A file cabinet allows you to arrange documents tidily and easily accessible. It also safeguards files from loss and environmental damage.
They are helpful to those struggling with storing many files and paperwork.
In this article, we will give you 21 DIY file cabinet plans based on the volumes of your paperwork and storage space.
Also, it includes ideas about refurbishing and repurposing your existing file cabinets.
Let’s find out to learn more!
Table of Contents
No worries if you have to handle many files in a cramped room. You can build a cabinet with a narrow width and extended height, then divide it into multiple drawers like this.
The cabinet features six drawers, with each one being about 8.5 inches wide and 36 inches high. This dimension fits most standard cardboard files and magazines.
All sides of drawers are sturdy stained scrap wood to ensure their durability and weatherproof over time.
Moreover, screw tackles and label the drawers with specific numbers to easily access and organize your documents.
This project is complicated and beyond a file cabinet – we call it furniture.
While there are four large drawers to keep your paperwork, four bookshelves are available above for books, souvenirs, etc. It is possible to use the top of the drawers as a desk.
You can skip this project and check the next DIY file cabinet if you are only a beginner woodworker.
Here’s highlight some points about this project:
This plan is not a newly-created DIY project but a makeover – to be exact.
Thus, the first step is to find an old metal filing cabinet and a wooden board around your house or buy one online.
Don’t worry! We don’t need to perform complex woodworking skills here. You just have to cut the wood board into the exact dimensions of the top surface of the metal cabinet.
Gluing the wood board on top helps consolidate the cabinet, and it doubles a tabletop to place a vase or a statue, for example.
You can also do the faux zinc treatment using black, metallic silver, and cheesecloth. The cabinet looks sturdy, like real metal stuff.
It comes with 2 big drawers and doesn’t take a large footprint. So you can put it in your bedroom if you have to work there.
Having a cabinet attached to the office desk is a good idea. But it’s a pain in the neck to squat for a long time, getting your head into the cabinet just to find a document.
It is when this sliding cabinet plan comes to the rescue!
You can complete this task with ready-to-buy things: two Lowe’s drawer slides, a piece of plywood, a drawer pull, and a 10-dollar file holder.
Just screw 2 drawer slides on 2 sides and rolling them out when you need to find something. All are accessible within your sweet spots.
Also, it’s advisable to install a drawer in the base so that you can easily pull it out.
The look of crate file cabinets does not impress us much. Nonetheless, the plan is worth introducing to those who want to keep the woodworking tasks as few as possible.
You can recycle your milk crates or just buy two of them. The cut-out construction of those crates will prevent moisture accumulation that can destroy your paper documents.
But some plastic outcroppings or bits of plastic need to be removed to ensure they won’t accidentally tear off the paper.
The big holes in the crates enable you to move it around, too. It’s a plus in case you want to change your workplace constantly.
Neat, precise, and beautiful are what we like about this file cabinet.
Walnut wood is used to build this filing cabinet, it’s great for hardness, color as well as grain.
In terms of construction, the cabinet has a rectangular frame outside and two smaller drawers inside.
There is also a small cutout on the front side so you can easily pull the drawer in and out. Moreover, you can apply to stain it with any color you want.
A quick way to refresh the look of your old cabinet is by using some funky wallpapers. You can choose papers having the same theme or be creative with random ones.
A small note to make the new paper coverage perfect is to polish and prime the old cabinet’s surface carefully in advance.
It is also up to you to cover the whole sides or just the fronts. If it is the latter choice, you can paint the uncovered parts with satin colors matching the paper.
This file cabinet is very easy, indeed. You will buy a ready-made cabinet from the thrift store or re-decorate your old one.
Maybe the best part of this touch-up is the caster, which will lift off a real burden regarding portability.
And this project also lets your creativity run wild to prepare your preferred paint colors to achieve a colorful design.
You can paint the stripes in random widths or based on the volumes of files and paperwork arranged inside the drawers. A helpful tip is to apply butcher paper where you do not want to paint.
