I’m excited to be sharing my wood trimmed filing cabinet makeover today because it fixed a problem I think many of us face.
The practical vs pretty challenge.
I have a problem with being practical, especially when it’s not pretty. Take filing cabinets, for example. I needed one. They are useful, but metal filing cabinets aren’t necessarily pretty. The challenge I had was a stack of papers that continued to grow on my desk, and then they began multiplying 🙁
But …the cure wasn’t pretty.
It was a filing cabinet.
A few weeks ago I finished my filing cabinet makeover and I changed my mind. I found a great deal on beat up old metal filing cabinet at my favorite thrift store and hauled it home. I knew right away when I spotted it that it would be perfect for my idea.
Why have a plain file cabinet when a super-duper upcycled pretty filing cabinet with wood trim, colorful and stenciled is so much more fun?
DIY tutorial for filing cabinet makeover with wood trim
Start by clean any old dirt and grease off with TSP and dry. Tape off the hardware with painters tape and give it 2 coats of paint. I used DecoArt Chalky Finish in Vintage. It has good coverage and is durable.
I love these little white stencil circles, it’s a DecoArt border stencil. They were perfect for the filing cabinet makeover. See my tips for perfect stenciling in my Birdy Storage Cabinet Makeover project.
To make the wood top and base I cut the bottom and top boards to fit the length and width of the filing cabinet. Don’t assume the filing cabinet is square, measure all the sides, the front and back width were slightly different on mine.
The trim I used was a 1 1/2″ trim with a flat back. I cut it at 45 degree angles. Sorry, I don’t have a close-up picture of it, but it’s easy to pick out, the back has no grooves unlike most of the trim that you’ll find.
Stain the pieces first before attaching them to the filing cabinet.
The base of the metal filing cabinet isn’t solid across. To attach the wood base to the filing cabinet, I used 4 screws to hold the wood in place. It helped to drill pilot holes in both the metal and the wood first. I countersunk the holes in the wood so the screw heads would be recessed. last, I attached the trim with my Ryobi Airstrike Bradnailer.
Flip the upcycled metal filing cabinet project over.
To attach the wood top and trim, add some E6000 or liquid nails to the top of the metal filing cabinet and position the wood top. Next, using the nail gun, attach the trim to the board.
Fill in any gaps and the nail head divots with stainable wood filler and touch up with stain.
My upcycled metal filing cabinet and I are on good terms now.
Practical isn’t so bad as long as it’s pretty too;)
So maybe now I can keep my papers organized and my desk clear, what do you think?
Do you need more organization? You may like some of my other popular organization posts.
5 Creative Ways To Deal With Sentimental Clutter
Organize A Small Kitchen and Get More Space
You’ll find my project linked up to these fabulous parties!
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Yolanda says
How thick was the top and base board used? It might affect my DIY because I’m adding casters to mine.
Thank you.
🙂
Wendi says
Hi Yolanda, that’s a good question. I think I used 1/2″ plywood. You can easily use any size nut keep in mind if you’ll use nails or screws there needs to be enough wood for them to sink in. This project took a bit of dry-fitting since I made it up as I went along. Adding casters is a fabulous idea! Have fun with your project!
Linda at Mixed Kreations says
Oh how pretty! I love love what you did with it. The wood looks really nice on it too! I have and old two drawer file cabinet that it stored away somewhere. This make me want to drag it out and give it a makeover.
Wendi says
Hi Linda! You absolutely should pull your old file cabinet out and give it a makeover. It’s a win-win when a makeover helps keep us organized! Thanks so much for your visit 🙂
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
This is an awesome makeover! We have a metal cabinet just like this one and it’s so ugly in my pretty office. Thanks so much for the DIY inspiration!
{BIG hugs}
~ Ashley
Wendi says
Hi Ashley and thank you! 🙂 That was my problem too, I needed the functionality of the filing cabinet, just could stand how it looked. I hope you make a pretty one for your office too! Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂
Debrashoppeno5 says
What a fantastic idea, I love the idea of making a piece of office furniture so it blends in with the rest of the house.
Wendi says
Hi Debra & thank you! It was a good solution for finding a way to make a necessity like a filing cabinet fit & look OK in a small space. Thanks so much for your sweet note and visit:)
Lynn says
Wow! What a great upcycle! My son needs a filing cabinet and while I will probably make his a little more masculine, you have definitely inspired me.
Thanks, Lynn
Wendi says
Hi Lynn and tank you! You can do this and it’s such an easy and budget friendly way of making a boring necessity like a filing cabinet 😉 look great in a space! Enjoy your project and thanks o much for your visit!
