Repurpose A Thrifted Filing Cabinet Into A Unique Entryway Statement Piece

Discarded metal file cabinets are a frequent sight at many thrift stores. While once the place for important papers in any home office, these cabinets, in the era of digitized and paperless recordkeeping, are often useless and take up considerable office space that can be put to better use. There are, however, a number of great ways to repurpose an old filing cabinet, including as a stylish way to store and organize garden tools and a tool to organize your fabric. Instagram user @reedeaux_style recently showed off a clever reuse for one of these cabinets that can be a perfect way to add an inexpensive DIY furniture piece to your entryway. All you need is a file cabinet of any size and some peel and stick wallpaper.

This DIY makes a great narrow console for your entryway that sits neatly against the wall when the cabinet is turned on its side. It is a very budget-friendly way to get a unique console, with these old cabinets usually available for well under $20. You may also have one sitting around at home, or be able to find them for next-to-nothing on sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.

To repurpose your file cabinet, make sure to thoroughly clean the exterior, providing a clean surface for your wallpaper to stick. You can choose a single paper design, or vary it for a fun patchwork look. Place the cabinet on its side, drawer side up, and cover the drawers with paper. Press it down and then smooth it with a spatula or scraper, trimming away any excess or parts you don't want papered. You can also use a pin to pierce any remaining air bubbles or heat it with a hair dryer to smooth it out. Cover the remaining surface with more paper. In addition to peel-and-stick paper, you could also cover the sides with fabric, burlap, woven placemats, and other textured materials glued with spray adhesive. 

If you want to include an inset for a planter as @redeaux_style does, remove one the drawers and insert a basket for holding the plant, then add other décor on the flat surfaces remaining. If you decide to leave the cabinet upright for a smaller console, you can actually make use of the drawers for extra storage. Or place two cabinets back to back for drawers on either end. For another great entryway piece, lay the file cabinet flat, remove the door, and add baskets for shoe storage. You could also add legs on the bottom or sides of the cabinet for a more finished look.