How To Spray Paint a File Cabinet (and the occasional ceramic duck)

I've been in love with chalk paint for awhile now, ever since using it on the insides of my kitchen cabinets. 

This week, I discovered another great chalkboard paint idea.

I painted my file cabinet with it.

Well, sorta. 

But, before we talk about the makeover, you should probably know how I got it.

I was outside the other day checking our mail and I spied  something silver sitting on the end of our neighbor's driveway. Of course, being enamored with all things silver/free, I crept down the street to check it out, and I found this little fella with a free sign on it. 

It was straight from the Seventies and it weighed about 100 pounds, so naturally I tried to lug it down the street by myself. 

I wiggled it about four feet and and it got stuck.

In the middle of the street, people.

So, I left it in the middle of the street and ran back home and made a sign that said 'The neighbor is taking this. SOLD.' or something to that effect. And then I nervously peeped out my window for the next 3 hours until Jesse came home and could help me move it. 

It was still in the street when he got home.

And that, friends, is just a totally normal story about how to procure a filing cabinet.

Am I right or am I right?

Anyways, here's what the file cabinet looked like when I first wiggled it home. It was really beaten up and dirty. However, it was a total score because I've been needing a file cabinet for awhile. It was definitely made backintheday when they made things well. 

It's super sturdy and burly, like the Paul Bunyan of file cabinets. 

Meet Paul.

So, I cleaned it off really well and then I removed the drawers. Then, I used two light coats of this (affiliate link) high quality black spray paint. I learned not to skimp on the spray paint quality after my last disaster.

While I was letting that dry, I painted the drawers with black chalkboard paint. 

This is what the drawers looked like after just one coat. I ended up doing two coats. In my experience, chalk paint adheres really well, so I didn't bother priming. You may want to...it's up to you. I also covered the hardware with some masking tape and used my silver leaf Rub n Buff (affiliate link) to make all the hardware look new and pretty.

When everything was finished and dry, I put it all back together and labeled the drawers with my favorite Bistro chalk pen (affiliate link). It writes like a pen, but looks like chalk, and it's awesome. 

I accessorized Paul with a cute silver tray and some fresh flowers.

Just what every Paul needs.

All in all, I'm loving Paul and finding him to be quite useful.

He fits right in with all of my other black painted thrifty furniture.

Oh, and Paul wasn't the only recent addition to the office.

I also found a wooden organizer at the thrift store that I spray painted white, and use for all my envelopes and paper.

I also found the coolest little duck ever. He's proven himself to be a really great pen/scissors holder.

Look out, Paul.

 If you come across fun ceramics at a thrift store, you can paint them with a high gloss white spray paint and they'll look just like the brand new ceramics you see all over the place right now!

Here is the duck before.

And the duck after.

I also spruced up the bookshelf with some fabric bins. 

Just to keep things organized. 

That bookshelf turns into a hoarder zone fast.

I also found a random red stapler at the thrift store.

And those are all of the updates for today! 

Paul says bye.

'Til next time!

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