The $20 File Cabinet Makeover

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By the time you’re reading this, I am in junk bonanza heaven at the Country Living Fair in Atlanta. And while it is almost a guarantee that I will find some great “junk” there it’s sometimes the surprising places that best junk comes from. Like that one junk store, in my one caution light town, that really has more junk than anything else. But that’s exactly where this $20 File Cabinet Makeover came from!

It’s a shame really that you couldn’t see this one in person. In the picture. It doesn’t look so bad and the blah paint color (from a previous attempt at spray painting in a flat finish) doesn’t really stand out so much from the after.

You can see all the spills, scratches, rust and leftover stickers.

You can’t see all the chipping paint, likely because all the grease from all those hands left behind on these handles wasn’t properly cleaned prior to painting.

You can’t tell what a hard time I had figuring out why the bottom drawer wouldn’t close properly. And then I found this cruise book with an invoice for a European vacation. And then it was just like the cabinet was mocking me.

Sure, maybe I am ugly now. But my previous owners have been to Europe and you haven’t!

Shut it.

No. I mean really. I don’t want to talk about how long it took me to figure out why I couldn’t have two drawers open at the same time while painting.

I. Don’t. Want. To. Talk. About. It.

So after a light sanding and, ahem, I closed the drawers. I was sure to clean every surface thoroughly with a degreaser. I use white vinegar. And was time to shut this cabinet up once and for all. And show it who’s boss. Even if she hasn’t been to Europe. Yet.

So, if you’re hesitant about using a sprayer….why? If you can use a spray paint can, you can use a sprayer. Only a sprayer is easier. This isn’t my first time using my HomeRight Finish Max sprayer. In fact, I’ve used it way more than I’ve blogged about it. {One of these days you guys might get to see out new fence and chicken coop!}

It’s also not my first time using HomeRight’s amazing selection of products. Remember that time I painted practically the whole house in one weekend.

I don’t always use a paint sprayer but when I do, I use my Finish Max Pro. And all I had to do in this case was mix in a tad of water (see instructions for consistency) with the leftover paint from the office and I was ready to go.

Done in a day!

And it’s not even these golden handles that I love the most.

Even though they’re pretty enough to deserve two photos…

Nope. It’s this.

I don’t know why the lift up door and slide out drawer amazes me so much. It’s probably because I am totally going to drill a hole in the side of the cabinet and run the printer cord through there. Then, I can have the printer out of sight and just slide it out when I need it. Plus, it’s wireless. So just one less cord to deal with.

And now I know, just one drawer open at a time, Jamie.

That’s no big deal.

This cabinet makes us look like we’re more important than we really are. We’ll probably never even get to the second drawer anyway. But, if we ever do…..

Other Posts in this Series:

• IKEA Hack Office Makeover – The Reveal

• Part 1 Building in Billy

• Part 2 Building in Billy

• Part 3 Remote Control Lights & New Outlets

• Part 4 Shop the Look – COMING SOON

• Giant Framed Postcard – COMING SOON

• Affordable Library Lighting

• Office Ceiling Light Fixture

• $20 File Cabinet Makeover

• Turning a Photo in a Giant Watercolor Wallprint