DIY Custom Office Desk
With a little help from some paint, some paper and some great hardware, you can turn old file cabinets into a heavy-duty hard-working custom office desk. Learn how in this DIY Network video:
To create this DIY file cabinet desk, you will need:
- 2 old file cabinets
- Slab door
- Primer
- Paint
- Colorful paper
- 2 rollers and trays
- Spray paint for metal
- Scissors
- Tape measure
- Painters tape
- Hardware
- Hexagonal wrench
- Ruler
- Utility knife
1. Set up a quick paint station with a sheet of plastic. Use two 2×4’s as a stand to prop up the file cabinets for easy access to the bottom edge.
2. Remove all of the cabinet hardware. You can make quick makeshift handles by folding painters tape in half to make a tab and attach it to the inside of the drawer.
3. Apply a white primer that’s designed to go on metal. Let dry.
4. Protect the drawer faces by running painters tape around the edges. Apply two coats of paint, allowing the paint to dry completely between coats. While the cabinets are drying, spray paint the hardware.
5. Measure the face of the drawers and add an inch or two on both sides so there will be enough paper to fold around each door face. Open up the drawers, peel off the tape, and coat the faces and edges with a glue sealer. Carefully line up and press the paper onto the front of each drawer. Cut the paper every few inches and fold it around the edge of the drawer face to the back side. Once everything is fully dry, apply a coat of matte finish glue sealer to the front of the paper drawers.
6. Carefully cut tiny holes in the paper with a utility knife for the hardware and put the hardware back into place.
7. Set the slab door on top of the file cabinets.
Here are some out-of-the-box tips for file cabinet storage:
- Hang a tin from the side of the drawer with binder clips.
- Drop in a tray and a little bowl to keep things orderly.
- A vintage toolbox helps conceal anything you don’t want anybody else digging into.
- A dowel rod can be cut to length to hold your washi tape collection.
- Tuck a utensil holder over the edge to hold all your markers and pens.
