How to Make Cabinet Doors for a Bookcase

Measure the height and width of your bookcase with a measuring tape. Write the measurements down. Lay the 3/4-inch thick plywood sheet down. Use the pencil to draw the bookcase door using the height and width measurements.

Lay the plywood sheet near the table saw. Turn the saw on. Cut out the large door rectangle. Sandpaper the edges. Decide whether you want one large cabinet door or two doors that open in the middle. If you want one large door, proceed to the next step. If you want two, draw a straight line down the middle using the measuring tape to locate the middle and the pencil to draw the line. Cut the board down the middle with the table saw and sandpaper the edges.

Apply a layer of paint or stain to the cabinet door using a paintbrush. For a darker finish, apply two or more coats of the stain or paint. Use a clean paintbrush to add decorations to the door using acrylic paints, if desired. These additions can help you custom design the door to suit the theme in the room or home decor. Let the plywood dry overnight, until the paint or stain has completely dried.

Attach the hinges to the cabinet door using the 1/2-inch screws and a screwdriver. If you are installing one door, attach hinges to one lengthy side spaced at least 4 inches apart. If you are installing two doors, attach hinges to both doors on one of the lengthy side, spacing the hinges at least 4 inches apart. Hold one cabinet door up to the book shelf and install it on the bookshelf side panel with the hinges inside the bookcase. Use the 1/2-inch screws and the screwdriver to install the door. If you are installing two doors, follow the same instructions but install one door at a time.

Install the door handles on the cabinet doors using the 1-inch screws and the screwdriver. The screws should go through the cabinet door from the inside outward, so the screw sticks out into the handle.