Decorating Tips, DIY, Flea Market Flip, Repurposed

DIY Faux Apothecary Cabinet – (Card File Chest)

Are you a lover of Apothecary Cabinets, or do you call them Card File Chest? Anything with small drawers, even fake ones, will catch my attention.

I decided to attempt an IKEA hack by building a DIY Faux Apothecary Cabinet – (Card file chest) out of this 16-cube storage unit. This will be perfect for storing my gardening supplies.

DIY Apothecary cabinet or card catalog made with IKEA storage cube.

What can you do with a 16-cube IKEA Storage Unit? I will show you how to make a DIY faux apothecary cabinet or Card File Chest out of it.

IKEA 16-Cube Storage Unit for Apothecary Cabinet Repurposed Furniture Project.

I had previously used this in my home office for storage. When we downsized, I no longer had a space for it. However, I held onto it, waiting for inspiration to hit. We were in the final stages of completing our DIY Greenhouse when an Idea began to form.

Old IKEA 16 Cube Storage Unit for repurposed furniture idea
Here is the 16-cube IKEA unit as we brought it out of storage.

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Here is the recent Fall View – I can’t wait to share this view for Christmas – Be sure to follow me on Instagram for all the latest.

Apothecary Cabinet, Card Catalog Cabinet for DIY Greenhouse. IKEA Hack

The door inserts we purchased with the unit will be perfect for adding the faux apothecary drawers.

Door inserts for IKEA Cabinet Hack.

When we purchased the unit from IKEA, we bought 3 door and drawer inserts to hide the stored items. Since 8 door inserts were needed for this project, we needed to purchase an additional five.

Supplies and Tools needed

Tools

How to make a DIY Faux APOTHECARY CABINET or Card File Chest from an IKEA Hack

First, paint or stain the wooden bun feet to match the IKEA cabinet.

Adding the feet is an optional step. If you are happy with the cabinet’s dimensions, you can skip this step.

Add ball feet to bottom of IKEA cabinet.

It is necessary to drill a hole the size of the screw attached to the wooden foot. You will also need leg mounting plates to attach the feet. Center the mounting plates over the drilled hole and secure them with included screws. Then screw the wooden feet into place.

Paint the IKEA Cabinet your desired colors.

Paint with chalk paint for Greenhouse Apothecary Cabinet

Next, it’s time to paint if you want to change the color of your cabinet.

At this point, I have decided to make the existing cabinet look like two separate pieces—a larger piece at the bottom and the apothecary cabinet at the top.

I painted the bottom half one color and the top half a contrasting color.

I used French Linen for the bottom half and Old White for the top half. These Annie Sloan Chalk paints were some I had on hand, making the project more cost-effective. This tutorial teaches you how to use chalk paint.

The existing cabinet’s surface is slick, and chalk paint sticks well to it. I listed a Rust-oleum brand that is easy to find above.

Wax chalk paint on cabinet.

Next, apply wax to seal the paint. Here is what the cabinet looks like at this point.

IKEA 16 cube storage unit transformed into a apothecary cabinet.

Add Reclaimed Wood

To make the cabinet look like two separate pieces, you will want to add some additional wood and trim to the bottom half of the cabinet.

I used some weathered reclaimed wood that we had left over from another project. You can purchase new boards or trim work from the hardware store.

add reclaimed wood to make card catalog cabinet.

Now, add full-size boards to the side panels. We striped the boards using a table saw to create the trim pieces. A single board was attached to the cabinet’s center to divide the piece.

Add reclaimed wood to IKEA cabinet to make apothecary cabinet.

Now, the bottom appears to be larger than the top. The IKEA Hack is coming together. The reclaimed wood gives the bottom half a primitive, rustic feel.

Building Small Wood Drawers for the Upper Half of the Cabinet

Now, it’s time to work on the top half of the cabinet. This is where the Apothecary Cabinet/Card File comes into play.

Because we already have some door inserts for this piece, we purchased more to create our drawers.

