Handmade Corner Cabinets

Lay a large square sheet of Kraft paper on the floor in the corner where you intend to install your cabinet. Push the corner of the paper into the corner of the room so the edges are flush with the walls. You will use this piece of paper to cut a template for your corner cabinet shelves.

Use a ruler to draw a straight line diagonally across the paper from one edge to the other. Position the line at least 10 inches in from the corner. The further you space the line from the corner, the deeper your cabinet will be.

Cut out your paper template using a pair of scissors and lay it on top of a sheet of 1/2-inch plywood. Trace around the template twice in pencil, using the paper as a stencil for the top and bottom panels of your corner cabinet.

Use a circular saw to cut out the top and bottom panels you just traced onto the plywood. Measure the length of the two side edges of one panel using a measuring tape. You will use this measurement to cut the side panels for your cabinet.

Measure the height of the ceiling in the room where you intend to install your handmade corner cabinet. This will provide you with the height measurement for your cabinet.

Use the height measurement of your cabinet and the side length measurements you just took to cut two side panels out of 1/2-inch plywood. The two side panels should be identical in size and shape. Trim a half inch from the width of one of the side panels to accommodate the thickness of the other during installation.

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall where you intend to install your cabinet. Mark the position of the wall studs lightly in pencil.

Stand one of the side panels upright against the wall. The widest edge of the panel should be flush with the wall, and the back edge should be pushed into the corner. Drive nails from a nail gun through the side panel into the wall studs to secure it.

Position the second side panel upright against the wall adjacent to the first. Adjust the panel so its back edge is flush with the surface of the first panel. Drive nails from a nail gun through the side panel into the wall studs to attach it in place.

Install the bottom panel of your corner cabinet by laying it flat against the floor and pushing it back into the corner. The side edges should be flush with the side panels you just installed. Drive nails at a downward angle through the edges of the bottom panel into the side panels. Repeat this process to install the top panel against the ceiling.

Use your paper template to cut the shelves for your handmade corner cabinet. To determine how many shelves you need, decide how tall you want each shelf to be and divide the total height of your cabinet by this measurement. Trace the template onto 1/2-inch plywood and cut out each shelf using the circular saw.

Slide the shelves horizontally between the two side panels so the edges are flush. Drive 1 1/2-inch wood screws at a downward angle through the edges of each shelf into the side panels and the wall studs beyond to secure them in place.

Measure the width across the front edge of your completed cabinet frame using the measuring tape. Cut a sheet of 1/2-inch plywood using this width measurement and the overall height of your cabinet to create a cabinet door.

Stand the cabinet door upright, positioning it flat against the cabinet front. Install three metal hinges along one edge of the door, positioning them about three inches from the top and bottom corners and halfway in between. Screw the other side of each hinge into the cabinet frame.

Paint or stain your completed corner cabinet to match the existing decor in your room. Allow the paint or stain to dry completely before using your new cabinet.