Fitting cane webbing to cupboard doors is one of those quick DIY projects that can transform the finished look of a space.
As well as boosting the aesthetics of a room, its perforated design means it can also offer a practical solution if the contents of your cupboard require a small, but steady flow of air.
To find out how to fit it in your home, I'm sharing a step-by-step guide from my own project, along with advice from a joiner and interior designer to help ensure your DIY goes goes to plan.
Types, tools and cupboard doors
Cane webbing is a mesh material that’s popularly used in cabinetry and chair-making. It is sold by the sheet and delivered as a roll.
Traditionally produced from natural rattan, cane webbing was introduced to Europe from South-East Asia in the 17th century, leading to its adoption by Western furniture-makers and cabinet-makers. It is still produced and made in Vietnam, Indonesia, and other countries with the right specialist craftspeople and a tropical climate.
However, before starting your project, it's important to understand what type of cane webbing you will use, and which type of cupboard doors are most suitable to use it on.
A natural rattan webbing, such as this Cane Webbing sold by DecorbyTony on Etsy, will typically give the best look and feel. However, these products are often expensive, so if your budget is tight, you might prefer to choose a synthetic cane webbing like this ALLINKIT 16 inch X 6.6ft Cane Webbing from Amazon instead.
Door front styles that work best
Cane webbing can be installed in cupboard or kitchen cabinet doors of various designs, including (but not limited to):
- Doors with a rectangular cut-out – the webbing fills the cut-out, as shown in my cupboard doors below. This is the type of installation we’ve focused on in this guide.
- Doors with a shaker-style recessed panel – the webbing could be installed over the solid panel.
Tools for installing cane webbing
The good news is, installing cane webbing in cupboard doors requires only a minimal selection of tools and materials.
This affordable, mains-powered staple gun was perfect for attaching cane webbing to my cupboard doors
This pack of staples in various sizes will help you find the right size for the depth of your cupboard door
A very good pair of shears will make it easier to neatly cut your cane webbing. I used these hand-crafted tailor shears from traditional Sheffield scissors-maker, Ernest Wright.
How to fit cane webbing to a cupboard door
1. Cut the cane webbing to size
The most important consideration is to get the right type and amount of cane webbing. Carefully measure the spaces in your cupboard door(s). You should buy enough to fill the spaces, with around 5cm excess material in each dimension so that you’ll be able to secure the webbing in place.
Once it arrives, you will need to cut your cane webbing down to size, as it is usually supplied in sheets with standard dimensions.
“Natural square cane webbing is supplied in rolls, and it should be cut oversized ready for fitting,” confirms Oliver Bryan, director of Foxstow Kitchens & Cabinetry.
Allowing some excess on each side, cut a piece of webbing to fit each space that needs covering in your cupboard doors. Make sure that the rectangles you cut are aligned correctly with the pattern of the webbing.
Use a good pair of scissors or shears, and double-check your measurements before you start cutting.
2. Soak the cane webbing
Cane webbing also needs to be soaked before installation. This makes it more flexible and less likely to break, and it will cause the material to shrink tight after installation.
“Before installation, we soak the webbing in lukewarm water for approximately 20 to 25 minutes,” says Oliver Bryan. “We typically roll it up and submerge it in a bucket or sink until it becomes pliable, and easier to work with.”
3. Attach the webbing
If possible, remove your cupboard door and lay it out across a couple of joiner’s benches (or on another worksurface). It should have the rear side facing up. Make sure that the cupboard doors are also painted and finished to your liking, before you start.
Lay the webbing out over the space it will cover. “Align it to ensure the weave pattern runs straight,” says Oliver Bryan, “and make sure the cane is secured while it is still damp, so that it can dry out and tighten afterwards.”
Once you’re happy with the placement of the webbing, use a staple gun to fix it to the door, installing plenty of staples on each side – about one staple every few inches. I found that the finish was neatest when I stapled one of the shorter sides first, then both longer sides, and finally the remaining shorter side.
