Unfinished cabinets are a great way to save money and give your kitchen a personal look. No one will have cabinets that look exactly like yours. You can paint them, stain them or even give them a clear coating so they look as unfinished as possible.



There are many stores that sell unfinished furniture, such as cabinets. Take a look at what's available. You may notice there are framed and unframed cabinets. The framed ones have decorative edges around the storage space. They are pretty but if you have large platters or pitchers, you may have difficulty in getting them into a framed cabinet. Unframed cabinets look great in kitchens that are more modern in their design.

As with most products, some cabinets are of high quality. Others are not. If your kitchen cabinet is meant to be more than just decorative, make sure the shelves and drawers use wood at least ?-in. thick so they can hold your items safely.

Try to think about how you plan to finish the wood before you buy it. Store personnel should be able to tell you if the wood you select will effectively absorb the stain you want. Try to get a sample of the wood used. You can use that sample to test paint and stain samples before using it on the cabinet. You'll also want to consider how they will look with if you have them.

Some people feel it is best to use inexpensive wood if you plan to paint, stain or glaze it. However you must be sure the wood is used with top-notch hardware and that the overall piece is well-made or else the end result will be shoddy.

You should also check to make sure the wood matches throughout the piece. If different types of wood are used, the difference could be notable once you are done finishing it. In general pine, elm, ash, maple, oak, birch and beech are light woods. Hickory and mahogany are dark woods. There is also a midrange that includes cherry, teak, rosewood and butternut. Keep these types in mind when you stain or glaze your piece so the different components will come out looking the same.

If you need help with your finishing project, search online or go to a home improvement store. Store personnel are trained to answer any questions you may have. They also often offer workshops in finishing furniture. Community colleges also offer one-day classes.

If you need extra storage space in your kitchen, try looking at unfinished cabinetry. This is a fun, relatively inexpensive project. With care, you will be very pleased with the results. You may find that you have discovered a new hobby in the process.