Amy says
I love this makeover! I have a filing cabinet upstairs that I am now going to try to make pretty. 🙂 I’ve never painted on metal before, so thank you for the inspiration!
Wendi says
Hi Amy! Thanks so much. This was a fun project and it felt good to take something that I needed but was ugly and make it pretty! Have fun making your filing cabinet pretty too! Thanks so much for your visit!
lisa says
this looks very cute. i love the idea of the trim on top and bottom. do you have to seal the color with a clear coat or is the chalky finish enough?
Wendi says
Hi Lisa…that’s a good question. Chalky finish is self sealing, but I like to use a layer of DecoArt’s Ultra Mat Varnish then the piece becomes wipeable. This project was a super way to pretty up an old file cabinet. It’s one of those things I needed but didn’t want to put in my studio. Thanks so much for your visit!
Amy Pelzner says
Love this project! My son’s kindergarten teacher was asking me if I knew ways to spruce up her filing cabinet that looks just like the before picture. I will have to show her this and find some cute school stencils. Do you use a foam brush or bristle for panting?
Wendi says
Hi Amy, I used a stencil brush, it does a much better job of clean lines. School style stencils on a filing cabinet would be absolutely darling!I’d love to see a picture of how to spruce it up! Please share on on my H2OBungalow Facebook page. Thanks so much for your visit!
Angie @ ambient wares says
This is so cool! I’d love to do this to ours…after I remove years and years worth of stickers that are all over it! 😀
Wendi says
Hi Angie! You can totally do this! It sounds like all you need is a big bottle of sticker remover first LOL. I was surprised at how much better an ugly old file cabinet could look! Thanks so much for your visit today!
Angie @ Knick of Time says
I have a filing cabinet in my workshop that’s been waiting for a makeover for almost a year – yours looks amazing and inspires me!
Thanks for linking it up at Talk of the Town – It’s my feature pick this week!
Wendi says
Hi Angie and thank you so much! I’m honored and thrilled I inspired you to do something with your filing cabinet too. They should really build a better looking filing cabinet, the metal ones have zero appeal, don’t you agree? Thanks again!
Laura says
Thank you for sharing this at Thoughts of Home.
We love having you.
Wendi says
Thanks Laura, I enjoy sharing my projects:) Thanks so much for your visit!
Crystal says
I think it’s super cute! Very creative way to upcycle your cabinet! Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty hope to see you back!
Elina says
Simply wow! The filing cabinet doesn’t look boring and ugly anymore at all. I have ugly drawer of particle board with yellowish wooden-look finish. I need that drawer (or my kids do for their gloves and hats) and I need to do something like this for it.
Wendi says
Hi Elina & thank you! It was a dreadful old and heavy filing cabinet. For $12 I couldn’t pass it up and knew there was hidden potential in it! Using it for storagae is a good idea, I keep supplies in one of the drawers on mine:) Thanks so much for your visit and sweet comment!
Debi @ Surroundings by Debi says
I love this file cabinet makeover. I have been looking for ideas to add some spark to my file cabinets and I love your idea! I am pinning and I would love for you to share this at our Thursday Favorite Things Link Party. We go live tomorrow evening at 8 CST. I hope to see you there!
Wendi says
Hi Debi & thank you! It’s favorite makeover of mine for sure. Please share a photo of your makeover on my H2OBungalow Facebook page if you do this project! Thanks so much for your visit!
Sue says
Wow, love your idea. I wanted a wood filing cabinet to also use as a night stand in my guest/craft room. This is perfect because I find these metal ones all the time at thrift stores. Thanks for the inspiration!
Wendi says
Hi Sue and thank you! Thats a great idea to use a filing cabinet for a nightstand. Metal cabinets are so inexpensive too, I found this one for $12. So glad you liked my project and good luck on yours!
Jen @ Noting Grace says
This is super cute! I have a filing cabinet that this would look great on! Great job!
Wendi says
Thank you Jen! It makes a big difference in my tiny office/studio. Now the big challenge is using it and staying organized! Thanks so much for your visit!
Cassie @ Little Red Window says
What a huge difference, it looks so much better! Thanks for sharing with us at The DIY Collective Link Party! Hope you come back and join us again next thursday! xoxo, Cassie @ Little Red Window
Wendi says
Hi Cassie and thank you! That old cabinet was so sad in it’s original state. Love your party and thank you for hosting:)
Jenny @ Refresh Living says
What a great idea to add a wood top and wood trim to the bottom! It makes it look SO much nicer, like it was made that way. Pinning for sure!