Skip building the cabinet from the ground up if you already have one at home. This project is to change its boring wood paint into lovely scrapbook paper.
The basic steps include cleaning and preparing your cabinet and applying coverage primer and paint. If you choose the black chalk like in the plan, you do not need a primer.
Next, trim the paper to fit the drawers’ fronts and apply the mod podge technique. So instead of normal glue, you use the mod podge solution as a glue, sealer, and finish in one.
We suggest applying multiple podge coats under and above the scrapbook paper to seal and protect it from humidity and scratches.
Here’s a filing cabinet with detailed guidance and dimensions for you to easily follow. The depth would stay the same at 15 ¾ inches.
Nonetheless, the length and width of the cabinet can be flexible per your needs. We would suggest designing different sizes to take advantage of the space for different kinds of documents.
In the plan, there are two middle big drawers for electronic stuff and large folders, while other small ones are ideal for storing small notebooks, pens, rules, and other office supplies.
So far, so good. We suggest installing additional handles to make opening and closing the drawers more convenient.
It’s easy to make this filing construction. On the two sides, there are grinding slots where you can insert compartments and instantly turn the cabinet into multiple areas for specific files and paperwork.
The compartments are separate and flexibly fit into any slots, which makes the cabinet smart and economical in space. We also attach a felt in each corner so that it won’t scratch the floor.
Of course, using casters will be more portable. But when you want to add more length to the cabinet since there are more files to store, disassembling the casters will cost more time and effort.
Interestingly enough, you will make this four-drawer cabinet from two separate wardrobes. This idea is great if you want a big cabinet yet need help finding a ready-made size.
Simply prepare two flat pieces equal to the total width of the cabinets – one on the top, where you can place some decorating items and another at the bottom, where you attach four mobile wheels.
We also recommend repainting to create a consistent and matching look for the two separate compartments.
Also, you will add small gold frames to attach labels the contents for each drawer.
Make such a few changes, and you can complete the work.
The plan is usable as a filing cabinet, a nice printer desk, or even a side nightstand. Such convenience is credited to all large and spacious parts – the whole dimension is 30 x 22 x 30 ¾ inches.
First, you will focus on building four strong legs. For each leg, you can trim down two 2x4s to 32 inches long and glue them up.
When the glue is dry, continue cutting down to three inches of square posts and ¼ inches off each edge.
Afterward, you drill pocket holes to attach the plywood panel into a sturdy frame and move to install the drawer sliders and attach top of the cabinet.
You should add 16-inch ball bearing and 1 ½-inch inset to the sliders to make sure they sit securely on the thick legs.
Drawers are the next to build and attach them into the sliders to complete the project.
Continuing with the makeover series, we introduce you to the chalk-painted file cabinet re-decoration.
The theme is luxury; thus, you will keep the cabinet in pink and gold.
In addition, you can buy four additional table legs at around a few bucks for each and spray them in gold.
The legs match well with the cabinet’s pink coverage and golden hardware. New lovely and trendy look, indeed.
For this project, the instructor repainted the old wooden cabinet with the Fat Paint Navy State of Mind chalk paint mixed with pops of brass hardware. The outcome is a deep teal dresser. Very impressive.
You can see those latches outside. They not only render the cabinet more sturdy but also add a rustic touch to the project.
In any chance that your decor is minimal with mainly white walls, this cabinet is ideal. Its sides are in white paint; meanwhile, the fronts have a natural wood look.
An interesting method to create lifelike wood prints is with dark wax and a rag. Apply the wax and wipe it off immediately.
Once the wax is dry, you can also brush it and add molding to give it a fancy look. Finally, label the drawers with numbers as a modern touch.
There are so many DIY file cabinet plans to try on, so you do not need to hesitate any longer.
We like those cabinets with multiple usages, like a piece of decor furniture, desk, or drawers at a time. We hope you might also love these plans.
You should start with newly-built cabinets first – detailed instructions are available for every plan in the list.
Then, do a makeover with paper or paint once in a while to refresh your room.
We are looking forward to your new DIY designs!
