Filing cabinets are disappearing from the modern office. Most people find that there’s no reason to keep the bulky, metal storage shelves around when everything can be stored online with less clutter. They don't have to go to waste though! Luckily, there are plenty of inexpensive filing cabinets in good condition that you can upcycle and put to good use. Here’s how you can use some paint and neodymium magnets to turn an old filing cabinet into a charming kitchen island:

Supplies:

Instructions:

  1. First, make sure the drawers work in your “new” filing cabinet and clean it thoroughly.
  2. Next, paint it! You should probably start with a coat of primer and then add two coats of your paint.
  3. After the paint is dry, you can install a cutting board on top. There are two ways to do this:
    1. The first way is to glue four neodymium disc magnets to each corner of the bottom of your cutting board to create a detachable top. The magnets will attract to the top of the metal filing cabinet and hold the board in place while you work. Then you can pick up the cutting board and transfer it to a table for easy access.
    2. You can also make the cutting board a permanent fixture on your filing cabinet by drilling holes into the top of the cabinet and screwing the board in place.
  4. Last, you can attach hook magnets and a magnetic rack to the sides of your kitchen island. You can use the rack to store knives and other metal tools and you can use the hook magnets to hold a towel or an apron.
Now, you’re ready to start cooking with your new kitchen island! You can store kitchenware in the drawers and if you’re feeling ambitious, you can attach wheels to the bottom to make it a cart. All you need to do is drill holes in the bottom for the caster screws and attach the wheels. You can also decorate your kitchen island/cart with cute magnets to hold notes and recipes. The possibilities for your new kitchen storage/work area are endless! Let Apex Magnets Help You on Your Next Project We’re always working on ways our customers can use our neodymium magnets and other products, from hobbyists and crafters to manufacturers and business owners. Sign up for our newsletter to get these stories and more sent straight to your inbox each month.