Hi All! I hope everyone had a safe, and Happy Thanksgiving. My girls, and their family came up so we had a really nice visit. Stayed pretty busy so this weeks post is going to be something that I had worked on a while back, How to Update an Old File Cabinet.
Before I get to the how to’s on updating a file cabinet I want to share a little history on this filing cabinet.
When my mother was a young girl at the age of 18 she lived in Denver Colorado, and worked at Montgomery Ward. From there she transferred to The Montgomery Ward store here in Fort Worth Texas.
She became a time keeper in accounting, and worked there until she retired, then worked part-time for about 4 more years. My mother is the only person that I know that has only had one job in a life time, and she loved her job.
When Montgomery Ward closed their catolog sales department they sold a lot of office equipment. This was just one of the filing cabinet my mother used that I bought really cheap, I have a large four drawer one as well. There both heavy duty cabinets, not like the cheap ones they make now days.
This filing cabinet is over 50 years old, was still in great shape just needing an update. Therefore I am going to show you how to update an old file cabinet. The updated file cabinet that I had seen recently over at H20Bungalow has inspired me to drag mine out and give it an update.
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How to Update an Old File Cabinet
Since this filing cabinet has been sitting in the garage gathering dust since we moved it had to be washed.
Next all the hardware was removed.
Then the hubby sprayed painted the filing cabinet with two coats of Rust-oleum Satin Seaside. I’m afraid that I’m not very good when it comes to spray painting.
Next the hardware got two coats of Rust-oleum Hammered Brown.
Once dry the hubby put it all back together for me, then I took it inside for stenciling.
I stenciled a floral design using white chalk paint on the top, and one on the front.
Let dry, and that’s it! I will be using it to store fabric in. What do you think? Do you like the color?
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Wow, that’s so pretty Linda, and I loved the story of your mother and Montgomery Wards. Love that stencil….sort of looks like snowflakes. Very pretty.
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Thank you Florence! It’s still hard to believe that someone could have just one job their whole life.
They do look sort of like snowflakes don’t they. 🙂
I have a filing cabinet in my music room/office that I have been wanting to do this to! Yours looks great. I love the color! It’s so stylish now. 🙂
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Thank you Amy! I don’t know why I didn’t give it a makeover sooner, it does look so much better and it wasn’t hard at all. The hubby did the hard part for me. The spray painting, I’m afraid I’m not very good at that. The chalk paint made the stenciling go on easily. Can’t wait to see what you do with your filing cabinet!
I love the color you used Linda. It’s such a bright happy blue and with the white stencils the filing cabinets looks awesome. So much better than that boring greeny grey color. I love to know what you Mom thinks of the makeover
Thank you Michelle! The paint and stenciling did make a big difference didn’t it. My mom hasn’t even seen it yet, I will have to remember to show her when she comes over next time. But knowing her she will say it’s pretty, but know that she would never have a filing cabinet like that. LOL She is set in her ways and only likes plain boring colors. Just like her interior walls in her house, all white, and have always been white. She will not add any color to a wall. All furniture brown wood, no color. But that’s what she likes. 🙂
Now its time to add a new look to my old file cabinet. Seriously I never thought of remodeling my file cabinet for years but after going through your post, I will surely update it. Thank for sharing a great post.
Hi Adil! I have had this file cabinet for ever too. Don’t know why it took me so long because it was so easy. Thanks for stopping by!
I have a brand new one that will not get an over all paint job but stenciling on it is now a must after seeing this..thanks
I never thought of painting mine a bright color or even stenciling on it either until I seen one another blog had done, and loved it. Can’t wait to see your!