DIY Paint Stick Chevron Cabinet Panels: Transform Your Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen Chronicles V: Paint Stick Panels 

DIY Chevron Cabinet Door Panels Made from Paint Sticks (That Have Held Up for Nearly Two Years)

We replaced the flat panels in our 1980s cabinet doors with chevron-style panels made from wood paint sticks. Nearly two years later, our test panels are still holding up beautifully. This project works best for cabinet doors with removable panels and is about texture and character — not factory perfection.

Ready for Another Kitchen Chronicle?

Ready for another fun‑filled Kitchen Chronicle post? I’m pretty excited to finally share our cabinets — and before you run off thinking haven’t I already seen those? let me tell you, I’ve been holding back a little secret.

You may remember our cabinets looking like most kitchens. What you probably don’t remember are the panels — and that’s because we swapped them out for something that felt a whole lot more us.

If you’re wondering whether you can use paint sticks to create cabinet door panels — yes, you absolutely can. We replaced the center panels in our recycled cabinet doors with chevron-style panels made from wood paint sticks, and almost two years later, they’re still going strong.

Why We Changed the Cabinet Panels (Not the Cabinets)

I’ve said this before, but just because you use recycled cabinets doesn’t mean you can’t add a little pizzazz. I’m completely over the moon with how this turned out — and apparently we accidentally landed in what’s “on trend” for 2026. You know me though. I never chase trends. I just do what we like around here.

Quick FYI: they say painted cabinets are out and stained cabinets are in this year. Before you think I’m telling you what to do — I’m not. I’m just sharing what worked best for us and laughing since we are apparently "in". Stain made sense for our cabinets, our lifestyle, and my patience level. I never tell anyone what they should do. I just share ideas that might spark ideas for your own home.

Now let’s get into the gravy of this post — the panels.

This is what our cabinets looked like for 12 long years in the kitchen

Why I Don’t Chase Trends (Especially in Kitchens)

If you’ve read my New Year’s post, you know I don’t spend much time on social media. One reason is simple: I don’t like outside influence steering my creativity. The other reason runs a little deeper.

Back when I worked in offices — a rehab agency and later the electric company — I watched coworkers scroll through social media, oohing and aahing over picture‑perfect homes. The next thing I’d hear was, My house will never look like that. Or worse, watching people take out loans just to keep up with trends.

That logic never sat right with me. Homes take time. Unless you buy a house and immediately renovate everything, none of us are living in our “finished” homes. And to me, that’s okay.

We still had carpet in our kitchen when this project started. Still do, actually. We’re getting there. And yes, I’ve had comments over the years from friends — whether intentional or not — about our home. I never cared. Not one iota. I always knew we’d get where we were meant to be - eventually.

Growing Up with Projects Always in Progress

I think about my parents’ home a lot. I grew up with projects always happening. My dad had years of hands‑on experience, and my mom — well, she amazes me. She gets her logic from her father, a man with patents, an engineering background, and a brain wired for problem solving.

Watching the two of them taught me something early on: if you try, you can figure things out. That mindset carried right into this kitchen remodel.

My husband and I have learned through this process that we’re capable of so much more than we ever thought — which brings me to how these paint stick panels and our kitchen remodel came to be.

How This Idea Found Us (Thank You, Sister)

My sister loves sending me things she finds on Instagram and Facebook. I don’t even pay attention to where they come from anymore — I just watch whatever she sends. Sometimes we laugh. Sometimes it sparks a serious thought.

Knowing we had the itch to work on the kitchen, she sent me a video of a woman making cabinet panels out of paint sticks. Yes — paint sticks. When she finished, I thought, Wow… what would that look like in our kitchen?

If you’re familiar with reels, you know how quickly content disappears. When I went back to share it with my husband, the link was gone. I was equal parts shocked and disappointed.

Of course, I did what I always do — I researched. I finally tracked the video down and showed my husband. His response? “Cool. We can try that.” And just like that, this project was born.

I reached out to Astin, the creator behind the original idea, and she couldn’t have been nicer. I highly recommend following her and checking out her blog, Your Life Is What You Make It. She’s turning her builder‑grade home into the home of her dreams with serious confidence.

Before Paint Sticks: Our Cardboard & Drop Cloth Experiments

Here’s where my experimenter side comes out.

When we first found this idea, the kitchen remodel wasn’t even on our radar. I thought swapping out the panels might buy us a few happy years before a full remodel.

