As I made preparations to downsize to a smaller place a little over a year ago,  I assessed every piece of furniture that I owned for its functional value. My entire objective in moving was to simplify and get rid of crap that I simply didn’t need. My old TV armoire easily made the cut list given I no longer possessed a television that would fit inside the cabinet.

While taking my measurements during home inspection at the new place, I realized that there was a large wall space near the kitchen for which I had no planned furniture. It occurred to me that the armoire I was planning to unload would be a perfect fit for the spot. And, I had a storage problem. I was a giving up both a walk-in pantry and a butler’s pantry for one small kitchen closet.

It was time to get creative.

I decided to take a closer look at the cabinet and realized that, with a little effort, I could make effective use out of that large open space designed to hold a television.

First, I removed the backing of the cabinet and the small built-in shelf for the cable box. I then attached a piece of 1/4-inch plywood sized to the “floor” of the space that extended the surface to the wall behind the cabinet. By removing the back and adding the plywood, I created roughly two inches of additional depth.

Next, I researched available drawer solutions to meet my measurement requirements. Ultimately, The Container Store had the perfect fit. Their Elfa racks installed perfectly side-by-side within the space. And, I could design a drawer configuration to meet my needs. I was also pleased to discover that their matching Mesh Easy Glider Drawers had options that fit perfectly behind the doors in the base of the cabinet as well.

Given the number of storage products now on the market, I am sure there are plenty of other creative solutions. Sites like Amazon and Wayfair offer an infinite variety of products that could also work.

I hope you are inspired to do something creative with your old armoire. I know that I am not alone in wondering what to do with one of these lovely old cabinets. A quick search on Craigslist showed more than 70 of them for sale in my area starting at $40. Many of them solid wood gorgeous pieces of furniture. Before you decide to scrap yours, consider re-configuring it!