How to Make a DIY Glass Door Cabinet
This project works best on cabinet doors constructed with a center panel and frame, as opposed to slab cabinet doors made of one solid piece.
What You Need
Cabinet door with center panel and frameScrewdriverRouterChiselClampsSander and sandpaperTack clothTrisodium phosphate solutionStain-blocking primerSemigloss latex paintGlass panelGlass clipsClear silicone adhesive (optional)
Step 1: Remove the cabinet’s panel.
Unscrew the door from the cabinet box and remove all hardware. Use a router to cut out the door’s center panel. Using a wood chisel, carve out the rounded corners left by the router, so right angles remain.
Step 2: Sand and paint the frame.
Clamp the frame to your work surface and sand the entire surface. Wipe away dust with a tack cloth. Clean the frame with a trisodium phosphate (TSP) solution to remove any remaining residue. Apply a stain-blocking primer, then coat with semigloss latex paint in your color of choice.
Step 3: Install the glass panel.
Measure the frame’s opening and add an extra half-inch all around. Order a glass panel cut to these measurements from a glass shop, and ensure the edges of the glass are smoothed. Set the piece of glass into the back of the frame.
Step 4: Secure the glass and re-install.
Secure the glass in the frame using glass clips. If the glass shifts in the frame, apply small beads of clear silicone adhesive ($6, The Home Depot) along the perimeter of the frame to hold the glass in place. Wipe away any silicone from the face of the glass. Re-attach cabinet hardware and fasten the door to the cabinet frame.
