How to Build Lightweight DIY Van Cabinet Doors for Your Tiny Kitchen

How I Built Pretty Cabinet Doors for My Tiny Van Kitchen | VAN CONVERSION EP 3

In today’s van build episode, I tackled a satisfying little project: custom cabinet doors for the lower half of my camper kitchen. This was all about blending function with aesthetics — creating lightweight cupboard doors that still match the cosy, cottagecore vibe of the rest of my tiny home on wheels.

If you’re mid-conversion and looking for space-saving, good-looking storage ideas — this one’s for you.

🎥 Watch the full video on YouTube

How I Built My DIY Van Cabinet Doors

The Setup

After getting my van back (finally!), I knew one of the next finishing touches had to be the cabinet doors. I’m going for an earthy, warm tone throughout the space, so the doors needed to tie everything together without adding bulk or weight.

Choosing the Right Materials

I’m using tongue and groove cladding for all my lower kitchen cupboard doors. Why?

• Lightweight = better fuel economy and easier on the hinges
• Easy to cut with a basic table and circular saw
• Feels sturdy when glued together with quality wood glue

These doors are made entirely from the cladding. Just the wood itself, glued and brad-nailed into place. Surprisingly strong for something so lightweight!

How I Built the Doors

1. Cut the cladding to size for each door (I needed 21 in total!)
2. Sand and stain them with your chosen stain, see my last post for more details on stains
3. Glue the layers of cladding together to create each door, leave to dry under a heavy object for 4-8 hours
4. Add handles to the side opposite where you plan to put the hinges

🎥 Want to see the build in action? Watch the full step-by-step process on YouTube

Final Thoughts

Making cabinet doors might seem like a daunting step in your van build, but once you break it down, it’s surprisingly fun. Plus, being able to customise your storage is what makes a van truly your own. And if you’re using your van full-time like me, that kind of functionality matters more than perfection.

👉 Want to see how the rest of my van build unfolds? Don’t miss next week’s video.

🎥 Subscribe to my YouTube channel for the full van conversion series.

👉 Or browse all my Van Conversion Blogs for more tips!

Keywords: diy van cabinet doors, van kitchen storage, vanlife cupboard ideas, how to build campervan cabinets, tiny home van kitchen