I’m showing you guys how I was able to make my DIY Living Room Sideboard with Stock Cabinets! Figuring out what to do with a blank wall can be tough, especially if its a big one. My living room wall was a space that I has struggled with for years and tried iterations of things that could possibly work.”Possibly” being the key word. Once I couldn’t find something I loved, then it became me figuring out things that I could simply live with. Like this:)
Yeah, no. This wasn’t gonna work.
Here is what the space looked like before.
Event when I thought that I had reached a solution, turned out that I didn’t as the space never truly felt right.
Then I decided that I would make a DIY Sideboard in the space. Something custom, that would work perfectly, just for this space and it turned out perfectly! I love it so much!
If you are interested in tackling a project like this, here is how I did it:
For my wall size, which is around 108 inches across, I used the following materials:
- Three Unfinished cabinets from Lowe’s. Take it from me, order these online and have them delivered to your house. Much easier!
- Black Floating Shelf Brackets
- Gold Handles for Cabinets
- 2×12 cut the length of the shelves
- My Favorite Wood Screws
- Weathered Oak and Special Walnut Stain
- Sponge Brush for stain
I also used 2×4’s to build the base. Also cut the length and width of the cabinets. Paint color is Urbane-Bronze.
How to build the DIY Sideboard using Stock Cabinets:
To start, I built a rectangular base using 2×4’s found at your local hardware store. I got mine from the Home Depot.
I screwed them together using my favorite wood screws .
After building the base, I placed the cabinets on top.
To hide the raw wood of the 2×4, I added baseboard for a seamless look. I caulked any seams so that once everything was painted, it would look seamless.
After painting, I placed the cut 2×12 across the top the total length of the cabinets (90 inches). Since these cabinets are 12 inches deep, the 2×12 fits perfect. I attached the top shelf with wood screws along the top of the cabinets.
I also stained each 2×12 using Weathered Oak and Special Walnut stain. You can use a stain color of your choice.
Next, I measured for the shelves and brackets. I used two brackets across each shelf.
Once installed, I styled the shelves using a variety of thrifted decor, plants, pictures, mixed textures, etc.
Once styled it was all done! I love how this project came out and hope you love it too!
Don’t forget to shop this post here!
Thanks for stopping by! Until next time!
Awesome! Great job!
Thanks so much!
So CLEVER! I would have never thought to use upper premade cabinets as lower ones. I have a wall that needs this application. Thank you!
Hi Susan, so glad you liked the project. Can’t wait to hear how yours turns out!
Just discovered your blog. Love your work and greatly admire your creativity! Looking forward to your future posts.
thanks!
Hi thefe, love the long sideboard cabinets. The home depot link is no longer working? Do you knows the name of the cabinets you used for the project? Love the paint color and set up, it’s so gorgeous I can’t wait to recreate ur in my space.
Hi Heather, So sorry about that link! These cupboards at Lowe’s will work as well. Can’t wait to hear how it turns out in your space!
Such a great idea, you did an amazing job!!!
Thank you!
Hi! Love love love this!! I’m wondering how or if you attached the cabinets to the base or to each other?
Hi, thanks. I actually attached each cabinet to the base, but they are not attached to each other.
i love this! mine will have to go on carpet. how is the cabinet anchored to the wall?
Thanks, I anchored mine on the bases and it doesn’t move. But you can also anchor directly to the studs!
This is absolutely stunning! Getting ready to do the same thing on a blank wall in dining room and it’s so cool to see how and what others are using and doing. THIS my friend, is the perfect outcome! And might I add you did an awesome job! I love it!
Thanks, Vera. Good luck on your project!
What is this beautiful paint color?
Urbane Bronze:)
Totally hooked on your blog, posts, everything Erin!!!
Thank you Jackie!
Are these 30″ high cabinets?
Thank you
Like how you did this! I was looking for narrow cabinets to but under windows in my breakfast area for plants and need more storage also so the cabinets will be perfect. thank you for sharing and your good instructions.
you’re welcome!
Love it!! What paint color are the cabinets?
Thanks, Veronica! The color is Urbane Bronze.
I LOVED what you created! This is EXACTLY what I need for a long empty wall in our newly updated basement! THANK YOU for all your details and photos! What a great job you did ~ and inspiration you are!
Thanks, Betsy! So glad you liked the project and you found the post helpful.
Beautiful job! I did something similar in our home office. I secured the base cabinets on a pine board and then added 6 bun feet to the bottom. I also cut out the back of one base cabinet to allow us to access the electrical outlet. So we have a printer on the top, cord goes behind the cabinet and excess cord is hidden inside the cabinet. Will certainly follow you for more inspiration! ♥️
What a great idea! So glad that you liked the project. More coming soon!
Beautiful job on the side cabinets. What a great use of the space to use narrower cabinets! I love the feel of the whole room. It’s so welcoming and calm.
Thanks, Kim!
You did a beautiful job!! Ordering online to deliver to my doorstep,…. BRILLIANT!! It’s always a logistical nightmare when thinking about this project. I have to stop having to touch and feel the product before I buy, lol. I’m gonna attempt this project. Wish me luck,
Love your page. ❤️
Good luck!
