If you’re wanting to add built ins to your home yourself, the simplest route to go is starting with stock cabinets. This post will discuss stock cabinets for built ins and show you where you can get them.
Stock Cabinets for Built ins
Built ins are structures that are attached to the home, and that aren’t meant to leave the home if moving/selling.
Adding built ins allows for a custom look that can’t necessarily be replicated exactly as it is designed to perfectly fit the space you are building for.
However, a custom build like this doesn’t have to come 100% from scratch! If you aren’t feeling completely confident in building cabinetry but can tackle some shelving, using stock cabinets for built ins is such a great way to go.
Examples of using stock cabinets for built-ins
I have done a few custom built in projects in my home, and for 2 of them, using stock cabinets was integral to the design.
They cut down the project time significantly, and I didn’t need to worry about hinges or door alignment at all. It made both processes much easier.
You can see them here as the base for my DIY Built ins Using Stock Cabinets.
You can also see them here as the top storage unit to my DIY Mud Room build.
What are stock cabinets?
Stock cabinets are essentially pre-manufactured cabinets with doors. They come in industry-standard sizes and styled.
But, that doesn’t mean they can’t be jazzed up! Also, if you frame them and add trim, they become custom and built in.
You can purchase them unfinished, so that they can be painted whatever color you like, or you can pay a bit more for painted stock cabinets.
All you need to do is browse the size of cabinet that will be the best for your project, and build around them!
Where to buy stock cabinets?
There are 4 places that I shop around for when looking for cabinets for my designs.
- Lowe’s
- Home Depot
- Ikea
- Facebook Marketplace
For the projects I have done, I have purchased them from Home Depot or Lowe’s. Honestly both stores will have very similar stock cabinets. But, occasionally they go on sale, so when planning a project I check both and go with the cheaper option.
Ikea is another great place to get cabinets for a built in project. You can opt for their kitchen cabinets, or you can even look at some of their other cabinet type pieces (like closet systems) to find a piece that can fit your space as be built in as well.
I don’t know if Facebook Marketplace ‘technically’ counts as having stock cabinets, but you can definitely find cabinets there and likely at a great price. Often you will find someone remodeling their kitchen and selling old cabinets there, or contractors doing the same. Always a good place to check!
I hope that helps you plan your next project if you are considering using stock cabinets for built ins! Think about baseboards, crown moulding, side trim, and adding countertops to give stock cabinets a really great custom look.
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