How to Cover an Ugly File Cabinet

Ugly filing cabinets are sometimes hard to throw out as they do have a strong functional value from storing and organizing a lot of information in a small amount of space. However, just because they perform this important job doesn't mean that you have to live with the monotonous gray shades of such cabinets, which can easily make the most cozy spaces feel like a cheap office. Luckily, it doesn't take much to drastically transform such an item.

Screwdriver
All purpose cleansing spray
Soft cloth
Latex spray paint
Measuring tape
Scrapbook paper or photographs
Scissors
All-purpose decoupage glue
Foam brush
Artist's knife
Polyurethane
3-inch nylon brush
New drawer handles

Instructions

- 1
  Unscrew the drawer pulls from the filing cabinet with a screwdriver. Spray the entire filing cabinet with an all-purpose cleanser. Wipe it down thoroughly.
- 2
  Remove the lock on the filing cabinet by opening the drawer which has the lock on the front, pinching the back of it and pushing and sliding it out of the drawer front.
- 3
  Paint the entire filing cabinet the color of your choice with a latex spray paint. If possible, do this outside. Hold the can 8 to 12 inches from the cabinet and cover it in an even coat of spray paint, moving the can back and forth. Allow the cabinet to dry overnight.
- 4
  Measure the length and width of each drawer front and cut pieces of scrapbook paper to those dimensions, one for each drawer. Dip a foam brush in an all-in-one decoupage glue and cover the drawer fronts with the glue. Press each piece of scrapbook paper into the glue, removing all air bubbles with a credit card. Allow it to dry overnight. Alternately, you can attach photos across the front of the drawers or all over the cabinet for a more personalized look.
- 5
  Trim the sides of the paper with an artist's blade, if necessary. Apply another layer of decoupage glue to the drawer fronts and allow the drawer fronts to dry. Coat the drawer fronts with a clear coat of polyurethane using a 3-inch brush. Allow the polyurethane to dry overnight.
- 6
  Screw in new drawer handles.

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