Looking for a way to store all those pieces of fabric you’ve been collecting? Well it ends up a 2 drawer file cabinet might be the answer to your problems! We’ll show you how to take a plain cabinet and turn it into something beautiful and useful. As you’ll see below, our file cabinet was in pretty bad shape. Amazing what just some paint will do! You might recall we did a similar post entitled How to Organize Fabric with a File Cabinet which has a little more details on placing the fabric inside your cabinet. This version is definitely a step up and much classier. If you want more ideas for organizing craft supplies in general, check out our post The Most Creative Craft Room Organization Ideas.
2 Drawer File Cabinet Makeover Supplies
- Filing Cabinet. Any type should work.
- Spray paint. we used Rust-Oleum’s Chalked Spray Paint
- Epoxy or any strong fast setting glue
- 2 8″x 10″ picture frames (Ours had a fabric background and clip already on them but you can easily add your own or design it another way.)
- 2 Knobs. We used wood black knobs but you can use any type you want. Crystal, silver, gold etc.
- Drill
- Wood Accents or Ornamental Carvings. Amazon has a few but your best bet is Hobby Lobby or Michael’s.
CHALK PAINT OPTIONS
You can also paint it with chalk paint either purchased or using one of the recipes below.
CALCIUM CARBONATE RECIPE
- 2 Parts paint
- 1 part calcium carbonate
Mix and use.
PLASTER OF PARIS RECIPE
- 3 Parts Paint
- 1 Part Plaster of Paris
- Water
Add just enough water to the Plaster of Paris to make a paste. Then add the Plaster of Paris into the paint and mix thoroughly.
Label Download
Instructions
This is the file cabinet we started out with. Yuck.
Here are some of the main supplies needed. Notice we found some frames with fabric backgrounds and clips attached. You could also easily add the fabric and clip to a normal frame. 
If your cabinet has hardware on the front, remove it.
Our cabinet was in storage and needed a good cleaning.
We then gave it several coats of Rust-Oleums Chalked spray paint in grey.
This is after a couple of coats. Still needs more as you can tell. 
The back stand of the frame needed to be removed.
We just bent it off. 
We turned the cabinet on its back with drawers facing upward. Then we put a line of epoxy around each frame and attached it in place in the center of each drawer.
Allow the frames to dry completely. 
After they were dried, we marked where we wanted our knobs to be placed on each drawer.
We drilled a hole down through the frame and cabinet. 
Then we added our knobs. 
We decided to add two wood accent pieces. 
First we painted them a cream color. 
We added Epoxy to the back of each piece. 
And placed one on the top front of the cabinet.
There was a perfect spot for the other on the bottom of the cabinet which would also cover a hole.
Press into place and allow to dry.
Now is the time to add your hanging file folders and drape your fabric over them. 
Hi Nancy, The best, by far, tutorial for a filing cabinet storage piece! I am brand new to refurbishing anything. My cabinets are oak. So I gather from reading tutorial and all the comments, just rough up the wood so the paint will adhere.? May I ask? What does a chalk paint finish feel like?
Thank you so much for providing this creative DIY idea. I know this has been posted for years but I only found it last month and you inspired me to makeover my used ugly file cabinet and I’m in love with my newly finished remade cabinet! It’s so cute and stores all my fabric. Thanks again for the brilliant idea and helpful instructions.
Hi Melissa! I greatly appreciate the kind comment. I’m always thrilled to hear that one of the posts inspired someone. Glad this one helped! Ü
How much fabric is stored on each hanger? I’ve an old file cabinet that I’m thinking of using for fab storage. Love your hack!
I have a nasty old filing cabinet with bumper stickers, bumper sticker remains, what appears to be industrial strength duct tape residue. Haven’t been able to get all that off using goo gone and a putty knife, a hair dryer, or numerous concoctions I found online. Is there any hope I can clean up my cabinet enough to use chalk paint or do I need to find some other kind of finish? Just loved your drawer fronts, will definitely use them!
Thanks!
Hi Joanie! You could paint the cabinet using just plain spray paint as long as you can get the surface clean. It just depends on how bad it is. Paint can cover a multitude of problems but gummy stuff would need to be cleaned off. I assume you tried nail polish remover… you might be able to scrap some of it it off with a blade scraper… or even heavy duty sand paper. Then you could paint it. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!
Sander and sand paper
Looks great! Did you feel the chalk paint needed a top coat over time or was it fine without one?
The chalk paint should hold up fine. The only exception would be the top of the cabinet. If you are going to be setting things on it our using it as a surface… then you would want to coat that for sure. Thanks Marissa!
Love this! I have a file cabinet that needs to be redone. It will still hold my papers but look much better.
If I use the chalk paint recipe you provided, do I need to prime the metal cabinet or use a particular kind of paint in the mixture to adhere to the metal?
Would this same chalk paint mixture work on laminate? I have a desk I want to redo in the same room.
Thank you!
Hi Gayla! Sorry for the delay in responding… as far as laminate the chalk paint would work great but you’d need to rough up the surface first with some heavy grit sandpaper. Chalk paint is great because it can be used on SO many surfaces. Some that are super slick just need a little roughing up. Ü Thanks for your lovely comments!
Thank you so much. I love your filing cabinet. I had a 5 drawers one paint at a body shop years back. I will certainly reface them with this great idea. can’t wait to revive my cabinet. Once again, Thank you
You’re so welcome Lise. I’m so glad you found it useful!
Hi. I love this tutorial and have been trying to figure out how to store my fabric. This might just be the ticket. My question: did you pull out the drawers and spray paint them? Or just extend them out as far as they would go and spray paint them? I couldn’t tell from the pictures. Thank you so much!
Hi Jen! Sorry for the delay. I pulled them out. Ü Good luck!
Hi, Just curious as to how many yards of fabric can the file cabinet holds per file?
Hi Bianca! Sorry for the late reply. But it is mainly for smaller pieces… I’d guess up to a yard if it’s thin fabric. More than one piece can go on a folder if they are smaller. So it totally depends on what you’ve got. Good Luck!
What a great idea. Wonderful for the sewing room, but also great for other spaces too.
I love this project. It’s beautiful!! I am following step by step with an old file cabinet I have. Question…did you have to use more than one can of paint? I’ve used an entire can and it’s still a little splotchy.
Thanks so much! You are an inspiration!
Yes it took a couple of coats for ours as we were covering a dark cabinet with a lighter cover. Might even need three. It just depends. Good luck Ashley!
What are the pro’s & con’s if using chalk paint rather than just using regular Rust Oleum?
Hi Imra! Its just a matter of preference. We really liked the unique feel and look of the chalk paint. But regular spray paint can certainly be used!
What a GREAT idea! I happen to have an old yucky looking file cabinet that currently holds printed pages of crafts, recipes, etc. that I’ve had for years, and not once utilized, lol! Time to shred them and use in the garden. Your cabinet is gorgeous! Now, can you come up with something wonderful to hold my yarn stash besides storage tubs?!
Hey Bobbie! Thanks as always. Guess your post DID get through finally!