Hey hey friend! I am so excited to share with you my latest DIY project: A cabinet door repurposed into beautiful art. That’s right! A plain old cabinet door was turned into a statement piece using a decoupage technique and a glossy resin finish. It’s a perfect blend of modern and old world charm, and I’m excited to walk you through every step.
Whether you’re new to decoupage or a seasoned DIYer, this technique is satisfying and incredibly rewarding. Let’s get started!
Materials Needed For This Cabinet Door Repurposed Into Art
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- Old cabinet door ( check your Restore store if you don’t have one)
- White and black chalk paint
- Small artist brush
- Decoupage paper (I used Bathed in Gold by Mint by Michelle)
- DIY Liquid Patina (or Mod Podge)
- Water mister spray bottle
- X-Acto knife
- Plastic wrap (or the decoupage paper’s original wrapping)
- Brayer (optional, for smoothing wrinkles)
- Chip brushes
- Clear wax
- Gold wax
- Small glass crystals or beads
- Resin Tape (or Painter’s tape)
- Epoxy resin (2-part resin + hardener)
- Clear Top Coat (if not using resin)
- Measuring cups and mixing sticks
- Gloves
- Heat gun ( for popping bubbles)
- Level
- Toothpick (for removing dust/debris in resin)
Steps To Repurpose A Cabinet Door Into Beautiful Art
Step 1. Paint Your Old Cabinet Door
Start by painting the center of your cabinet door with 2 coats of white paint and the outer frame with 2 coats of black paint (of course, if your cabinet door is already white, you can skip that part). Don’t forget the inner lip—use a small angled brush to paint it black for a refined contrast. Let everything dry completely. A cabinet door repurposed into something beautiful takes time and patience.
Step 2. Cut and Prepare Your Decoupage Paper
Now for the showstopper – decoupage paper. When I first imagined my cabinet door repurposed into art, I knew I wanted a paper that made a bold statement. I chose Bathed in Gold. It’s glamorous and full of gorgeous colors.
Lay your paper over the center panel and lightly press your fingernail around the edges to mark where to cut. Don’t worry about being too precise—the paper will stretch slightly when wet. Trim the paper and save any leftover scraps for future projects (they’re great for DIY book covers or small upcycles!).
Step 3. Apply the Decoupage Medium To Center Of Cabinet Door
Using DIY Liquid Patina or your favorite decoupage medium, start by brushing a 3-5 inch section of your surface with the medium. Gently press the paper onto the glue, aligning your corners. Smooth it with your hand or a rubber putty knife.
Work in small sections, brushing on more medium and slowly laying the paper down, smoothing as you go. Don’t worry too much about wrinkles—they often disappear as the piece dries.
Tip: Lightly mist your paper with water to help it stretch and conform to the surface.
Once fully adhered, brush another coat of your decoupage medium over the entire paper, especially the edges and corners. Can you see your wall art coming to life?
Step 4. Eliminate Wrinkles On Decoupaged Paper (Optional but Helpful!)
For extra-smooth results, place plastic wrap over the damp decoupage and roll a brayer over it. This presses out air pockets and helps flatten wrinkles. No brayer? Just crumple a piece of plastic wrap and dab it gently with your hand.
Because the plastic can lift some of the medium, brush on one more final coat once you’re done.
Let everything dry thoroughly before moving on.
Step 5. Embellish Repurposed Cabinet Door With Glass Crystals
For added dimension, I placed small glass crystals over some of the areas in the design that featured jewelry—like the necklace and hair clip. This creates a magical “glass-like” sparkle once resin is added later.
Tip: You can just glue the crystals down if not using resin.
Step 6. Add Gold Wax To Enhance Your Cabinet Door Repurposed As Art
Once dry, seal the black painted frame with clear wax using a chip brush. Then, add a touch of glam by brushing on gold wax over the clear wax.
Tip: Start with a light hand—rub your brush into a piece of cardboard first to distribute the wax evenly. Lightly brush around the frame, especially the edges, to create a soft glow effect. You can always build up more wax if desired.
Step 7. Protect Cabinet Door Repurposed With Epoxy Resin
Now for the ultimate finish—epoxy resin! Measure equal parts of resin and hardener (follow the specific instructions on your resin brand). Stir for three minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of your cup. Then pour the mixture into a second cup and stir again for another minute.
Place resin tape (or painter’s tape) along cabinet door frame to protect it from the resin.
Start by drizzling resin over your glass crystals to secure them in place. Then pour the rest across the paper, using your gloved hand to gently smooth it out to the edges. Resin is self-leveling, but make sure your project cures on a level surface so it doesn’t pool on one side.
New to Epoxy Resin? Grab my Free Beginner’s Resin Guide For Helpful Tips And Instructions: Resin truly takes your projects to another level!
Step 8. Pop the Bubbles In The Epoxy Resin
Use a heat gun to carefully remove any bubbles that rise to the surface. Wave it gently across the resin, avoiding any one area for too long. Check back every 10–15 minutes during the first hour and pop any new bubbles that appear.
Let cure untouched overnight for best results.
Frustrated with pesky bubbles in your resin? Grab my free guide to help prevent and/or eliminate them:
Tip: Remove the tape after pouring the resin. It’s really hard to remove once resin cures. You can thank me later! :)
Tip: If possible, cover your project or roll it under a table to cure. This will help prevent dust and debris from falling into the resin.
The Finished Look – Beautiful Wall Art Made From A Repurposed Cabinet Door
Once cured, your cabinet door repurposed artwork will have a smooth, glass-like finish. The glass crystals catch the light beautifully, and the gold wax adds an elegant touch to the black frame. You’ve officially turned a discarded cabinet door into a stunning, high-end piece of decor!
Project Q&As:
I always go to my Restore (Habitat) store. They have many for little money. If you don’t have that store nearby, check FB marketplace, contractors you may know, or use a Nextdoor app to see if someone in your neighborhood has some.
No. If you are not comfortable using resin, just seal the decoupage paper with a clear top coat; however, do not seal over wax.
Yes, just glue them on with a secure glue.
Can You Believe The Beauty Of This Cabinet Door Turned Art?
Who would’ve thought that a plain cabinet door repurposed could turn into something this beautiful? With a little paint, a gorgeous paper, wax, and epoxy resin, you’ve taken a forgotten item and transformed it into meaningful, handmade wall decor. Old cabinet doors are one of my favorite surfaces for DIY art.
Let me know in the comments if you try this technique—I’d love to see your creations! And don’t forget to save your leftover scraps of decoupage paper for smaller projects like bookmarks or journal covers.
Happy creating!
XO,
Joanie
Check out These Old Cabinet Door Projects for more inspiration.
Do you love To Decoupage? Here are more DIY projects you will love!
Decoupage on Wood Using Rice Paper
Decoupage on Wood with Thick Paper
How To DIY Decorative Book Covers
Decoupage Lamp Shades With Handmade Paper
DIY Decoupage Book Covers
Decoupage With Wrapping Paper For Beautiful Art
