Because I ran into all those issues, I switched gears to plans B, C, D, etc., to work around the problems I was facing. Everything worked out because I ended up with a far better metal filing cabinet makeover than what I set out to do. So, let me share the tips and tricks I discovered along the way!

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Updated: September 24th, 2024

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Katie T’s Cottage Home Fun Fact #38

For my 38th fun fact, I want to share that I’m not a fan of pumpkin flavors. I wish I liked it more because it’s a favorite in the New England area during fall, but it’s just not my cup of tea.

Rustic Farmhouse Filing Cabinet Makeover for Your Home

So, to jump right into this rustic filing cabinet tutorial, you should understand why this cabinet makeover is so great.

The first reason is the worn look of the black metal. I anticipate that the paint on this product will chip and scratch with time.

A scratch on the flat and consistent paint would be noticeable. Because the appeal of this style is to look worn, the scratches that will come with time will only add to the charm.

The second reason is that I used vinyl floor planking on the face of the cabinet. The floor planking looks better than the contact paper vinyl. It’s also a LOT easier to install, which I will go into more depth about later in this post.

Note: if you plan on tackling a similar project, please read this entire article. Not only did I make plenty of mistakes getting the filing cabinet to look good, but there are things I would have done differently. So be sure to read all the tips and tricks carefully so you don’t face the same problems I did!

Be Methodical with Your Approach

This tip seems like a no-brainer, but when it comes to your rustic metal filing cabinet diy, it’s so true! 

My filing cabinet had recessed handles, so the whole face of the cabinet was flat except for that indentation. I decided that I could attach a plank of wood over it to give a farmhouse door look. I used wood from a leftover pallet to save money on this DIY project.

After I measured what I needed, I cut the pallet to the appropriate length. When I placed it on the face of the filing cabinet drawer, it looked terrible. I played around with it to see if I could make it look good, but the wood was too thick.

After wasting time and thinking about ways to use wood for this project, I decided to move on. I scrapped that idea and came up with what I thought was better.

Mistake #2: Vinyl Contact Paper

When I scrapped the wood pallet idea, I remembered I had some vinyl contact paper with a wooden pattern that would look great on the face of the drawers. At this point, I decided I would paint the rest of the cabinet matte black. I used this spray paint because it’s made for metal.

Originally, I was going to paint the base of the cabinet white for this rustic metal filing cabinet DIY because I am a sucker for the white look. But I decided that black would look better in this application. Especially comparing it to the original vinyl, the black just looked better.

Before you spray paint or apply anything, make sure you thoroughly clean your filing cabinet. I used dawn soap and scrubbed it down with this sponge. The green side of the sponge was perfect for scratching the original paint job. I wanted to sand the original paint so that the new paint could adhere to the metal better.

After I cleaned the cabinet, I spray-painted the base. I was not too worried about getting the coat even (as you can see from the hack job in the image). I knew I would be sanding it after, so if anything, the splotchy areas added to the worn look.

As the base of the metal filing cabinet was drying, I worked on the drawers. Because the drawers had recessed handles, I had to fill them, so the face of the drawer was flat.

Admittedly, I taped a roll of thick paper towels, and it worked. It had a slight bulge, but if you did not know it was there, you would not have been able to tell.

Next came the vinyl. I applied the vinyl to the face of the metal filing cabinet drawer. This step was the most frustrating part of the process. It would not stick, no matter how much I sanded the back side of the drawer to wrap the vinyl around. I used two different types of glue, including Loctite, but both were not working.

At this point, I decided that the glue might not be working because it needs pressure while drying. I tried clipping the area I was working on, but the clips kept sliding off because of the angle of the edges.

I finally decided to take masking tape and tape the edges.

Humorously, the tape was doing a good job adhering to the back side of the drawer. Because this area is visible only when you open the drawer, I decided to keep it.

I also added vinyl to the top of the metal filing cabinet because I liked the look of the wood. You will soon find out why I did not end up keeping it.

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Do NOT Use Vinyl Contact Paper on Your Rustic Filing Cabinet

At this point in my rustic filing cabinet makeover journey, some time passed due to the weather. I wanted to work on this project outside, and my area was experiencing some snow, so I waited until warmer weather.

