DIY Filing Cabinet Makeover

December 03, 2011



Remember when getting mail used to be fun? Now the only mail I get are bills or statements and I need somewhere to put them. I've been using an arrangement of cardboard filing boxes, but I think it's about time for an upgrade. But what am I supposed to with this? This does not go with my decor. 



I found this awesome DIY on Design Sponge for how to makeover a filing cabinet, and wanted to give it a try. I went to Binders and picked out a patterned paper that is right up my alley. I love mixing white and gold together and I thought this print was fun but still classic and elegant. The neutral of the cabinet will make it easy to coordinate with my office decor.

Materials
Filing Cabinet 
Screwdriver
High Gloss Latex Paint
Brush (I used a rolling and foam brush)
Patterned paper or wallpaper
Mod Podge (I used Modge Podge Gloss All-in-One Decoupage Sealer / Glue / Finish)
Exacto Knife
Spray Paint or new hardware
Paint Tray


Here's where you start - with your standard gray filing cabinet. I mean seriously could 
you make this things any less appealing?  Pour some of the paint into your paint tray so the bottom is covered. Use your rolling brush, and start painting the gray cabinet. Follow the paint instructions to allow it to fully dry before applying a second coat. Since my cabinet was so dark and I painted it white, it took me about 6 or 7 coats. Also, make sure to paint the front of the drawers if your cabinet is dark, and your paper is light so the color does not show through.






Use a foam brush to evenly spread the Mod Podge to the front of the drawers, and carefully lay your paper on top. Use a plastic edge to smooth out the air bubbles and allow drying. Once dry, use the exacto knife to remove the excess paper. Apply a layer of Mod Podge on top of the paper and allow to dry. Air bubbles will reappear during this step, but you do not need to try and smooth them out. Once it dries they will disappear. Spray a layer of polycrylic over the entire cabinet to seal and protect. If using new handles, use your screwdriver to apply them.

If you are redoing the original handles, spray paint them with the desired color and allow to dry. This may take a few coats as well if original file cabinet color is dark. 

Doesn't this look so much better?

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