How To Add Glass To Cabinet Doors With No Tools!

Updating cabinet doors doesn’t have to be time consuming or expensive. Heck, you don’t even need any tools to add glass to cabinet doors!

When I was painting our kitchen cabinets almost exact two years ago, I was planning on replacing two of the kitchen upper cabinets with glass inserts. But when I finally got down to that last step, I was so tired y’all.

I’d been working on the kitchen for over four months and I just didn’t have it in me to paint the interior of the cabinet, cut the doors, get a piece of glass and get it inserted.

But that project has never left my mind — for years. I finally looked at Chris last week and said, ‘That’s it…I am updating those kitchen cabinet doors!’ 

Last month marked three years that we have been in this home. And when I think back to what the kitchen looked like on move in day…it kinda blows my mind. 

We have already done so many improvements to this space. But I just knew the glass cabinets would be a big improvement. Here’s a picture from our summer home tour that shows what the upper kitchen cabinets looked like before this new little update…

And now with the new glass doors. So much better, right?!

I just love the new look and I’m so glad I finally moved this project to the top of the diy-list. I feel like the glass cabinet doors instantly gave the new kitchen a more classy look. And who could be sad about that?! 😉 

And one of the best parts about this kitchen update is that I didn’t even visit the hardware stores once! That’s right, no six trips to Home Depot to install these glass panels. So how did I do it?

For this simple change I actually hired out. Say what?! I know what you’re thinking but let me explain. 

To complete this project, I knew it would require me to buy a few tools, most importantly — a router.  Most routers cost around a $100. So it would cost me, at least, that amount.

But once I had the router, I would still need to learn how to use it for the first time. And of course, figure out how to cut the center panel of the kitchen cabinet doors without ruining the cabinet frame!

Another thing for me to consider about buying a router is–  would I ever use it again?

I wasn’t really sure.

So I started thinking. What if I could find a carpenter who would do this diy project for me? I phoned a local cabinet maker in our town and asked if they could help.

They said no BUT referred me to a local carpenter who might. I called him and long story short — I paid $55 for two cabinets doors to be cut perfectly! 

Once the doors were cut, my next issue was getting the glass inserts. I first went to Lowes’s because I knew they can cut glass and it wouldn’t cost much at all.

But once there, I learned this was the wrong type of glass and much too thin for glass kitchen cabinets. So that was a no go.

I remembered a local glass shop that I drive by almost everyday. So I stopped in there and discovered they could do both cabinet glass doors for $32.50. And I discovered a bonus!

They not only made the custom glass fronts, but also glued it in as part of their services. Fantastic!

This means one less thing for me to do and no glass clips. I think using a clear silicone would be a good idea. This will make the glass kitchen doors feel solid and secure.

So the grand total for our two new glass-front cabinet doors was $87.50. Not too bad, right? And the impact it made on the kitchen was priceless.

That may be a tad over kill but to me, it was totally worth it and a great choice. Because now I don’t have the project haunting my mind anymore!

Instead I get to walk into my kitchen and open my new glass kitchen cabinet doors and think… ‘Yep…such a great way to update our kitchen design!’

Do you have glass inserts in your kitchen cabinet doors? Love or hate ’em?

I have already talked to Chris about putting some glass inserts in another set of our kitchen cabinet doors. Just one more set…I’m not going crazy with the glass here. Trust me,  I have some stuff behind those doors that no one wants to look at everyday….including me. 😉

Want to know how I painted these kitchen cabinet doors? Click here or the image below for my complete tutorial — including tips, tricks and supplies needed!