Gorgeous! I think I can tackle this one on my own. Thanks so much for sharing! 🙏🏼
You are so welcome!
Beautiful! I love everything you did here! Looking to do this in my dining room which has a huge wall that I have been clueless on how to handle. Shelves+cabinets is the perfect solution!
Thanks, Jen!
Hi! What size cabinets did you use to make this? I see that they are 30 inches long, but how tall are they? 30 or 36 inches?
Hi Allison, here are the cabinets I’d suggest using.
I love this! We were going to build floor to ceiling shelves but yours look more up to date and modern! Doing yours instead!
Hi Vickie, so glad you liked the project! Can’t wait to hear how yours turns out.
Hi there! This is so gorgeous, I am so inspired and am going to tackle this! Your link to the cabinets no longer works; is there a similar cabinet you would recommend (and is there an affiliate link I can use to buy them)? Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah, here are the cabinets I’d suggest using from Lowe’s. Can’t wait to hear how your project turns out!
Beautiful I love this I have been looking for a solution for my dining room and this would be great. Do you have any idea the dimensions of the cabinets? Home Depot website does not have them at the moment so I was going to try and buy at Lowe’s.
Thank you
Hi Leah, here are the cabinets I’d suggest using from Lowe’s
I love your blog! Can you tell me if you used 30 or 36 inch tall cabinets? So beautiful!
Hi there, I sent you a message about the cabinet size, I received your message back that you sent me a link but I can’t seem to find it.
Hi Nicole, here are the cabinets I’d suggest using.
This is exactly what we were looking for! It’s perfect! What is the wall color here? It’s perfect with the urban bronze cabinets and stain color you used.
Thanks. Its Urbane Bronze
Did you use “upper” cabinets for the floor>. I cant seem to find them without a drawer.
Yes, they are uppers.
Hello love it . Omg, I going to do this . Wish me luck. Hope mines comes out beautifully like yours.
Hi Gwendolyn, so glad that you liked the project! Can’t wait to hear how yours turns out.
This project and all you have shared looks beautiful! I just love your style 🙂 Thanks for sharing
Thanks, Tiffany! So glad you liked the project.
Love this! Hoping to do something similar in my dining room. Not sure if I’m brave enough to go dark on the cabinets. I have gone dark on feature wall which is where I want the cabinets to go. Also as I’m in England not sure what cabinets to go for that are similar to what you have used.
Awesome job!
Hi Gill, so glad you liked the project. Can’t wait to hear how yours turns out!
I love the finished look! Great job!
What height uppers did you use?
15 inch in height.
Hi! The link to cabinets doesn’t work so we bought the 30 in. W x 12 in. D x 30 in. H Assembled Wall Kitchen Cabinet in Unfinished with Recessed Panel from Home Depot. Unfortunately, it’s too deep for a 2 x 12 =( Any chance you can find the exact name of the unfinished cabinets you used?
Hi Susie, here are the cabinets I’d suggest.
I’ve been looking to something like this for a while and this is my EXACT vision! Love it! What baseboard did you use?
I used the smallest side. Likely a 2 inch thick one.
This is beautiful and you’ve made it seem so doable for the amateur. Did you just use the wood screws for the top along the back side? Could you use a nail gun to affix the 2×12 to the cabinets?
that is correct.
In your how-to post you said that you used 3 floating shelf brackets for the shelves, but in your photos there are only two brackets on each self. I am completing this sideboard project, but I did two 36″ cabinets instead of three 30″ cabinets…so my shelves will be 72″ in length and I’m trying to decide if I will need more than two of the shelf brackets.
it was a typo. I used 2 brackets.
I am so in love with everything you did for this project AND how you styled it. I plan on doing something similar for a wall in my dining room.
awesome! good luck!
Love this! Do you have a new link for the cabinets? The current one is not working.
Hi! Its been updated!
I just love love love your creation, and am here to say that I used this idea to create a living room alcove in my home, can’t wait to show it to you! Everything is just so perfect! I just need to style it now. Looking for ideas and so far it has been so much fun. Thanks again 🙂
Hi Kay, so glad this inspired you! Thanks for trying it out. The styling is the really fun part!
Loved your idea. You just sparked me to use some existing cabinets that I was going to get rid of. I’ll be able to recycle them (I have four) and save a ton of money! Thanks for the vision!
Hi MsAngie, so glad that you liked the project. Thanks for following along! Hope your project turned out great. 🙂
This is me, running out right now for all these supplies to recreate this exact look. Amazing work!
Love love love!!! Great job and instructions!!
Hello, The cabinet link shows those cupboards are no longer available at Home Depot. Can you tell me if you used wall cabinets? I am looking to try this in a space that I have. It looks awesome! Thank you.
Hi Lennie, So sorry about that link! These cupboards at Lowe’s will work as well. Can’t wait to hear how it turns out in your space!
Your projects and story are so inspiring. Such beautiful work! Thank you for sharing!