Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.

How to Make Cabinet Panels

Follow the steps below to build your kitchen cabinet panels.

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Instructions

Determine the size of the plywood portion of the faux panel based on the dimensions of your cabinet side. We left a 4-inch margin around the sides and top of the cabinet. The margin on the bottom is 4 inches from the panel to a horizontal line drawn at the level of the recessed toe kick. Cut the panel to size and sand smooth.

Good to Know

You can change the margins to suit your preference, but allow space on all sides for the moulding.

Aligning mitered moulding on panel sides

Cut a 45-degree miter on what will be the top end of a piece of side moulding. Place the guide on top of the plywood faux panel at one corner and slide the mitered corner of the side moulding against the guide. Hold the moulding in place while you mark the other end flush with the bottom edge of the cabinet side panel. Miter-cut both ends of the side moulding and nail it in place.

Good to Know

For a precise fit, cut just on the waste side of your mark. Then take off tiny amounts until you get a perfect fit. If you cut off too much from a side piece, recut it to use on the top or bottom.

Finishing the Look With Knobs and Pulls

Brown wood kitchen cabinets with matte black pulls on the doors and drawers.

Once you’ve added some sophistication to your cabinets with end panels, complete your kitchen cabinet update with new knobs and pulls. While you’ll usually see knobs on cabinet doors and pulls on drawers, you can create your own look. If you have narrow drawers, knobs can work well, and using knobs for all your doors and drawers can create a traditional look. Tall cabinets look great with the right size pulls, and they’ll be a bit easier to open. Plus, using pulls on cabinet drawers and doors gives the kitchen more contemporary appeal.

Tip

Need help finding the perfect finishing touches for your cabinets? Take a look at our guide to cabinet hardware to see the available hardware types, shapes, finishes and more.

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Kitchen Cabinet Faux Panels