DIY Home Adventures

DIY Drop Zone Cabinet for Under $100 (with Upcycled Cupboard Doors)

White DIY drop zone cabinet with black sliding barn-style doors under a bay window

Second Life, Episode 1: old furniture, new job.

Our bay window sits right next to the back patio door, which made it the unofficial drop zone of the house. Shoes, purses, and bags piled up on a mix of wire shelves and bins. It worked, but it never looked finished. This DIY drop zone cabinet fixed that, and it cost under $100.

I wanted storage that hid everything and looked like it had always been there. The best part was already in our house: a pair of doors from an old Dutch cupboard.

Before: cluttered bay window drop zone with wire shelves, bins, and shoes by the back door

The Gear

  • 1×4 boards from Lowe’s
  • One project board (for the top)
  • Wood glue, nails, and wood filler
  • White paint
  • Sliding cabinet door hardware (I found mine on Amazon)
  • Two doors from an old cupboard (or any doors you can rescue)
  • Tools: circular saw, nail gun, sander, clamps, and a drill

Total cost: under $100. Time: one weekend. Finished size: about 4 feet wide, 2.5 feet tall, and 1.5 feet deep.

Step 1: Measure the Nook

Measure the width, the depth, and the height up to the window sill. Bay windows are rarely square, so measure at a few points and build to the smallest number.

Step 2: Build the Frame from 1x4s

I cut the 1x4s with a circular saw on our patio table, then glued, clamped, and nailed them into a simple box frame sized to the nook.

Raw pine 1x4 cabinet frame built into a bay window nook

Step 3: Add the Top

The project board makes a clean, solid top that doubles as a ledge for plants and seasonal decor.

Step 4: Give the Cupboard Doors a Second Life

The doors came from an old Dutch cupboard. I sanded off the old finish, which took the longest of any step, and painted them to match the cabinet.

Sanding an old Dutch cupboard door with an orbital sander to upcycle it

Step 5: Fill, Paint, and Hang the Doors

Wood filler hides the nail holes and seams, and white paint makes it all read as one piece. The doors hang on sliding cabinet door hardware, so they open without swinging into the walkway by the patio door.

Finished drop zone cabinet with a sliding door open showing shoes and bags stored inside

The Result

Shoes, purses, and everyday bags now live behind the doors, and the window finally looks finished. It’s the first thing we see coming in from the patio, and it’s no longer a pile.

Finished white bay window storage cabinet with sliding doors closed and plants on top

Coming Next on Second Life

Episode 2 is an antique washstand that’s becoming our powder room vanity. Follow along on Instagram at @diy.homeadventures so you don’t miss the reveal.