DIY Filing Cabinet for a Home Office

This project was built and designed by Alex from Bevelish Creations. It’s a sleek and functional filing cabinet that adds modern style and practical organization to any home office space.

With a black-stained ash case and walnut drawer fronts, this piece blends strong design with thoughtful woodworking techniques. The entire process is documented on Alex’s YouTube channel and highlights clever solutions for storage, aesthetics, and day-to-day usability.

Watch the full video and subscribe to Alex’s channel:

A Stylish Fix for Office Clutter

Keeping paperwork in order is one of the biggest challenges in a home office. This filing cabinet solves that problem by creating dedicated storage space for letter-sized hanging folders.

The design doesn’t sacrifice looks for function. With rich walnut drawer fronts paired with deep black-stained ash, the piece brings warmth and contrast into a workspace, offering a solution that feels both professional and handcrafted.

Material Choices That Elevate the Design

The cabinet frame is built from ash, a durable hardwood with an open grain that takes stain well. Instead of using resin or paint, Alex applies Rubio Monocoat’s black stain to deepen the tone while preserving the wood’s texture.

For the drawer fronts, walnut is selected for its natural color and tight grain. It’s finished with a light oil, which enhances the beauty without darkening the wood too much. The mix of these two woods creates a sophisticated appearance that fits a variety of office styles.

Starting the Build: The Cabinet Case

Ash boards are first cut down and glued together to form wide panels for the cabinet body. To prevent warping, Alex takes extra care during the glue-up process, clamping and aligning the boards precisely.

After trimming the panels to final size, the cabinet is assembled using dowel joinery. This method allows for clean, strong joints while keeping the external faces free of fasteners. Proper alignment is critical here to maintain square lines and a professional finish.

Once assembled, the cabinet case is stained using Rubio Monocoat’s Precolor Easy in Intense Black, followed by Oil Plus 2C in Charcoal. The combination creates a rich matte finish that protects the wood and gives it a smooth, modern feel.

Building the Drawer Boxes

The drawer boxes are also made from ash to match the cabinet case. Alex installs Blum undermount drawer slides, known for their smooth, quiet motion and hidden hardware.

To install the hardware accurately, Alex uses drawer slide jigs and templates. These tools simplify hole placement and ensure that each drawer fits perfectly within its opening. Once the boxes are assembled and sanded, they’re stained to match the case for a cohesive look.

Adding Walnut Drawer Fronts

The walnut drawer fronts are made from solid stock. Boards are carefully selected and glued as needed to create panels large enough for the lower drawer, while single boards are used for the smaller upper drawers.

Each front is fitted with an inset recess to house low-profile pulls. This creates a sleek appearance and keeps the fronts flush. After final sanding, the walnut is finished with a natural oil to enhance its tone while preserving the grain.

The drawer fronts are then mounted carefully to each box, with special attention paid to alignment and spacing for a clean and consistent reveal.

Interior Hardware and Organization

Inside the drawers, Alex installs metal folder hangers that clip onto the top edges. These guides are trimmed to size to fit the interior dimensions and allow standard hanging folders to slide freely.

This setup helps organize documents like tax records, receipts, or business paperwork without adding extra drawer components. The hangers are removable and can be adjusted if future storage needs change.

Added Mobility and Practical Details

Small casters are added to the bottom of the cabinet, giving it mobility while keeping it stable when in place. This allows the cabinet to be tucked under a desk or rolled to a different location as needed.

A lesson learned during the build involved the hanging folders themselves. Their top tabs added unexpected height, which caused drawer clearance issues. To fix it, Alex trimmed the internal drawer walls slightly—an easy adjustment that preserved the original design while restoring smooth operation.

A Well-Balanced Woodworking Project

This filing cabinet stands out for its combination of thoughtful design and real-world practicality. The choice of materials, attention to finish, and clean joinery all contribute to a project that feels refined and useful.

It’s also a great example of how woodworking can solve everyday problems—by creating custom furniture that fits your exact space and needs. Whether you’re dealing with piles of paper or just want a nicer-looking office setup, this project delivers.

Learn more about this project here: https://www.rockler.com/learn/file-cabinet-project-plan/.

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