I grabbed a piece of luan from the basement — too thick. Impatient as ever, I said, Let’s try cardboard, something plentiful here. If it didn’t work, we wouldn’t be out much money.

That cardboard? Still in our kitchen under the sink.

I also experimented with drop cloth as a backing after watching a home documentary where canvas was used under wood floors in an 1880's home. Creative spark ignited — but in practice, it didn’t work. The fabric drooped and wouldn’t hold its shape while applying the paint sticks making them appear "off".

What I learned: cardboard worked beautifully. Drop cloth did not. Eventually we used luan for the rest of the cabinets, but we left those original cardboard panels as a reminder: try things. You never know what will surprise you.

How We Made Chevron Cabinet Panels from Paint Sticks

This method works best for cabinet doors with removable center panels where you want texture and character — not factory perfection.

Materials (and Why We Chose Them)

• Wood paint sticks (21" and 12") – The variation in length helped us work on different sized cabinet panels.

• Wood glue (Titebond III) – This dries strong and handles humidity, which matters in a kitchen.

• Triangle carpenter square – This was key for keeping the chevron angle consistent. Freehanding works… until it doesn’t.

• Clamps – Skipping clamps early on led to curling. Don’t skip them.

• Backing material (cardboard, luan, or similar) – Cardboard worked surprisingly well for testing. Luan is sturdier and provides a more finished look.

• Masking tape – Helpful for preventing splintering when cutting paint sticks.

• Dremel with cutting wheel or oscillating tool – For trimming paint sticks once the panel was completed.

• Sponge brush – Gave us better control when staining between grooves and keeps mess to a minimum.

• Stain (Old Masters Early American) – Chosen because it enhanced texture and matches the rest of our kitchen.

• Paper towels – For immediate wipe-back of glue and stain

• Sander – Essential. Glue residue will not allow stain to adhere to panels if they are not properly sanded.

• Damp microfiber towel – Removes sanding dust without soaking the wood.

• Wax (Minwax Paste Finishing Wax) – Adds protection without creating a plastic finish.

• Panel tabs – Allows the panel to float inside the frame instead of being locked tight.

Step-by-Step Instructions (With Lessons Learned)

1. Remove the original panel carefully. We saved ours in case a future owner ever wants to revert. This is our forever home, so we do not care about resale value. 

2. Trace the panel onto your backing material and cut it out. When testing with cardboard, we used a sharp exacto knife. Luan required proper cutting tools.

3. Find and mark the exact center of the panel. Skipping this step will cause uneven chevrons that are impossible to correct later.

4. Set your angle before gluing anything. At first, we eyeballed it (test panels). Later, we clamped a triangle carpenter square at a 45-degree angle so every paint stick stayed consistent.

5. Apply wood glue in sections, not all at once. Working in small areas gave us time to adjust placement before the glue grabbed.

6. Place paint sticks firmly into the glue and wipe excess immediately. Leaving glue to sand later sounds fine — you will need to sand more vigorously if you choose this method though.

7. Continue the chevron pattern across the panel. This is where patience matters. Rushing can cause issues when it comes to the finished look.

8. Clamp the finished panel while drying. When we skipped this step, panels curled overnight. Clamping the old panel on top solved that issue.

9. Allow a full 24 hours for glue to dry. Less time doesn't allow for a fully dried panel which could cause issues later.

10. Cut panels to size. Using a Dremel tool or oscillating tool, cut the paint sticks to the shape of the panel, save discarded pieces for later fill in on other panels. If you place masking tape over the panel where it is to be cut, it will prevent splintering of the wood.

11. Sand thoroughly to remove glue residue. This step determines how professional the final finish looks.

12. Wipe with a damp microfiber towel and allow to dry completely. Dust left behind will show through stain if not removed.

13. Apply stain evenly and let dry for 24 hours. I learned the hard way that rushing this leads to a sticky finish when applying wax.

14. Apply wax for protection. This seals the panel and provides a wood look than the finish we previously had - almost plastic looking.

15. Reinstall the panel using tabs so it can move naturally. Tight panels crack. Floating panels last.

16. Rehang the cabinet door and step back. This is where it finally feels worth it.

I initially purchased paint sticks from Lowes, but they had to be ordered, so I purchased online after the initial panel was made

Placing old cabinet panel over cardboard matching up ends

Tracing cabinet door panel onto cardboard 

Cutting cardboard for test kitchen cabinet door panel

It doesn't look centered in this photo, but I promise it is

On the first panel, we lined up the triangle to the side to be sure each stick's end landed on the center line

Seeing a little progress creating a paint stick cabinet panel

Before we would place a paint stick down, we would make sure the side also had glue on it

Kind of resembles a bird, doesn't it?