4. Finishing touches
For a really secure installation and a neat finish, you might choose to glue thin strips of wood beading, such as this Wickes Pine Parting Bead Moulding to the back of the door and around the edge of each opening, providing an extra place to secure the webbing with staples. This isn’t essential, and I didn’t need to do it as my cupboard doors were custom-made with a recessed lip where the webbing could be attached.
Neatly trim off the excess cane webbing around the edges of each door opening or panel, taking care not to nick the webbing or door. I used scissors, though you might achieve a neater finish using a very sharp craft knife.
Leave the cane webbing to dry fully and tighten up before reinstalling the doors in your cupboard. This may take around 4 to 8 hours.
Foxstow Kitchens & Cabinetry is a premium cabinetry, joinery and door-making company, based in Oxfordshire. Founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team, Oliver and Maco Bryan, the firm is now reputed as a leading maker of rattan shaker doors.
Pros and cons of cane webbing
There are two sides to the appeal of installing cane webbing in cupboard doors: aesthetic and functional. Many home renovators and interior designers choose this feature for its light, organic and textured look, which can break up the flat expanse of a door panel.
Cane webbing can also be practical. If installed without a solid backing (so it covers a cut-out), it allows slight visibility of stored items, which may be useful in cupboards where occasional or seasonal items are kept, for instance.
“It also has an effect on airflow and natural ventilation, for example in media units where electronics get warm, wardrobes, laundry cupboards or pantries,” says Samantha-Jane Agbontaen, interior designer and founder of House Designer. Plus, webbing is easier than solid wood for signals from WiFi devices (like internet routers) to pass through.
If you have an antique cupboard or cabinet where the glazing is missing or needs to be replaced, cane webbing is a glass alternative that could also transform the look of the piece.
“It also softens cabinetry,” continues Samantha-Jane. “A run of solid doors can feel heavy and flat, but cane breaks it up with texture, without adding pattern or colour.
“We have designed bespoke joinery and wardrobes with cane webbing added to the design for a mid century modern space,” she adds. “Think Thonet, 1950s and 60s cabinetry. It adds texture and layers to the materials and the look.”
“At Foxstow, we use natural square cane webbing on our shaker and slimline shaker door ranges,” adds Oliver Bryan. “It fits perfectly with the growing interest in mid-century inspired interiors," he agrees, "as well as the wider trend towards bringing natural textures and materials into the home.”
The downsides of cane webbing
The most immediate downside to using cane webbing as a cupboard door panel is the cost of the material. A roll of natural cane webbing can cost anywhere from around £10 to over £70 per square metre – so the materials cost to add cane webbing to a large cupboard can run to several hundred pounds.
A longer-term disadvantage could be the effort required to clean cane webbing. “Some webbing is so fine that dust settles in the weave, so it needs a brush rather than a wipe,” says Samnatha Jane Agbontaen. It's also a case of you get what you pay for she explains, telling us that, “if the quality isn’t great it can sag and fray.”
Samantha-Jane Agbontaen is an interior designer and the founder of House Designer, a UK online home design studio covering interior, garden and exterior design. With 16 years in the industry, she has built House Designer into a studio that makes considered, professional design, bespoke interiors, joinery and full home projects accessible to homeowners who wouldn't typically work with a designer.
FAQs
Can I fit cane webbing if I don't have much DIY experience?
As we’ve seen, it’s certainly possible for you to install cane webbing in your own cupboard door as a DIYer.
However, a professional joiner or furniture-maker will usually achieve a finer finish than the average amateur. “While there are plenty of tutorials available online, achieving a professional result definitely requires a craftsman’s eye,” says Oliver Bryan.
“The weave pattern needs to run straight, tension needs to be consistent across the panel, and every door needs to match the next. Small inaccuracies that might go unnoticed on a single door can become very obvious when several doors are installed together. As with many traditional materials, it’s the attention to detail that makes all the difference.”
Doors and entrances can make a dramatic difference to the finish and feel of a home. If you’re feeling inspired after installing cane webbing in your cupboard doors, explore how to create a hidden utility room entrance, the best front door ideas for a combination of style and security, and how to choose bifold doors vs sliding doors for patio access.
