).
4. Finally, sand the surface.