You see our furry supervisor's tail sticking out, he has to be included in all home improvement projects

Masking tape helps in keeping the wood from splintering when you begin making cuts

Trace out the entire panel with masking tape for clean cuts

Here my husband uses a Dremel tool with a wood cutting wheel to cut the paint sticks

This is the panel from our spice cabinet door 

You can see, he made an improvement to an oscillating tool with a semi-circle blade 

Do you see why I never throw anything away, you can use your pieces and scraps for small panels

The spice cabinet paint sticks are in place, we have placed the masking tape over it once again

Seems like a lot of work for one small panel, we decided to have the paint sticks go in the same direction 

Do you see how much the wood grain comes through in the refinished frames, and the paint sticks also have wood grain, love the texture

When we had more experience, we used luan and used the unfinished side to glue the sticks to 

Clamping the triangle and first paint stick on opposite side keep the paint sticks from moving

Don't you love that original plastic panel? I pulled it right away, you've never seen it in our pics

I did not initially wax our panels, but once we refinished the cabinets, I also waxed the panels for longevity 

Tips From Experience (Read These)

• Skip the drop cloth — cardboard works better if luan is not in the budget.

• Respect dry times. Glue and stain both need a full 24 hours.

• If panel feels sticky when buffing wax, the stain wasn’t dry enough. Ask me how I know.

• We used 12" and 21" paint sticks, my husband used his mad math skills to get by on 25 sticks on the larger cabinet doors. There was 0 waste on that cabinet panel, but your measuring skills need to be on point. Something that is not a strong suit for me.  

• This is use‑what‑you‑have DIY — imperfections are part of the charm.

Don't Forget to Pin for Later!

Here is what our sink cabinets looked like before we refinished them, I did begin removing the stain here

I tested paint colors like this in our kitchen, it really gives you perspective to see it in your space

This was the whole reason why I tried to paint our cabinets, I really did love this look

Sink cabinet in kitchen with painted frame and chevron panel insert

Nearly Two Years Later

Nearly two years later, every cabinet door is finished — but it’s important to clarify what that timeline really looks like. The two cabinet doors under our sink were made almost two years ago as an early test. They’ve lived in one of the most demanding spots in the kitchen — moisture, daily use, and all — and they’ve held up beautifully. That early experiment is what gave us the confidence to use paint stick panels throughout the rest of the kitchen during our remodel.

We still have two door panels to complete - the kitchen is getting there, don't ya think?

Who knew paint sticks could look so good? 

This kitchen wasn’t planned — my husband simply said, Let’s do this. After seeing two contractor quotes, we decided to DIY and save.

This project also taught me one hard truth: I don’t trust oscillating tools. One slip was enough for me — I’ll happily use a miter saw before touching that thing again.

I love the way our kitchen cabinets have turned out!

Quick Answers Before You Try This

• Will paint stick panels hold up in a kitchen?

Yes. Our earliest test panels have been under the sink for nearly two years with no issues. Remember this was a damp space, where the dishwasher also put off heat, garbage disposal ran, and well, daily use. 

• Do I need special tools?
  You’ll need a way to cut both the backing material and the paint sticks. We used a Dremel with a wood cutting wheel and later an oscillating tool, but any tool you’re comfortable with that can make controlled cuts will work. Clamps and a carpenter’s triangle mattered more than fancy equipment.

• Can I use something other than luan?
  Yes. Cardboard worked surprisingly well for testing, though luan gives a more finished feel.

• Is this a fast project?
  No — but working slowly and respecting dry times you will have one beautiful cabinet.

Would You Try This?

Would you attempt paint stick cabinet panels? If you do, I’d love to hear about it. And be sure to check out Astin and her incredible projects — she has serious moxie and fearlessness that I admire.

Sometimes the best ideas come from experimenting, trusting yourself, and being willing to try something that sounds just a little bit ridiculous.

I cannot wait to share our next installment of our kitchen remodel. Detail work, setting the sink cabinet, countertops, and running water? Oh gosh, keep your fingers crossed all goes well! 

 

If you have missed any of our Kitchen Chronicles, check out the posts below: 

Kitchen Chronicles I

Kitchen Chronicles II

Kitchen Chronicles III

Kitchen Chronicles IV

How to Refinish a Vintage Buffet

Ciao,

Cara