File Cabinet Makeover

Holy hell guys, I finally got my poop in a group and the very first home post is happening.  I'm disappointed that it took me so long but pretty darn happy that it's finally coming to fruition!
 
So y'all know that good food is a priority in our house but, I'm a huge DIYer as well!  This file cabinet was one of my first projects in our new home. 
 
It all started out with a ratty, old file cabinet that my mom let me have (Mad props to my folks for schlepping this beast down from Northern MB!  They're just the best!)  I kept seeing cool file cabinet paint jobs on upcycling websites and figured, "I can do that!"  The design I chose was basic and pretty handy.  I chose to do a basic border with the majority of the file cabinet being chalkboard.   That's right folks, you can scribble all over this thing and then wipe it right off and that's a total win in my books!  So, how to do it yourself...
 
First, find yourself an old file cabinet.  As mentioned above, I scored this bad boy from my parents.  You can also find old file cabinets on Kijiji/Craiglist/Facebook or in thrift stores  and they are relatively cheap (or free... I like free!)
 
Second, pick out your spray paint.  You'll need two different colours.  I chose the monochromatic look to match the rest of my office but this would be super pretty in coordinating pastels, or even with a metallic accent (BRAINWAVE! - How pretty would rose gold and blush or navy be?  If you do it, please comment with a photo!)  There are TONS of colours out there, choose what you like!  Only rules are, the first paint (The border colour, in my case, white) needs to be a paint + primer.  It will help give a good base for the second coat and will help seal any exposed metal.  I used this stuff as my base coat.

There are lots of coloured chalkboard paints now, I just didn't have the patience to use a roller.  Spray painting is so much easier!  You're welcome to give it a shot and see how it turns out but I can't give any tips on that application!  This spray paint is so easy to use and goes on really well!  I highly recommend!

​So, now that you have your file cabinet and your paint, let's gather all your supplies together and get this started!
 
You will need:
 
1 file cabinet (duh!)
4 cans of primer paint (first coat - border colour)
4 cans of chalkboard paint (or top colour)
2 plastic drop cloths
220 grit sand paper
Painter's mask
1 1/2" painters tape
 
 
1.  Start by removing the drawers from the file cabinet, removing any hardware(knobs/label holders) and giving the whole shebang a light sanding.  Don't forget your mask!  Once sanded, wipe down the cabinet and drawers with a damp, lint-free cloth.
 
2.  Working in a well-ventilated area, place your drop cloths down, and arrange your drawers/cabinet so that you can easily access all sides.  Shake your spray paint up, according to the directions on the can, and test out the spray (and your technique) on some scrap metal/wood.  When spray painting it is best to hold the can 6-8 inches away from the cabinet/drawer, use an even side to side motion, and overlap your spray pattern by at least a 1/3.  When coming to an edge, always spray past the edge instead of stopping.  This will ensure an even coat and minimize runs.  **BIG TIP**  It is better to do multiply light coats of paint, than try to sand out drips later. 
 
3.  Spray all drawers and cabinet with the paint+primer border colour.  For me, this took two coats of spray paint.  I let this cure over night.
 
4.  Using your painters tape (you can choose any width you like) tape off a pattern that works for you.  I chose a simple border pattern, but you could get really fancy and trying a herringbone or even bust out some stencils.  Since mine was also a chalkboard, I wanted maximum writing space, so the border worked fine. 
 
5.  Once taped, you can start spraying with your top coat.  (Don't forget your mask and drop cloth!)  Following the same technique, spray thin, even coats until you have a beautiful matte finish.  Allow to dry, remove tape, and "season" (if using chalkboard). 

​Now go forth and make all the file cabinets in your life beautiful!  So easy!  You're going to love it!