DIY Bistro Sign From Repurposed Cabinet Doors

by Marie Heiderscheit

7 Materials

I love finding ways to bring new life to old things. I had these cabinet doors in my garage for quite some time so I decided to get crafty and turn them into a chalkboard bistro sign! I love how it turned out and it is now on my front porch where I change up the words on it to fit each season.

diy bistro sign from repurposed cabinet doors, chalkboard paint, crafts, doors, kitchen cabinets, kitchen design

First, I took some metal hinges and attached them to the top insides of the cabinet doors. When drilling in your screws it is always helpful to first drill a few pilot holes, and then drive in your screws. This makes the screws go in easier and straighter.

With the hinges on, I gathered up my paint supplies. I used some rough sandpaper to lightly sand down the area where I would apply my chalkboard paint. After the area was sanded, I wiped it down with a damp cloth to clean the surface.

Next, I applied the painters tape all around the edges to ensure the paint would only be where I wanted it! I then brushed on a coat of chalkboard paint and let it dry before adding a second coat.

After the chalkboard paint was dry, all that was left was to write on it! I looked for some clever quotes online and came across this one that made me laugh. It's not bragging if its true, right?

This project was so simple and easy and really only took me an afternoon! Im sure you could make a similar sign using any type of wood planks that are the same size.

The chalkboard on my front porch just adds a warming touch for guests coming to visit. It's also fun to decorate and change up the sayings for the seasons!

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Cabinet Doors
Valspar Chalkboard Paint
Metal Hinges with Screws
Sandpaper
Paintbrush
Painters Tape
Screwdriver or Power Drill

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3 of 10 questions

Allison Fredrickson on Jan 28, 2017
Is there a place that you can buy the twisty style latch that's on the right side?

5
Catherine on Apr 10, 2017

Love this, it is welcoming. Did you paint both sides? If so, you can just turn it around for a different message. Thanks for a great idea!

1
Ter7511839 on Aug 22, 2017

Did you " season " your chalk board after you painted it?? If so, you may want to add that to the details on what you had to do.

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Connie on Mar 22, 2019

I made my pantry door into a blackboard. Love it

1 Reply
Hugo Vandenabeele on Mar 05, 2020

no question ... just wanted to add that I actually did remove the panel before painting... I applied 5 layers of IRON PAINT which will make it work with magnets too, then I aplied 2 layers of SCHOOL BOARD PAINT, then I put the panel back in.

Use quite strong magnets, like those made from Neodymium.
The more iron layers you paint, 6, 7, you can can use some weaker magnets...

best regards
Hugo

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