By purchasing two 2X4 sheets of 1/4″ plywood, you will have enough wood to create the illusion of small drawers. The 8 door fronts are 13×13, so begin by cutting 32 – 6×6 squares. We used a table saw to strip the plywood into the appropriate size.

Step by Step to make a IKEA Hack Apothecary Cabinet.

Then use a belt sander to smooth the edges. Although it is more time-consuming, you can use a sanding block or sandpaper if you don’t have a belt sander.

In order to achieve a distressed look for the Apothecary Cabinet Drawers, you will want to stain each square with a dark gel stain. These are stained with Old Masters American Walnut Stain.

Once the stain has dried, paint each square to match the top half of your cabinet. I only used one coat of paint to allow the stain to show through.

Create a template for the Apothecary Drawers.

This is an important step and will save you time and heartache. It is tough to get the hardware installed evenly without a template.

Make a template to ensure the hardware is applied evenly on the drawer fronts.

Next, create a template for your drawer fronts. Decide where you want your hardware placement and punch a hole in the paper template to mark for your pilot holes. This will ensure that your hardware is placed in the exact same spot on each board.

Attach Hardware and drawer fronts to door inserts.

Now, you will want to drill two pilot holes in each drawer front with a small drill bit.

Add Card catalog drawer pulls to drawer fronts for IKEA HACK

Please ensure you space the wooden drawer fronts evenly on the door insert. Use wood screws 1 inch long to attach your hardware and your wooden drawer fronts, securing them firmly to the door insert.

Small faux drawer fronts made with thin wood and card catalog drawer pulls.

I used label holder pulls for my hardware. The screw goes in from the front on these label holders and pulls from D. Lawless Hardware, making them perfect for this project. The same pulls are used on Our Farmhouse Island and the Re-purposed Silverware Box.

Install your Apothecary Doors

Finally, you are ready to install the door fronts according to the IKEA instructions, and your Apothecary Cabinet will be finished. I plan to add labels to the drawer pulls once I add potting supplies to the cabinet.

Card Catalog or Apothecary Cabinet furniture transformation using IKEA Hack.

The upper Apothecary Cabinet Section appears to be sitting on top of a more primitive vintage piece. See how I made a potting table and a solar chandelier for the Greenhouse.

Apothecary or Card Catalog Cabinet made from a 16-cube IKEA Storage Unit- Amazing Furniture Transformation.

Love IKEA Hacks

I hope you like this IKEA Hack. It’s exactly how I envisioned the project, and I am thrilled with the results. This will provide much-needed storage for the greenhouse.

Check out this blog post, where I share all the photos and details about how we built this greenhouse.

More Favorite DIY Projects

IKEA 16-Cube Storage Unit transformed into an apothecary Cabinet/ Card Catalog Cabinet for greenhouse.

Thanks so much for stopping by. I look forward to sharing my next adventure with you.

Pin It To Remember It

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93 Comments

  1. Good Morning Rachel
    Of course this is absolutely amazing. It sure does seem pretty tricky to come up with something so creative but you did it. I love it so much*

    deezie

    Reply

  4. Unbelievable!! Your DIYs are the best! What a perfect piece for that dreamy green house. Hats off to you. I’m still in disbelief of the transformation. What a vision.

    Reply

  6. This is such a fabulous idea! I love how you made the top and bottom halves look different, Adding the reclaimed wood was such a clever idea!

    Reply

  8. Hi Rachel, oh I LOVE this! I’m all about vintage garden goodies and anything for a greenhouse, so I’m totally smitten with this wonderful cabinet. You did such a great job! Thanks for coming by to link up at All About Home, I’m featuring this post this evening!

    Reply

  9. What a wonderfully creative project! Adding the doors with the faux drawer fronts is ingenious! And thank you so much for sharing the paint brand – in the past I struggled to get paint to stick to the slick Ikea pieces and went thru the tedious process of priming with oil based primer. I can’t wait to try the Rustoleum brand chalk paint! I popped over from Common Ground’s All About Home Link Party.

