DIY Faux Card File Chest

9 Materials
$250
2 Days
Medium

You can use an IKEA Cabinet for this project.

16 cube IKEA unit in storage

Are you a lover of Card File Chest? Anything with small drawers, even if the drawers are fake, it will catch my attention. I decided to attempt an IKEA HACK by building a DIY Faux Card file chest)out of this 16 cube storage unit. This will be perfect for storing my gardening supplies.

When we purchased the unit from IKEA, we purchased 3 door and drawer inserts to hide the stored items. Since 8 door inserts were needed for this project, it was necessary to purchase an additional 5. Thankfully, IKEA still sell the inserts.

Supplies and Tools needed click here

It is necessary to drill a hole the size of the screw attached to the wooden foot. You will also need leg mounting plates to attach the feet. Center the mounting plates over the drilled hole and attached with included screws. Then screw the wooden feet into place. We then moved the cabinet into the greenhouse to finish the project.

Next, it's time to paint if you want to change the color of your cabinet. At this point I have decided to make the existing cabinet look like it's two separate pieces. A larger piece at the bottom and the apothecary cabinet at the top. The existing cabinet has a slick surface and chalk paint does stick to this surface really well. I listed a Rust-olelum brand that is easy to find above.


Next, apply wax to seal the paint


You want to be sure you space the wooden drawer fronts evenly on the door insert. Use wood screws that are 1 inch long to attach your hardware and your wooden drawer fronts, securing them firmly to the door insert. I used label holder pulls for my hardware. The screw goes in from the front on these label holder pulls from D. Lawless Hardware, making them perfect for this project. The same pulls are used on Our Farmhouse Kitchen Island.

The upper Apothecary Cabinet Section appears to be sitting on top of a more primitive vintage piece. See more details here.

I hope you like this IKEA Flip. It's exactly how I envisioned the project and am thrilled with the results. This will provide much-needed storage for the greenhouse.

Resources for this project:
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  2 questions
  • Carolina's Art Carolina's Art on Jul 11, 2020

    This is absolutely gorgeous!! I love it so much I want to make one but I am confused about the top part. Are they drawers or just covers? do they open and if they do, how?

  • Dmotan Dmotan on Dec 17, 2020

    Aren't the top apothecary drawers just attached as a false front with no real pull out drawers?


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