{"id":747,"date":"2020-11-11T17:55:34","date_gmt":"2020-11-11T22:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/?p=747"},"modified":"2024-02-26T15:09:15","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T20:09:15","slug":"how-to-finish-your-kitchen-island-back-panel-in-3-easy-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diywithchristine.com\/how-to-finish-your-kitchen-island-back-panel-in-3-easy-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Finish The Back Panel of A Kitchen Island In 3 Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How To Add Custom Trim To Upgrade Your Kitchen Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you installing a new kitchen island and trying to decide how to finish the back of your kitchen island? (Yes, I’m talking about covering that hideous seam between the two back panels! Who thought making such chintzy\/cheap standard kitchen island back panels was a good idea?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then this tutorial is for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While we were renovating our house, we came across a problem when installing our new kitchen island. We bought standard paneling to cover the back of the cabinets that were exposed. We thought this would be a simple DIY project that wouldn\u2019t take more than an hour to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ha! In the world of DIY and home improvement, nothing is ever simple or ever goes your way the first time. I know this, and yet, I still get my hopes up haha!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, both back panels came slightly damaged (on the factory edges that were supposed to create the seam, just our luck!). Honestly, even if they hadn\u2019t been damaged on the edges, there was nothing that was going to hide the huge seam right in the middle!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, we thought quickly on our toes and came up with this super easy and super budget-friendly kitchen back panel idea that immediately solved our problem AND gave our kitchen island a complete upgrade!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d love to share with you what we did, so you can upgrade your kitchen island and make it look custom as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n

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I love how my island looks with barstools around it!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Navigation: How To Finish The Back Of Your Kitchen Island<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Measure each section that needs trim & cut (dry-fit as you go)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Stain\/paint the trim to match your cabinets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Install with brad nails<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Related Kitchen Island Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Level Of Difficulty<\/th>Time To Complete<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Easy<\/td>2 Days<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    Material List<\/th>Tool List<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Stain in your chosen color<\/a> (I used Ebony from Varathane on this project because it matched our cabinets. On other projects, I’ve used Dark Walnut)<\/td>Miter saw<\/a> or circular saw<\/td><\/tr>
    Polyurethane in your chosen sheen<\/a> (I used satin)<\/td>Pneumatic nail gun<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
    3 pieces of \u00bc\u201d thick trim in preferred width and wood type (I used 3\u201d pine trim ripped in half so each piece was a little under 1-\u00bd\u201d wide)<\/td>Air compressor<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
    1 piece of \u00bc\u201d thick corner trim in matching width and wood type (I used 1-1\/16\u201d x 1-1\/16\u201d pine corner trim)<\/td>Tape Measure<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
    1\u201d brad nails<\/td>Mechanical Sander<\/a> (optional)<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>Table saw (optional)<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>Paint tray<\/td><\/tr>
    <\/td>Two 2\u201d Foam Brushes<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Step One: Measure Each Section That Needs Trim & Cut (Dry-Fit As You Go)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The first step we took to finish the back of our kitchen island was to measure and cut each trim piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For our island, we knew the very obvious seam right down the middle of the back panel, the open corners where the back panel met the cabinets, and where the back panel met the floor needed to be covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition, to make it look symmetrical and natural, I also wanted it along the top (under the countertop) and on the sides of the cabinets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To accomplish this, we bought three 8 ft pieces of \u00bc\u201d x 3\u201d pine trim. We chose this because it was cheaper to rip the trim in half with our table saw, and the resulting size was very similar to the width of the corner trim and the lip on the cabinets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So we ripped all 3 pieces of wood in half with our table saw. If you don\u2019t have a table saw, then just buy the trim in the width you want it to be and save yourself a step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After the boards were ripped, we took measurements and started cutting. We measured and cut in a specific order.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \"how
    Look at that ugly seam! It’s standard to just let that show? No thanks, I can DIY my way around this just like you can!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Order We Measured and Cut<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Corners (using the corner trim – we covered all four corners: 2 on the backside of the cabinets and 2 baby ones on the front bottom of the cabinets)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Top of the back of cabinets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Bottom of the back of cabinets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. The seam in the middle back of cabinets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Top of the right side of cabinets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Bottom of the right side of cabinets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Top of the left side of cabinets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Bottom of the left side of cabinets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9. Small connecting pieces on the sides of cabinets that connect the bottom trim to the existing lip on the side<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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      \"how
      We started on the two back corners (the tallest corner pieces) then focused on the back panel with the seam in the center.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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      \"unfinished
      After we measured and cut the two corners, we cut the top and bottom trim pieces, followed by the centerpiece to hide the seam.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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      \"left
      We worked our way around the island and cut pieces where we thought needed it. We even cut little corner pieces for the front two corners to give it a finished look.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

      Be sure to cut and dry-fit the pieces as you go, so you know they\u2019ll fit correctly when you go to install. And most importantly, don\u2019t forget to label<\/strong> your pieces! It\u2019ll make installing them so much easier later on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Honestly, you could get super creative here and do any wood design you want! You could do a board and batten style look, or funky geometric shapes, or a simple trim like we did. Decide on your design and go with it! Anything will look better than a seam sticking out or just a plain old builder-grade design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Related Kitchen Island Articles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n