How to Convert a China Hutch

Begin by sanding off any shine, splinters, or flaking paint from the china hutch with 150 grit sandpaper. Remove doors, drawers and all hardware with screwdriver. Place the drawers and doors face up and easily accessible to paint.

Apply painter’s tape to any areas that you do not wish to paint, like glass if the doors have glass inserts. Using a paint brush smooth a light layer of paint to the inside and the outside of the china hutch. Allow to dry. Several coats may be needed to achieve optimal coverage.

Place a sheet of wallpaper against the back of the china hutch. Measure the amount that you will need to cover the areas that will be seen behind the books. Dip the wallpaper into a basin of water and wet thoroughly. Smooth the wet wallpaper onto the back of the china hutch removing any air bubbles with hands as you go. With a razor blade, trim any excess wallpaper around the area and discard. Continue until all areas that will be seen behind books are covered. Allow to dry.

Smooth a coat of clear sealer over the entire painted area of the china hutch. This step will protect the paint from scratches and surface damage. Allow to dry. Replace drawer and door hardware with screwdriver. Reattach the doors to the hinges and place onto the hutch. Remove painter’s tape.

Gather books and arrange by size onto the cabinet shelves. Place books that are too tall to stand on their sides and stack according to size. Heavy trinkets or statuettes may be used for bookends. Place magazine collections into archival magazine boxes and place attractively on the shelves. Arrange unsightly books such as textbooks and phone books into the closed drawers and shelves.