    Reply

    1. Carolyn
      I’m so glad you popped over. Thank you for your comments. Yes, chalk paint is a game changer for those of us who had to sand and prime everything to get the paint to stick. Telling my age I think!!! Again, I appreciate you so much. I hope you have subscribed to my newsletter to not miss a post.
      Rachel

      Reply

  10. This project is AMAZING! I’d love to feature it on Thistlekeeping! Let me know if I have permission to use one photo and I’ll link back to you!

    Happy day friend!
    karianne

    Reply

  12. That is one of the most amazing furniture flips I’ve ever seen. So creative of you to have envisioned this and executed it so beautifully. Love it!!!

    Reply

  13. Does the top work as drawers or doors? And did you put a solid back on the upper to keep things from falling out? Thank you for this inspiration! I love it.

    Reply

    1. The top works as a door. There are 8 doors and the inserts from IKEA include a back and sides as well as the door. I originally thought I’d add a back to the bottom but decided not to. I appreciate your input.
      Rachel

      Reply

  14. I love your ideas…I have been making solar chandelier hangers for years….yours is beautiful….I just made one for my friends memorial garden for her young daughter….apothecary is stunning…looking forward to see other ideas….🌸

    Reply

  15. Incredible! I have always loved the look of the apothecary drawers but could not really think what I’d use all the small drawers for. This is a genius idea combining such a great look with much better (for my purposes) functionality. Thank you so much for posting this. Your other projects are great too so now I’ll have to look through all you’ve done and try some of your ideas. What a creative and talented person you are!
    Diana

    Reply

    1. Diana,
      Oh my gosh, what sweet compliments. You just made my day. I really appreciate you for taking the time to stop by and share your thoughts. It’s comments like these that make it all worthwhile. I hope you have the best weekend.

      Reply

    1. Jan,
      I am so sorry. Can you tell me where you tried to subscribe? If there is a break in the link, I’d like to get it corrected. In the meantime, I will try to get you added to the subscription.
      Thank you for reaching out.
      Rachel

      Reply

  20. Such a unique looking interpretation. What I don’t like about Ikea furniture is that it is lacking in personality, has no distinctive visual appeal, and absolutely must be personalize, which you have done amazingly. No one could guess what the ‘innards’ of this piece are. Lovely idea to adapt for indoor use too.

    Reply

    1. Johanne,
      I really appreciate these encouraging comments. Yes, this piece served it’s purpose when I needed office storage. Now it has new life. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
      Rachel

      Reply

  21. Rachel thank you for giving us such detailed instruction on building this cabinet! It turned out fantastic. And your greenhouse is the bomb, oh what I’d do to have something so nice! God bless you and I’ll be looking into the rest of your great ideas! Thanks again!

    Reply

  22. What?, that beauty used to be an IKEA storage unit! I noticed this stunning apothecary cabinet in your amazing DIY greenhouse post and figured you must’ve got it from an antique shop. Wow, Rachel, you guys did an amazing job with this transformation! Pinned 🙂

    Reply

  24. Wonderful job Rachel!! How come there is NO dirt in your greenhouse, mine is a mess on the floor,, yours looks like another room of your home. Just beautiful, keep up the good work.

    Reply

  25. This idea is brilliant Rachel! You completely transformed the look of those Ikea pieces – this is a project I want to try! Pinned 🙂

    Reply

  26. Rachel, I have had this blog post saved for some item! It is absolutely one of my favorites of all time. One of these days, I will get around to making one. Maybe for my new craft room.

    Reply
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  36. This is a stunning makeover Rachel and I would love to try this on a smaller scale. Thank you for providing such a good detailed tutorial! Pinning!

    Reply

  37. Rachel, I would never have guessed that you made the apothecary cabinet. It’s amazing! I love your entire greenhouse!

    Reply

  38. Oh my goodness! I love this idea so much. I want to do this in my greenhouse. I would love it if you would share this on the Fabulous Friday Link Party. You can find the link on my website. Hugs to you, my friend.

