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Make a Beautiful DIY Cane Cabinet in 2 Easy Steps

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Transform a storage piece into a beautiful cane cabinet with this easy DIY using thrifted or IKEA furniture and web caning.

Sometimes it is fun to go with a trend especially if you’re smitten with the idea. When you dream of your ideal decor and interior space, can you see cane furniture fitting in?

I love tropical and British colonial styles so even though cane cabinets DIY are popular right now I can see them working with my favorite styles and know their classic design will work for many years to come so I was excited to try caning furniture.

How to Transform a Storage Cabinet into a Cane Cabinet

While I was updating our dining room I knew I wanted to incorporate a cane piece of furniture but found the pieces I loved to be on the expensive end.

After finding the perfect size storage cabinet with glass doors from IKEA, I went with a simple cane cabinet update to transform it into the furniture of my dreams.

A white and cane cabinet sit against a white wall with a wood angle sculpture and black and white art. Ikea hack furniture.
Cane Cabinet DIY with Glass IKEA Hack

What you need for a DIY cane cabinet

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience to brands I love. You still pay the same price but I may earn a small commission.

  • A storage unit with glass doors – I picked this one from IKEA because of its narrow and tall size and glass doors.
  • Cane webbing – Perhaps it’s a trending material because this one was hard to find! There are different types of cane webbing like radio and classic design.

I finally went with a plastic 1/2″ open mesh cane from this shop and it came quickly, albeit the website seemed a little less polished. You’ll find that caning or cane webbing can be expensive.

I opted for the wider roll with the correct length because it was large enough to cut down the middle for two doors. It was 24″ wide and 7′ long for about $70. There wasn’t much overhang so I was diligent about measuring and cutting.

  • Scissors – For trimming the cane webbing.

I know there are quite a few tutorials out there for transforming or building cane cabinet doors but I haven’t seen any that included the glass.

I wanted a cleaner look and after testing the theory found out that installing caning behind the glass doors felt chicer and cleaner for a cane front cabinet.

Ikea cabinet before adding cane to the doors is against a white wall with a green velvet couch and zebra rug .
IKEA Cabinet before Cane Cabinet Makeover

How to Make Cane Cabinet Doors without Removing Glass in Two Easy Steps

Diy Can Cabinet Doors show the door on a blanket on the floor with a long piece of cane rolled out ready to install.
Roll out caning and trim to size.

Here’s your step-by-step guide to DIY a cane cabinet:

Step One: Cut the caning.

  • Remove the doors from the cabinet and place them on top of a blanket to help protect the glass. I set up a folding table for this task.
  • Unroll the caning over the door and measure the length. Cut to size leaving at least 3-4 inches overhang.
  • Measure the width and cut the cane webbing leaving some overhang for gluing. You can easily cut a straight line by following the cane pattern. Go slow and cut smoothly. You’ll want to make sure the cane doesn’t unravel so be gentle.
  • Place a cut side next to the hinges. If you are able, loosen the cabinet hinges and slide some of the cane webbings underneath. Tighten to hold it in place.

Step Two: Glue in place.

  • Start in the middle of the door and start gluing the caning to be back. Work a small section at a time ensuring the caning stays straight and smooth to prevent wrinkles or lumps. Glue from the middle to the edge and then repeat on the other long side.
  • Glue the top and bottom in place last. Trim off any access pieces.
  • Reattach the door and replace the pull if you desire.
A close up of a piece of cane measured and cut to fit an Ikea cabinet door.
Cane Webbing Behind Glass Door
A picture to show how the cane lines up to the door henge neatly.
Place Cane Webbing Behind Hinges
How to get the most out of a piece of cane webbing to save money for a cane cabinet.
One side is cut, and the other has a thread to prevent unraveling.
Close up of cabe webbing against a glass door.
Keep the threaded side and glue in place.

Our dining room is a small area between the kitchen and living room and I’ve struggled with defining the space.

A tall cane storage cabinet was the perfect solution to separate the living from the dining room and some other changes which I’m super excited to share in the dining room reveal.

DIY cane cabinet doors with glass and gold pulls divide an open dining living room with white walls.
DIY Cane Cabinet Doors with Glass and Gold Pulls

What is cane webbing?

Cane webbing is a classic and trending traditional material that is used in furniture making and interior design. It is made from peeled bark or outer skin of the climbing rattan vine which is native to Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Pacific regions.

It is known for its natural and timeless appearance. You can find it in different sizes, weaves, and even have it stained to match a color.

