Flat File Storage Made With Ikea Table Tops

Jonathan Fong
by Jonathan Fong
$100
3 Hours
Medium
I have been wanting flat file storage for so long. When you hoard paper like I do, especially large sheets of art paper, you want a place to put them so they don't get damaged. I looked into buying flat file cabinets like the ones that architects use for blueprints, but whoa, they are expensive. Not able to find an inexpensive solution on eBay or craigslist, I decided to make my own flat file storage with some Ikea parts. So I bought Ikea table tops, the cheapest and most lightweight they had, and made a flat file storage system out of them.
The table tops I bought were the white "Linnmon" tops. They are about 24" x 40", which is ideal for 24" x 36" papers. They are only $5.99 each, and I bought six of them. Then I attached Ikea "Capita" cabinet legs to the bottom.
For the bottom table top, I attached 6 legs for support, and the other 5 table tops got 4 legs. Then I applied a dab of Liquid Nails on the bottom of each leg and stacked the tables on top of each other.
It was as easy as that, and more affordable than buying a traditional flat file cabinet. I also love that it's a comfortable height so I can work at this table standing up.
Jonathan Fong
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  3 questions
  • Jennifer Duncan Jennifer Duncan on Mar 06, 2016
    is this sturdy enough to hold a printer on top of it?
  • Leslie Leslie on Mar 09, 2016
    Did you get the table tops on sale or in the damaged area because online the tops are 14.00 which is a far cry from what you paid :) I am thinking a plywood sheet cut up at Lowes or HD would be much cheaper. Great idea though thumbs up :)
  • Margaret Sylvia Hillman Margaret Sylvia Hillman on Mar 24, 2019

    Now that you have had it a while, does it sag in the middle?

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  • Joy Renee Joy Renee on Dec 01, 2015
    you are a genius and i love you for it!! I'm designing my new art studio and this solves a lot of problems for me. thank you! Joy :)
    • Jonathan Fong Jonathan Fong on Dec 01, 2015
      @Joy Renee Yay, I'm so glad you can use this idea, Joy! I know it was so hard to find a storage solution for large papers.
  • Ilivetoshop4you Ilivetoshop4you on Jan 13, 2022

    Hi Sarah thought what does other ways of doing it as well great idea I do like the plywood idea better it will be cheaper and you gonna have a cut to the correct dimensions need

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