I’ve just moved offices at work, and looking around me got me wondering if all filing cabinets are as ugly as the one I have inherited:

 

Well no, it seems, there are some gorgeous filing cabinets out there once you start looking. For my office I would choose this one in Teal from John Lewis – still utilitarian but in a colour that would not make my heart sink every time I approach it (like my current one does).

 

 

I have also found some that would work well in a home office. This one, made from oak with a lacquered finish, is sleek and modern in design, and could multitask as a side table as well as a filing cabinet – perfect for small spaces such as my studio flat:

 

 

And this one in red ostrich skin from Snob Stuff is rather fabulous!

 

 

Returning to the issue of my work office, I am not sure that I could persuade my employers to replace my fully functional but dull-as-ditchwater filing cabinet, but I have found some good ideas on Pinterest for transforming it into something prettier.

Here is a good idea from A Little Tipsy, which only requires some spray paint, wrapping paper, a knife and some tape, and hey presto – a much nicer looking filing cabinet:

 

 

So, no need to put up with ugly filing cabinets – filing is not the most exciting of jobs, so why make it any less pleasant by doing it in grey and brown! There are plenty of nice-looking ones to be bought on the high street – or get crafty and beautify your existing ones.

Happy filing!