How To Build An In Wall Cabinet

Looking for more storage space in your home? Don’t just settle for a cheap and bulky freestanding cabinet that takes up too much of your space. Build an in-wall cabinet. The process is fairly simple, but it requires some materials and experience. Every project requires different materials, depending on the dimensions of the space you’re working with, but most projects require these basic materials:

A drill

Pencil

Stud finder

Level

Measuring tape

Safety glasses (these are important)

Wood screws that match the material you’re using. This will probably be drywall screws or wood screws. If you have trouble finding the right kind of screw for your wall, ask someone at a hardware store for help. You’ll also need wood glue if you’re working with plywood or other engineered wood. Additionally, here are some general steps to building an in-wall cabinet

Choose your tools.

Before you begin, make sure you have the necessary tools at hand. These include:

A saw
A drill
A level (optional)
Pencil and paper for marking where to cut the wood panels
Drill bit for drilling pilot holes in the panel’s faces (optional)

You may also want to wear some protective gear, such as gloves or goggles, depending on how messy it gets!

Measure the space you have to work with.

Measuring the space you have to work with is a very important step in building an in wall cabinet. To measure for your cabinets, first use a tape measure to determine the length and width of the area you want to work with. Then, using a pen or pencil and some measuring tape, mark off these measurements on the wall where you will be installing your cabinets. Make sure that if there are any electrical wires or plumbing pipes behind where you plan on installing your cabinets that they won’t get damaged by drilling holes into them

Another thing to keep in mind while working on this project: make sure not to cut through any electrical wires or other parts of your home while cutting out small pieces of wood

Pick out a wall stud, and measure 16 inches from the floor.

Use a stud finder to find the studs in your wall.
Mark the top of your shelf, making sure that it is level.
Mark the bottom of your shelf, and use a pencil to connect the lines you marked for the front and back of your shelf.
Put your cabinet door hinges on the front of your cabinet.
Screw it in with a drill or screwdriver.

Using a level, mark where your shelf will be.

With a level in hand, mark where your shelf will be. The shelf should be level with the floor, top of the door and bottom of the door. Make sure that your measurements are lined up with studs. If you don’t have any studs where you want to drill holes for mounting screws or hinges, install furring strips or 2x4s first (see step 2).
Drill pilot holes for your screws just large enough so that they fit snugly into place. You can use a small bit holder to keep from having loose pieces get stuck inside your drill bit while it’s still in use if you’d like! Be sure not to over-tighten when screwing them in place because this could cause damage down the road when opening and closing cabinet doors/drawers again later on down road.

Use a stud finder to find the studs in your wall.

Use a stud finder to find the studs in your wall.
Mark the studs with tape or chalk so you know exactly where they are.
Cut out your frame pieces first, then measure and cut them to size. It’s easiest if you build one frame piece at a time and then add it onto your existing frame after you’ve built all four sides of it.

Mark the top of your shelf, making sure that it is level.

Mark the top of your shelf, making sure that it is level. Use a level to check this, and use a pencil to mark the top of the shelf. It should be level before you attach it to the wall.

Now that you have a clean line on both sides, use your pencil to measure from one side of your cut down to where it intersects with the other side’s mark at its bottom (the actual bottom). This will create an arc for attaching your plywood. Measure up from here by 3/4″ or so—this will give you room for bracing around each side without having too much overhang—and draw another line connecting those two points with your pencil.

Mark the bottom of your shelf, and use a pencil to connect the lines you marked for the front and back of your shelf.

Next, use a level to mark the bottom of your shelf. Make sure that your pencil lines are straight and level with the top of your shelf. Any curve in these lines will create an uneven shelf.

When you are happy with how your lines look, trace over them with a pencil or marker so they can’t be erased accidentally during installation.

Use a saw to start cutting.

Use a saw to cut the wood, not a drill. A saw that has been designed for cutting wood, like a circular saw or table saw, is best for this project. If you don’t have access to either of those tools and must use something else (such as your electric drill), choose something with a blade that can be replaced if it gets dull, such as an inexpensive handsaw. This will allow you to do precision work without having to purchase multiple blades every time one becomes dull.
Make sure the blade is the right size for the piece of wood being cut and that it fits snugly in its holder on your machine so it doesn’t jump out when starting or stopping motion on your materials. You should also check all bolts once assembled for tightness; some bolts may loosen over time due to vibration caused by cutting/sawing/drilling into materials—it’s always good practice just before use each time in order minimize any potential damage caused by loose bolts.

Remove insulation from around your cut but put it back into place afterward.

If you have access to the attic, it’s possible to remove insulation from around your cut. However, once you’ve finished installing your new in-wall cabinet and are ready to put the insulation back on (or if you plan on working with a contractor), be sure that you replace it in its original position.

To do this:

Remove the insulation by hand or with a vacuum cleaner.
Put it back into place by hand or with a brush. Wear gloves and eye protection when using power tools such as an electric saw or drill! A mask should also be worn when cutting out any wall sections near where people will breathe air for long periods of time (like your kitchen).

Measure and mark where you want to put your cabinet door hinges on the front of your cabinet.

Measure and mark where you want to put your cabinet door hinges on the front of your cabinet.
Mark a line across the top, middle and bottom of the hinge where it will be mounted in order to drill holes for screws or nails.
Drill into the wood using a 1/8″ bit (or whatever size you need) until it is deep enough to screw in a screw or nail into one side of it, but not so deep that it goes through into another side (if you don’t have screws or nails handy at this point, just use some glue).
Hold up one door with its back facing towards you as if it were already attached.

Drill pilot holes, using a drill bit that is slightly smaller than the screws that came with your hinges so that you don’t crack the wood. Screw in your hinges by hand.

Make sure you do the steps in the right order. Drill pilot holes to attach the hinges for your cabinet doors to the inside of your cabinet; then cut out your hole for an in-wall cabinet; and finally, remove insulation from around your cut but put it back in after you’re done so that there isn’t any cold air getting into or out of where you’re working on installing cabinets.

Drill pilot holes to attach the hinges for your cabinet doors to the inside of your cabinet, then screw them in by hand.

You will need to drill pilot holes for your hinges. This is to make sure that the screws don’t split your wood when you screw them in. Make sure you are drilling in the right spot, and not too far into your cabinet wall or it won’t hold properly. Then use a little bit of wood glue and clamp the door in place temporarily so it doesn’t move around while you are attaching each hinge individually by hand with a screwdriver (or drill).

You can build an in-wall cabinet if you have some tools and follow some simple steps!

The steps are easy to follow, and the tools you need are available at any hardware store. This guide also doesn’t require a lot of time or money, so if you’re looking for an easy way to improve your kitchen without spending much, this is it.

To build a wall cabinet, start by measuring the space where you want to install your new cabinet. Make sure that there is enough room for the size of cabinet that will fit best in that space. Then measure the depth and width of each wall stud behind your cabinets so that you know how far apart they should be (this is important).

Conclusion

Well, there you have it. While cabinet building is a little more complicated than just buying a ready-to-go option, we hope we’ve shown that it really isn’t that hard to get into the basics of the craft. The important thing to remember is that if your wall cabinet doesn’t go exactly according to plan, it’s okay—and normal! If you go into this project prepared and aware of what can go wrong (and how to fix it), then we promise you’ll have an easier time with every step along the way.