Back near the beginning of January I wrote a post called Extreme organization about my cupboard filled with containers of spices and baking ingredients that I had painstakingly labeled with my new label maker. So far those cupboards are still as nicely arranged as they were a month ago. In that post I also mentioned that this year I wanted to participate in Org Junkie’s Monthly Organizing Round-up and although I am a little late getting January’s challenge completed, I am proud to present to you my filing system makeover.
My paternal grandmother gave me this chest of hers a couple of years ago. Until last year, the space inside has been sort of wasted. Last fall I started using it in my home office and stored my ugly, blue recycling bin inside of it, along with some other office supplies. It got messy, though, and when I read about January’s challenge to round up the filing cabinet and paper piles, I knew it was the inspiration I needed to turn my beautiful cedar chest into a unique filing cabinet I could be proud of.
My filing cabinet wasn’t in horrible shape; I had taken time late last year to sort through the many piles of paper all over our house and wrangle them into the cabinet. It was still hard to find the items I wanted, though. Let’s face it: the scratched-up metal filing cabinet I’ve owned since high school has performed its duty above and beyond the call. It’s time to retire her.
I took the racks out of that old filing cabinet and Graham cut the to the right length so they’d fit inside the chest. I placed the racks inside the chest and made fresh labels for all of the folders. I used a different text effect for the folder categories, such as Employment, Utilities, Taxes, etc.
The result is an organized filing system that is pretty, efficient and well organized!
What a brilliant idea…love the chest…my Mom had one almost the same and I loved the smell!
That looks really good. I finally put plastic bins in mine to hold all my keepsakes.
That is absolutely FANTASTIC! One of my favorite things is using stuff for purposes other than they are intended. This is so perfect, I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love it!!
So great!
Laura
Wow.
I love that look and what a fantastic idea!
OMG that is the EXACT same model of cedar chest my mom still has.
I love this! I, too, have a cedar chest (or as they were called in the day — my “hope” chest!). If I can get rid of all the old sweaters it now contains, I am totally copying you!
I read this post 30 minutes ago, and I immediately had my three young daughters empty 87 stuffed animals out of my Lane cedar chest from high school. We then slid it upside down downstairs, and I'm organizing my files right now. So happy! Thanks for inspiring us!!!
I read this post 30 minutes ago, and I immediately had my three young daughters empty 87 stuffed animals out of my Lane cedar chest from high school. We then slid it upside down downstairs, and I'm organizing my files right now. So happy! Thanks for inspiring us!!!
I read this post 30 minutes ago, and I immediately had my three young daughters empty 87 stuffed animals out of my Lane cedar chest from high school. We then slid it upside down downstairs, and I'm organizing my files right now. So happy! Thanks for inspiring us!!!
Oh!…that's great helpful, it's so right to me! Million thanks for the article,