Once it became nice again, I found the time to finish the project. Unfortunately, I ran into some problems. The first problem was the vinyl developed air pockets underneath. I spread them out the best I could, but it was still noticeable.

After having experienced that, I can confidently say that I would not recommend vinyl contact paper on a metal filing cabinet. The air pockets could have developed because I left it outside on my screened-in porch. So, I do not know if the cold had something to do with it, but I would hate to put all the work in with the same results.

I decided to continue with the vinyl because I was in a crunch for time and wanted to finish this project soon, so I continued to work on it.

I removed the top vinyl piece because I prefer a worn look to the vinyl filled with air pockets.

I started to prepare the area for the drawer hardware. I bought this hardware for another project and had some leftovers, so it came in handy for this application.

I attempted to drill the hole towards the center of the drawer over the recessed handle. If you do this step, be sure you have the proper bits for your drill. I have this bit kit that includes bits meant for metal. I also recommend that you go slow when drilling into the metal.

As I drilled into the face of the drawer, I noticed it was not going in. I investigated and found I was drilling directly over the thick piece of metal for the recessed handle. It was too thick to continue.

Updating Rustic Filing Cabinet the Right Way

At this point in the project, I was so discouraged. The drill left a hole in the vinyl and a dent in the metal.

Even if I wanted to redo the vinyl on the whole drawer again, I would have to wait because I did not have enough left to do the face of the drawer.

At that moment, I decided that I would need to think of something else.

Then it came to me. I bought vinyl flooring planks a while ago for a different project that never happened. I hunted down the planking in a back closet and got to work.

I decided to keep the vinyl sheets on the face of the drawers because the floor planking seemed to adhere to it better than the straight metal. With that said, if you plan on giving your filing cabinet a similar makeover, I recommend buying glue proven to adhere to metal and putting this on the whole face of the drawer. Doing so will help the planking stick to the metal.

After I placed the planking down, I got the drill out again. This time, I planned on putting the hardware closer to the top of the drawer. I managed to do this rather quickly.

Rustic Filing Cabinet Makeover for the DIY Homemaker

Just like that, my metal filing cabinet was finally finished! I hope you have some useful tips and tricks on what to do and what not to do. Let me know if you agree that doing it the way I did is the best cabinet makeover idea! Comment below or reach out if you have any questions.

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The post Rustic Filing Cabinet Makeover for the DIY Homemaker first appeared on Katie T's Home.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.

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Get all my favorite digital downloads today!

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I also ask that you please leave your thoughts in the comment section below. This quick tip section of my blog is truly meant for the benefit of my readers. Short posts actually hurt the performance of my blog. So, if you find these tips helpful, drop a comment or share this post so other readers get a chance to see this information! 

Outdated Home Features

The second quick tip in this mini-series is weighing the pros and cons of potentially outdated home features and why you may want to avoid this potential trap.

When evaluating the design of your modern farmhouse home, it’s important to consider current trends and how they can potentially outdate your home down the road. 

Features such as popcorn ceilings, old light fixtures, and carpeting were once in style and, now, not so much. If you like these features then, by all means, you do you!

For those who want to save themselves from potentially renovating down the road, you need to ask yourself if the current trends are something you like or if it’s something that you’re following because it’s the norm.

Now, due to supply and demand, you may be limited in some design features. However, I challenge you to find the balance between what is “trendy” and what you like.

Some home trends going on now include:

• Farmhouse, Boho, and Modern Styles
• Color Pallet: neutrals and bold
• Arches in hallways or furniture
• Modern/Geometrical light fixtures
• The organic look
• Beadboard/ board and batten wall ideas

So, the quick tip is to challenge yourself and determine if the current trendy home features become outdated, will it bother you? or will you still enjoy those home features?

Try to view the current trends in the same light you would with the outdated home features mentioned at the beginning of this quick tip section of the blog!

I hope you found this quick tip helpful! Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter below and follow my Pinterest for more quick tips and resources like this one!

The post Outdated Home Features: Part 2 of 10 Must-Know Interior Design Tips first appeared on Katie T's Home.