• Blog
    • Home Decor
    • Lifestyle
    • Kids Stuff & Activities for Children
    • Planner Stuff
    • Yummy Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Freebie Library

Upcycled Furniture – Metal Locker/Cabinet

Upcycling furniture is one of my favorite things to do.  Other’s people’s JUNK! I love to look for cool stuff at thrift stores or garage sales. This upcycled furniture project that I am sharing with you today I bought for only a $1. Yes, only a dollar. It was at an estate sale where the woman was literally almost giving everything away.

The vintage metal cabinet barely fit in my car with all of the other goodies I bought from here but I made it work!

upcycling ideas

The metal cabinet was pretty rusty and was white. I liked that it was white but instantly knew I wanted to put it in my living room for more storage so I knew it had to be cleaned up a lot.

I needed a place to store toys and my kid’s arts and crafts supplies. It was going to be a fun upcycled furniture project for sure!

metal filing cabinet

The cabinet was very dirty and looked liked it had been stored outside or maybe in an open barn. The previous owner used it to store cans of things like oil or lubricants. It needed a deep clean for sure.

Luckily my husband has a pressure washer and helped me get it started. I was really excited to get the project going and tried to start the pressure washer. No luck. Ended up even though it had gas it wasn’t enough to start it. And of course, we were out of gas.

Poor me had to wait another day for more gas (we live too far from a gas station). So finally the next day once my hubby got off work, I got it going and cleaned it up. As you can see it wasn’t a miracle worker but got most of the crime off.

upcycled furniture

How to Upcycle Furniture

Next up I took sandpaper and sanded down all of the rust spots. Once I sanded down the rust I took the electric sander and did the whole cabinet. This is where I should probably state that I am not an expert with hand tools or repurposing stuff. Literally, just a do it your self-gal figuring it out as I go.

After sanding down the whole thing I wiped everything off my just a soapy rag. It cleaned it all up pretty good.

Up next was the primer. I used a primer to prevent rust and it went on red. I had bought a spray paint and would recommend buying a can of paint for the primer. I had no clue what I was thinking. Below is the primer (but in brown) and used and after is one that I would recommend trying instead.

 

Upcycling furniture is one of my favorite things to do.  Other's people's JUNK! I love to look for cool stuff at thrift stores or garage sales. This upcycled furniture project that I am sharing with you today I bought for only a $1. Yes, only a dollar. It was at an estate sale where the woman was literally almost giving everything away.

Rust-Oleum 7769830 Stops Rust Spray Paint, 12-Ounce, Flat Rusty Metal Primer

 

 

rust oleum paint

Rust-Oleum 7780502 Protective Enamel Paint Stops Rust, 32-Ounce, Flat White Clean Metal Primer

 

The primer was not easy to put on because it was windy. And I did not plan out my upcycled furniture project very well. I totally forgot to take a picture of the primer too. Sorry! It covered well and since it was 105 degrees outside it dried really fast. California weather is not all beaches and cool weather!

Next up was the white paint. I ended up using my favorite paint because I had it on hand. it took an entire pint and 2 solid coats but it came out great. The paint is Linen White and an ultra-flat chalk paint. If you want to see another project I used this exact paint for click here.

 

rust oleum chalked paint linen white can

Rust-Oleum 285140 Ultra Matte Interior Chalked Paint 30 oz, Linen White

 

As I stated before the idea for the upcycled furniture cabinet was for my kid’s toys and stuff and in hindsight, I probably should not have used a chalk paint because I now have to wipe off a ton of handprints on really flat paint. Not easy! I really didn’t want a shiny metal cabinet though. So I am glad I stuck with what I like.

rustic furniture
metal filing cabinet refurbished
white rustic metal cabinet

Once it was all said and done and full, I could not be happier. I had just got these new books from my sister too and know they would work great for above the cabinet.

So much storage and a great way to hide all the toys! Now I have somewhere to hide some of the junk and it was another thing I could decorate. Win, win!

I would love to know what you think below about my new upcycled furniture post. Have you done any DIY projects lately?

Check out my latest posts below!

  • Transform Your Home with These Amazon Home Finds
    Try out these trendy and stylish Amazon home finds to elevate your space and make it cozy. As a lover of home decor, I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to freshen up my home, and I’m here to help you do this as well. Amazon is a fantastic place to find affordable and…
  • The Secret to Perfect Bread: Unveiling the Best Bread Machine Supplies You Need to Have!
    If you are a bread lover, you know nothing beats the smell and taste of freshly baked bread. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned baker, a bread machine can help you easily create delicious homemade loaves. However, you need the right supplies to achieve the perfect bread every time. This blog post will unveil…
  • From Novice to Master Baker: How the Oster Bread Machine Can Help You
    Do you love the smell of freshly baked bread? Are you tired of spending money on store-bought loaves that don’t measure up? If you’re looking to up your bread-making game and achieve that perfect texture and flavor, the Oster Bread Machine might be just what you need. In this post, we’ll explore how this handy…
  • 5 Best Places for to buy Fresh Garland online
    Christmas is coming, and with it comes the need to start decorating, and this year I love fresh Christmas garlands. No need to hunt it down just have it delivered to your door. That way, you have plenty of time for decorating and designing the perfect space. You can still find fresh garland at this…
  • Western Baby Shower Ideas
    Looking for trendy and unique western baby shower ideas? Let’s go! Having a baby is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. And what better way to celebrate than with a western-themed baby shower? From decorations to food, these ideas will help you throw the perfect cowboy-inspired party for your little one.…
DIY Metal Cabinet
TAGS:upcycled furniture
Share
Corey

Thanks for stopping by make sure to pin for later XOXO

You May Also Like

September 25, 2020

How to Keep Mums Alive—Even if You Don’t Have a Green Thumb

January 30, 2020

Bullet Journaling 101 for 2021

February 4, 2022

New Cute Bunnies and Crank End Table

Previous Post
Things to Do with Kids – While at Home
Next Post
Unigue Gift Idea for Women

SEARCH

Shop My Amazon Storefront here

Check These Out!

  • Blog
    • Lifestyle
    • Home Decor
    • Kids Stuff & Activities for Children
    • Business Tips
    • Yummy Recipes
  • Freebie Library
    • Hudson Farmhouse Freebies

Follow on Instagram

…

Follow Me on Pinterest

pinterest home decor

Click here to check out my Pinterst where all the fun happens!

Recent Posts

  • Transform Your Home with These Amazon Home Finds
  • The Secret to Perfect Bread: Unveiling the Best Bread Machine Supplies You Need to Have!
  • From Novice to Master Baker: How the Oster Bread Machine Can Help You
  • Privacy
  • Blog

Copyright Corey Hudson Site Powered by Pix & Hue.

621 shares
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest