Library transformation: base cabinets

This week I built the base cabinets for the built-ins in our soon-to-be library. These were RTA (Ready to Assemble) cabinets that I picked up from Lowe’s. Today I’ll run you through how I chose them, my process, as well as their pros and cons.

Cabinet considerations

I was looking for simple base cabinets where we could gain some storage along the main wall in this room. I will be constructing bookshelves on top. I sketched out a few options for how to incorporate these cabinets into my design. This included options with various cabinet widths, with and without drawers, and even with a desk in the middle. In the end, I decided to go with a consistent look along the bottom of this wall with four 36” wide cabinets placed next to each other.

This plan leaves some room on either end, where I’ll install custom shelves for that real built-in look (stay tuned on that in future weeks!).

I was also looking for unfinished cabinets that I could prime and paint myself, which will help me get that color-drenched aesthetic. Getting unfinished cabinets also cuts down on the cost.

Cabinet decision

I originally had my eye on this set of 36” base cabinets from Home Depot. I liked the fact that a) they had a toe kick and, b) perhaps most importantly, they were already assembled. But unfortunately, there weren’t enough in stock nearby and the supplier wouldn’t ship just four to me (too small an order). So these babies were out.

The other option I was considering (and ultimately went with) was this one from Lowe’s. At first glance, they seemed similar to the Home Depot ones – 36” wide, with a drawer on top and two doors below. The biggest cons to these were a) there was no toe kick, and b) I would have to assemble each one myself. Since they were in stock nearby, AND the flat-pack boxes would fit in my car, the decision became pretty obvious.

And as fate would have it, the day I decided to go with the Lowe’s cabinets, they went on sale. In that moment, the extra assembly work seemed worth it. (I may have regretted that later…🤪)

Process:

Here was my process for getting these four cabinets together:

Unpack all the parts — I will say that the packaging was done well.
Label all the parts yourself and gather materials. Wood glue and a drill were my best friends here.
Prime and paint the drawers and doors (especially before installing the hinges). I used the same semi-gloss paint that I used on the trim in the room.
Put together the shell of the cabinets. (Seems like such a small line item here, but it took a while!)
Install in the room.
Install drawers and doors.

Pros and cons

Overall, I think these cabinets will work just fine. There are definitely some pros and cons, so let’s dive in:

Pros:

Price. Honestly, this is by far the best thing about these cabinets. The amazing price will help me stay on budget for this project.
No toe kick. Surprisingly, this was a pro in the end! The little feet are adjustable, which worked great. I ended up picking up a couple of 4” wide pine boards to serve as the toe kick, which was a budget-friendly solution.
Fit in my car. I didn’t have to wait for (or pay for) shipping. I just ordered ahead online and a very nice gentleman brought them to my car and helped me load them in. I do have an SUV, so that helped!
Assembly wasn’t so bad. By the fourth cabinet, I felt like I had the hang of it and everything went pretty smoothly. That first one, however, brings us to our cons list…

Cons:

The pieces were not labeled and instructions were lacking in places. It is 2024, and labeling pieces of an assembly-required item of this magnitude should probably be standard. I realize I got a great deal on these, but the amount of time it took me to guess which piece was which (especially when a few were very similar) was a headache. I did know this going in, though. Referencing the online instructions on the Lowe’s site was helpful.
Time-consuming to put together. The first one took me forever, especially when I wasn’t sure if I was installing the right pieces together (see lack of labeling, above). I made the most of my installation time by having a show on in the background, though!
No clearance above the drawer. Now that they’re together, I see that the top of the drawer hits any sort of countertop that you may want to put on top. This perplexed me, but I know it’s fixable. I’ll have to install a board between the top of the cabinet and the countertop. Sounds like a problem for future me. 😆
No inside shelves. This is unfortunate, but it just means I’ll have to figure out an organization plan with bins or baskets. It would have been nice to have inner shelves included as an option, though.
Door hinges took a while to figure out. These hinges gave me a run for my money at first. But after I found a YouTube video and instructions for other similar hinges, I figured out that you clip the front in and then bang the back of the hinge so it clicks. (That’s definitely the professional way to explain it, right?! haha)
Cheap-looking feet. While I may have praised the little adjustable feet under the "pro" column, they also made me a bit nervous when moving the cabinets into place. They are plastic. Luckily none of them broke, but I did consider purchasing more substantial ones. Securely attaching them to the walls will help set my mind at ease that all the weight will not be resting on a few pieces of plastic. The cheap-looking feet also made the decision to install a toe kick a necessity.

Overall

These cabinets will do the trick, as I don’t expect them to be heavily trafficked. They were a pain at times to get together (the reviews on the site weren’t wrong), but I was prepared for all this going into it. By the time I put the fourth and final cabinet together, I had the hang of it and it went pretty smoothly. Now that the assembly is in the rearview mirror, I’m excited to get to the good stuff! And wow, this week really made this space begin to take shape!

Check out my reel for how my fourth and final cabinet went together. I felt like a pro at it by the end!

As we go into the third week of the One Room Challenge, we’ll tackle attaching them to the walls, and constructing the side shelves. Can’t wait!