Whether it’s for crafting, sewing, woodworking, or any other kind of therapeutic habit, drawers in multiplicity are always da bomb. I mean, who doesn’t love a sweet spot to tuck in notions and accessories, right? Enter in this vintage filing cabinet.

Isn’t it fun? It’s small enough to sit on a surface, but also has the style to stand alone. Plus, all those bin labels are begging to be filled with distinctive labels. Back a few months ago, my dad originally offered it to me along with this other loot. However, the circled items are what I thought looked like makeover fun.

You can see what I did with that stand in the top picture OVER HERE. What a blessing to have such choices!

DRESSIN’ UP

Okay, so now let’s makeover this vintage gem, shall we? It’s dirty, like really dirty and it has some wear and tear here and there. Nothing I can’t handle with some cleaning and DIY elbow grease. Even more, check out what I use my extra large filing cabinets for in my sewing stash HERE.

First, I take the filing cabinet apart and assess what I have to work with. Using rubbing alcohol, I wipe it all down and remove all the grime I can. Then, once I have it prepped, I take it outside and ready for a spunky new color. You can see how I use this same color on my Cat Cot or this Upcycled Chair.

UP NEXT

Literally UP! I didn’t like that this cutie was stuck flat on its bottom. That causes it receive more wear than it should and sorta limits the use of it as well. With that, I dig into my stash and pull out this set of Mid Century Modern legs with bases. Isn’t it just grand to have a “stash”?

As soon as the paint cures, I mark the bottom of the filing cabinet where I want the feet to be. Then, I use sheet metal screws to attach the legs plates. Additionally, I also paint the leg feet the same color gold as the pulls. We want this to be cohesive, right?

Before I call it quits, I also use this vintage liner to make linings for all the drawers. That way there’s some whimsy when you peek inside to find your treasures.

ALL DRESSED UP

Finally, when all is said and done, my little filing cabinet is dressed up and ready for many more years.

Not only does the green suits my excitement for summer, but also the brassy accents remind me of the rays of sunshine. I’m happy with the outcome and hope you enjoy it too. Now for a peek at the inside fun I mention earlier.

Likewise, I’m curious…what color would you paint it? Maybe a hot pink or how about a striking black? Either way, it’s fun to recreate our finds to suit our own home story. In the event that you’d like to add this to your home, you can find it and more available in my online shop.

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Also, check out these other filing cabinet projects: