The Easiest Makeover DIY For Your File Cabinet

This is an amazingly low-budget project. You probably already have one of these boring black cabinets in your house just begging for a refresh. And if you don't have one, it's pretty easy to find someone on Craigslist who is dying to offload theirs for free. Then all it takes is a little bit of paint and a stencil to create a piece that not only matches your decor but might even make you smile the next time you have to file away a tax return.

Wipe down your cabinet to get rid of dust and grime. If there are any rusty spots, give them a light sanding. You can paint right over the handle and name plate or remove them for easier painting, but always cover the lock mechanism with painter's tape to keep it from getting clogged.

Hit the entire thing with a coat of spray-paint primer—I like Rust-Oleum Clean Metal Primer Spray for $5. Let it dry, then brush on your color. I used a quart of good old interior paint (Benjamin Moore Evening Blue 2066-20) and did two coats. Once the cabinet is dry, remove the tape and reattach your hardware.

You can go in so many directions here. I adored this feminine floral stencil from Michaels (just $4) and pink craft paint ($1.50). But the cabinet would feel totally different done in a geometric pattern, in a mix of colors (or even metallics!), or just kept simple with a few bright, preppy stripes.