    Reply
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  40. WOW JUST WOW! I can’t believe I am seeing this for the first time. I’ve seen this on your blog many times and thought it was an antique! What a beautiful way to fake your way through this! LOL I truly love this so much! I don’t have the room for one this big but I have got room for a smaller one. Love the way you created the front panels and I happen to have a small wood block about 2 ft. X 2 ft. thats divided already and this would be perfect for the space I have. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
    Never stop crafting…

    Reply

  41. Hi Rachel! This is absolutely amazing! I am so glad i found you because you give me so much inspiration. This was genious!

    Reply

  43. I really love this and have been looking for something just like this to try. If you don’t mind a bit of feedback (please note: I am really still learning how to do these things) as a newbie I would personally really benefit from a few additional details such as the size of the reclaimed wood you used (I understand I can measure the shelving however, as the expert, your advice here can certainly make the difference in these steps, and perhaps an example of what (material etc) you used to make the template etc. I understand these are basics especially to you as you clearly knocked this out of the park but for myself, believe me when I tell you, these can be the little steps where the wheels fall off 🙂

    Thank you for sharing it is so seriously gorgeous! You have a gift for this stuff!

    Best,

    Kristin

    Reply

    1. Kristin,
      Sure each door is 13 inches square and the small panels are created using 1/4 inch smooth plywood. Each square is 6 x 6 inches. As for the template, I used a piece of card stock paper. I hope this is helpful.

      Reply

  44. I LOVE LOVE this IKEA hack! Wow what a transformation! You’ve got my wheels turning! I have two smaller sized IKEA cabinets in my craft room that I could do this to. Great tutorial!

    Reply

  46. This is amazing and your instructions are so helpful. I am attempting it, thank you for the inspiration.

    One question I have is how did you determine where to place the faux drawers on the actual drawers and doors? Was it flush with the sides of the actual drawers/doors?

    Reply

    1. Robin,
      The faux drawers are flush around the edges but I left a slight gap between each of the four faux drawers. If you zoom in on the finished cabinet you can see that they aren’t perfect. The most important aspect is to place the hardware evenly and I used the template to ensure their placement. If you have any other questions, please let me know. Merry Christmas!

      Reply

    2. @Rachel, I have another question. I am finding that dust and dirt in getting stuck in the wax even a week out from sealing it. Can I seal over the wax with something else like Poly? Any recommendations would be appreciated!

      Reply

      1. Robin,
        What type of wax did you use? You should be able to buff the wax to a hard shine. It shouldn’t be sticky. If the wax is sticky, and you can’t get it to buff out I’d paint over it with another coat of chalk paint and then seal with polyurethane. If you seal the wax, it may peel off. But first, get a course cloth and really try to buff the original wax. It may take some elbow grease to get it smooth but will be less trouble than repainting.

        Reply

    3. @Rachel

      Hi Rachel,

      I have another question for you. When I go to put the doors with the faux doors on them I’m unable to open the real doors fully because they hit the side. What am I doing wrong?

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

      1. Robin,
        I’m not sure. My doors are not flush with the cabinet; they stick out slightly. The doors in my IKEA cabinet slide in and are not attached to the cube itself. I can slide them in and out to adjust their position. I can’t tell from the photo if your doors are attached similarly. If the doors opened properly without the wood attached to the front, you may need to move the accent wood over, away from the edge, to allow more space.
        I’m sorry you are having issues. I hope this helps.

        Reply

    4. @Rachel,

      This makes sense. Do you recall if you put the sliding inserts at the depth ikea recommended or further forward?

      Thanks, Rachel

      Reply

      1. Robin,
        They are slightly forward. The added drawer fronts extend beyond the edges of the cubes. I hope this helps. Have a wonderful week.

        Reply

  47. This looks amazing! I recently had my kitchen cabinets painted have been trying to figure out what to add to an empty wall and I think this is exactly what I need to do. I am definitely going to try this with an old cube shelving unit I have. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

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