In today’s market, you can now find it in natural and synthetic materials which makes DIY cane crafts so much easier to do. I plan on trying a few different things with my leftover pieces!

Since its natural color is beige or tan, it can be treated as neutral in any decorating style. It goes really well with Traditional, British Colonial, Tropical, Boho, Eclectic, and Modern interior design.

What is caning furniture?

Caning furniture refers to a traditional method of weaving seats and backs of chairs, stools, and other furniture pieces using cane webbing. Caning creates a distinctive and durable woven pattern that adds both style and comfort to furniture pieces.

There are different types of caning techniques, including hand caning, pre-woven cane, sheet cane, and rush cane, each offering unique aesthetics and characteristics. Caning furniture is often associated with craftsmanship and can be found in a variety of styles, from classic and traditional to modern and contemporary designs.

A close up look at gold twig shapped cabinet pulls on a DIY cane cabinet from IKEA.
Gold Twig Pulls On Cane Doors

Looking for more ideas to try cane webbing with like me? Here’s a list!

  • Chair seats and backs: A more advanced DIY but a traditional one!
  • Cabinet door inserts: Like our cabinet today but it could also cover a panel of a bedside table or drawer facing!
  • Headboards: Wrap a wood frame with cane webbing for a DIY version.
  • Room dividers: Again, if you are comfortable with wood projects, a room divider with a wood frame and wrapped cane would be dreamy.
  • Decorative wall panels: Frame rattan, cane webbing, or other woven material for a simple pop of texture. It could also work as matting for art or photography.
  • Bookcase backing: Line the back of cabinets or bookcase shelves with caning for a striking backdrop.
  • Home accessories: Napkin ring holders, clear vase embellishment, lamp shade cover, and anything else you can dream of!

This quick DIY was fun to tackle and I’m so happy with the outcome. You can’t go wrong with beautiful hidden storage in a small house.

What do you think?

kathy

Commonly asked questions about DIY cane cabinet makeovers

You’ll typically need a cabinet (new or one to repurpose), cane webbing, a staple gun, a hot glue gun, a screwdriver, measuring tape, and other basic hand tools depending on your project’s complexity.

First, measure the dimensions of your cabinet doors and then add a few inches to each side for a proper fit or to attach.

Use scissors or a sharp utility knife to cut the cane webbing to the desired size. Be careful not to fray the edges with cutting.

Yes, it’s a good idea to finish the cabinet frame before you install cane webbing. Make sure any paint or stain has completely cured before adding caning.

Either a staple gun or adhesive like hot glue works well depending on your preference. Start in the middle and go out to get a good fit.

13 Comments

  1. Hi! Love this – thank you so much! I am going to buy the cane for this project. Question if you can provide extra details. Do you know which style # you used for the 1/2 plastic mesh:

    PC901 1/2inch Open Mesh – 24inch Width; 7 Feet; 0 Inches
    OR
    W901P 1/2inch Open Mesh – Plastic – 18inch Width; 7 Feet; 0 Inches

    Thank you! I appreciate it 🙂

    Reply

  2. Hello! Can you clarify where exactly you are applying the glue? Are you gluing the cane to the door trim, or directly to the glass? Thank you.

    Reply

  4. Hello, I’m so glad I found this article. I’m looking to add caneing to my kitchen cabinets, down the center stile without actually removing it. Can you offer any advice on this project? There’s tons of material on caneing cabinets removing the center stile but your post is the only thing that comes even remotely close to what I’m going for. Ultimately I want to have my cabinets professionally painted but it’s going to be a while until we can afford it so I want to do the caneing in the meantime.

    Reply

  5. I love this idea. Do you think the cane webbing could be painted? I’ve just had cabinetry painted but still want to DIY the glass door fronts somehow and this looks much better than putting a film behind the glass. Would painting the cane make it more brittle and possibly break? Thank you for posting this article!

    Reply

  6. Hi, I love this project and have the same Billy bookcases. How has it held up? Did you need to reglue? I was also debating if I should apply the cane in two pieces because of the wood between the two panes of glass. Did that warp for you or did the cane stay tight over the two pieces?

    Reply

    1. Hi Karen! It has held up beautifully the last three years! Since I attached it to the frame only has one piece behind the glass, it laid perfectly flat and hasn’t moved. Also, the cane I selected was plastic so it’s thick and stiff. I hope that helps. Good luck!

      Reply

  7. Good morning, what a great DIY project, would you be able to tell me the name of the cabinet, the link only opens up the ikea website but there are so many cabinets on there I’d love to know which one you used.
    Thanks so much !

    Reply

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