Wendi says
Hi Jenny and thank you! I can’t get over the difference myself. The cabinet was so awful when I started:) Thanks so much for your visit & sharing my project!
Katrin says
What an awesome upcycle, it looks amazing! I love the stencils especially and the colour you chose is great!
Wendi says
Thank you so much Katrin. It’s always super when the project turns out as well as the vision in your head! This time it did! LOL Thanks so much for your visit and your swet comment:)
Kim~madeinaday says
What a fabulous makeover! The wood trim is an awesome idea! Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Sharing on G+! Have a great week!
Kim
Wendi says
Hi Kim and thank you! I’ve wanted to try this for the longest time. I was glad I finally had a chance to see if my idea would work!
Rebecca says
I feel like I face the pretty vs. practical challenge all the time. You did a beautiful job of turning something as practical as a filing cabinet into home decor. I love the wood top. It turns the whole piece into furniture.
Wendi says
Hi Rebecca, That’s a tough one, Like you I’m constantly battling pretty & practical. Every now and then I get both and it’s a wonderful thing, especially in a small space like we have! LOL Thanks so much for your visit!
Julie @ Logger's Wife says
I’ve seen some filing cabinet painting projects but none with that added a wooden top and trim. I really love this! (visiting from Inspire Me Mondays)
Wendi says
Thank you so much Julie! I tossed this idea around for the longest time and finally bit the bullet and made it! So glad I did, I’m loving it!
Marie, The Interior Frugalista says
Well you took that simple metal file cabinet up several notches girl! Love it…Pinning it.
Wendi says
Thank you Marie! I’m amazed at how much better it looks now too:) Thanks for sharing!
Patty says
I have two of these and had made up my mind to turn them into colorful planters, but now I may have to re-think this decision. You did an incredible job, that file cabinet turned out beautiful.
Wendi says
Thank so much Patty! You should try one of these file cabinet projects too. It was a win win for the pretty & the organized needs in my office:) Have a great weekend!
gail says
Wendi,
This is the BEST metall filing cabinet makeover I’ve ever seen! I just scored a huge one that must weigh 300 pounds.
I plan to paint it, and I think I’ll add the wood top for sure. LOVE this.
pinning.
gail
Wendi says
Thank you Gail! Geez, 300 pounds? That must be one huge filing cabinet! I can’t wait to see what kind of creative makeover you do. Adding a wood top took the plain metal cfiling cabinet to a whole new level of pretty. Can’t wait to see your makeover!
Tracy G says
Very nice up-cycle!! Pinned this immediately!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Wendi says
Tracy, I’m thrilled I inspired you! I hope you try one of these too. It’s a thrifty way to get a fabulous look for little cash. I appreciate your nice note & the share as well!
Serena @ Thrift Diving says
That is adorable, Wendi!! I love how unique and “yours” it is now!!
Wendi says
Thanks so much Serena! I’m thrilled with how well it turned out. I just couldn’t leave that plain metal filing cabinet alone and ugly, right?
TwoPlusCute says
What a great idea adding trim and a wooden top!
Very pretty outcome. 🙂
Wendi says
Thank you! I wasn’t sure how well it would work out. It made such a difference in my $12 filing cabinet…and I don’t mind having it in my office at all now!
[email protected] says
Wonderful makeover on the filing cabinet! I especially like the wood top. I’ve never seen wood added to the top, and I feel like it warms the space and cabinet. Bravo for drilling into the metal beast! Excellent makeover on the filing cabinet, very impressive!!
Wendi says
Thank you so much Sue! I’m glad my idea worked out, I hadn’t seen it done before and wanted to try it. You called it too, it was a beast, an ugly one!
Julia says
What a great project! I want one for my office at work. I shall begin my hunt for an ugly metal filing cabinet this weekend. RELEASE THE THRIFTING HOUNDS!!!!
Wendi says
Hi Julia! So glad you like my makeover and yes, it makes a huge difference in the office, both in storage and style 🙂 Plus, these are crazy cheap in the thrift stores… have fun shopping!
Jeanie @ create&babble says
You’re so smart! I’ve avoided these types of filing cabinets because of their less-than-appealing looks. I’ll imagine them painted, stenciled, and with wood on when I see them in the thrift stores now!
Wendi says
Me too Jeanie! I’ve been passing these up for ages. I was forced to be creative when I had to find a paper storage solution. It’s a win-win, I have more piles on my desk and a pretty filing cabinet as well!