This project was built and designed by Clinton from Specific Love Creations. It’s a backyard-friendly dartboard cabinet made from cedar fence boards, offering a perfect mix of fun and rustic design for outdoor entertainment.
Clinton walks through how to build the cabinet using simple materials, minimal tools, and an eye for detail. The result is a charming, functional game cabinet that also adds character to your space.
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Why Cedar Fence Boards?
Cedar is naturally resistant to rot and decay, making it a solid choice for outdoor projects like this. It also provides a rustic, weathered look right out of the gate—no staining or distressing needed to get that aged appearance.
Using cedar fence boards instead of standard dimensional lumber also makes the project more affordable. These boards are often sold in bundles at home improvement stores, cutting down costs without sacrificing quality.
Drying and Prepping the Wood
Once the cedar boards are sourced, it’s important to let them dry thoroughly before beginning the build. Fence boards can absorb moisture during transport and storage, so laying them out in a warm area helps prevent warping later.
After drying, Clinton removes any leftover fasteners like staples, which are common in fence boards. With the wood cleaned up, several boards are clamped together and trimmed using a miter saw to create consistent lengths for the cabinet body and doors.
Cutting and Assembling the Frame
After squaring up the boards, Clinton assembles the frame using wood glue and a brad nailer. The glue provides a strong bond, while the nails hold everything in place as it sets.
He uses clamps to keep things tight and square during the drying phase. The back panel is assembled separately by gluing cedar boards edge-to-edge and using bar clamps for added pressure.
Since the cabinet is going into a rustic setting, perfection isn’t required. In fact, the slight inconsistencies in the boards enhance the aged, handmade charm of the final piece.
Building the Barn Doors
Each cabinet door is built from trimmed cedar boards arranged in a simple panel layout. For extra functionality, Clinton adds internal strips of wood to each door, which will act as dart holders.
These internal strips are drilled with evenly spaced holes using a drill press. The holes are large enough to hold standard darts while keeping them organized and easily accessible.
To make the cabinet more useful, Clinton incorporates dry-erase boards into each door for keeping score. They’re attached with glue and small nails, and measured carefully to keep them aligned and clean-looking.
Hardware and Installation Tips
Rustic black hinges are chosen to match the style of the cabinet. Clinton recommends pre-drilling pilot holes to prevent the thin cedar from splitting when installing screws.
For door handles, simple hardware is used that fits comfortably in the hand. Magnets are added behind the doors to keep them shut when not in use—a small detail that makes a big difference in everyday use.
Before mounting, Clinton trims down the screws provided with the hardware to prevent them from poking through the thin wood. It’s a small step, but it helps preserve the clean appearance and functionality of the doors.
Mounting the Cabinet with a French Cleat
One of the smartest features of this project is the use of a French cleat system for mounting. This makes it easy to hang the cabinet on a wall securely, while also allowing it to be removed if needed—for example, during bad weather or winter months.
The cleat is made by ripping a board at a 45-degree angle. One half is mounted to the back of the cabinet, while the other is fixed to the wall. Once they’re joined, the cabinet hangs flush and remains firmly in place.
Clinton marks out the proper height and spacing for the cleat system, ensuring the cabinet hangs level and centered. Once mounted, the dartboard itself is attached inside the frame using a standard mounting bracket.
A Fun and Functional Backyard Project
The finished cabinet isn’t just a place to play darts—it’s a full-featured game station that adds visual interest to your outdoor space. The barn-style doors, scoring boards, and built-in storage give it a polished look and real functionality.
It’s a great example of how low-cost materials can be turned into something special with a bit of time and planning. The use of common tools and easy joinery methods also makes this a great project for newer woodworkers.
Watch the full video and subscribe to Clinton’s channel: