Alright, so I finally got around to sorting out my kitchen. It was getting ridiculous, you know? Stuff piled up everywhere, no counter space left. I needed more storage, but my kitchen isn’t exactly huge. That’s when I started looking into those slimline kitchen cupboards. Seemed like a decent idea – they don’t stick out too far, so you don’t lose a ton of floor space, which was a big deal for me.
Figuring Out What I Needed
First off, I had to measure up. Sounds obvious, right? But you’d be surprised. I got out the tape measure, checked the wall space I had, how high I could go, all that jazz. I didn’t want to buy something that wouldn’t fit, or worse, buy something too small and still have clutter. I spent a bit of time just staring at the wall, imagining where they’d go. I even made some faint pencil marks, just to see.
Then came the actual shopping. I looked online a bit, then went down to one of those big DIY places. Honestly, the choice was a bit overwhelming at first. So many different finishes, different handles. I just wanted something simple, clean, and, well, slim. Eventually, I found a set that looked like it would do the job. Flat-pack, of course. Everything is flat-pack these days. The boxes were heavy, let me tell you. Getting them into the car and then into the house was the first workout.
Getting Down to Business: The Build
So, I cleared a space in the living room, because trying to build these things in the kitchen itself? No chance. I opened up the first box. Instructions. Right. They always look so simple on paper, don’t they? Pages of diagrams, and a million tiny screws and bits. I laid everything out, tried to match all the pieces to the pictures. That took a while on its own.
I started with one cupboard. Figured I’d get the hang of it. Putting the basic box together wasn’t too bad. Lots of screwing, those little wooden dowels, and the cam lock things. Those cam locks can be fiddly. You’ve got to get them just right. My first attempt, one side was a bit wobbly. Had to undo a few screws and tighten things up again. Patience, I told myself, patience.
The first cupboard frame took me, I don’t know, maybe an hour or so, just going slow and steady. Once that was done, the next ones went a bit quicker. It’s like once you’ve built one, you sort of get the rhythm.
Hanging Them Up: The Tricky Part
Okay, building the boxes is one thing. Getting them on the wall, straight and secure? That’s a whole different ball game. This is where you really need a good level and a stud finder if your walls are the plasterboard type. My walls, well, they aren’t perfectly straight. Never are in older houses, are they?
I measured again, marked where the brackets needed to go. Drilled the holes. That’s always a bit nerve-wracking, drilling into your wall. I hit a few snags, had to adjust a bit. The first cupboard went up, and it looked… okay. A bit squint if I’m honest. So, I loosened it, fiddled, used the level like my life depended on it, and got it better. It’s a two-person job ideally, but I was doing it solo, so it was a bit of a struggle, balancing the cupboard and trying to screw it in.
Then came lining up the next cupboards next to the first one. Making sure they were all at the same height, same depth. More measuring, more leveling. Lots of stepping back, squinting, then adjusting. It’s tedious, but you gotta do it, otherwise it’ll just annoy you every time you look at it.
The doors were the final challenge. Getting them to hang straight, with even gaps? Oh boy. Those little screws on the hinges, they adjust in all different directions. It was a lot of trial and error. Open, close, adjust. Open, close, adjust. I think I spent more time on the doors than on building the actual cupboard frames.
The End Result and What I Reckon
But, after a good few hours of work, a bit of sweat, and maybe a few muttered words I won’t repeat, they were up. And you know what? They actually look pretty good! They don’t make the kitchen feel smaller, which was my main worry. And the amount of extra storage is fantastic. Suddenly, my countertops are clear. I can find things! It’s made a huge difference.
So, if you’re thinking of getting slimline cupboards, especially if you’re tight on space, I’d say go for it. My main takeaways from doing it myself would be:
- Measure everything. Twice. Maybe three times.
- Read the instructions, even if they look like a puzzle. Take your time.
- A good level is your best friend. Seriously.
- Don’t expect your walls to be perfectly flat or square. They probably aren’t.
- Patience is key, especially with the doors.
- If you can get someone to help, especially with lifting and holding, do it.
It wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, and there were moments I wanted to just give up and call a professional. But, I got there in the end. And there’s a certain satisfaction in looking at them and thinking, “Yeah, I did that.” Plus, I saved a bit of cash doing it myself, which is always nice. The kitchen feels so much better now. Worth the effort, definitely.
