Skip to playerSkip to main content
  • 2 hours ago
How An Old File Cabinet Can Make Your Porch Prettier And More Organized

ABOUT HOMETALK: Welcome to Hometalk! We are the world's largest DIY community, dedicated to helping you transform your home with budget-friendly ideas, clever hacks, and genius decor projects.

📱 FOLLOW US:
FACEBOOK → https://www.facebook.com/Hometalk
INSTAGRAM → https://www.instagram.com/hometalk
PINTEREST → https://www.pinterest.com/hometalk
TIKTOK → https://www.tiktok.com/@hometalk
Transcript
00:00Here are 11 trash-to-treasure flips that you can do to transform your space.
00:04Old filing cabinets can solve a super common problem on your porch.
00:09I took the drawers out, then I flipped it on its side.
00:12I grabbed a rubber doormat and placed it on the side, attaching it using construction adhesive.
00:18I put some boards on it to hold it in place while it dried, and then I used flat black
00:23spray paint to cover the whole thing.
00:25Then I filled the bottom with recycled cardboard and placed two faux plants inside.
00:31I surrounded the plants with more cardboard to hold them in place, and I topped it off the soil.
00:36It solves my porch decor problem without making me spend a fortune, and I don't even have to water it.
00:44If your potted plants are lacking dimension, here's the answer.
00:48I rescued some old lambs from the trash, headed to Home Depot for a wire basket, and got to work.
00:53First, I stripped away all the old wiring and hardware, since we don't need any of the electrical parts.
00:59To make sure the paint adhered properly, I applied a light, even coat of primer and let it dry completely.
01:06For the finish, I sprayed the smaller, ornate base with a textured hammer paint, and coated the taller base in
01:13a sleek, black paint.
01:14After mixing up a strong epoxy, I spread it over the flat top of the base and pressed the bottom
01:20of the wire planter right onto it.
01:23After letting it set for at least 30 minutes, I filled both baskets with potting soil and planted my favorite
01:29greenery inside them.
01:31It's an easy, inexpensive way to elevate your plants and add gorgeous height to your porch.
01:37Needs stylish storage, but don't want to spend a fortune on high-end woven baskets.
01:42When I saw someone throwing away a plain metal stool, I knew I could solve that.
01:45I brought it inside, grabbed a hot glue gun, and gathered some utility rope I had lying around.
01:51Starting at the base, I glued the rope down and carefully wrapped it around the legs, working my way all
01:56the way to the top.
01:57Taking your time here ensures consistent spacing between the strands, which gives it that professional finish.
02:04In just a few steps, an ugly discarded stool became a high-end designer basket.
02:09It works great for organizing dog toys or stashing extra throw blankets, but placing a tall, potted plant inside makes
02:16it the ultimate budget-friendly entryway centerpiece.
02:19All I need now is the plant.
02:21Is your garage or shed constantly cluttered with garden tools?
02:26Pick up an old filing cabinet at the thrift store or on Marketplace.
02:29I cleaned mine inside and out, raised it on two wood blocks, and painted it using fusion mineral paint in
02:36the shade ash with a paint roller.
02:38Next, I picked up a bundle of cedar strips from the hardware store.
02:42I measured the cabinet's width with one strip and cut the rest in bundles of five on my miter saw.
02:48Using heavy-duty hot glue meant for wood, I attached the cedar slats horizontally from top to bottom.
02:55Then, I screwed dollar store rack hooks along the upper wood strips for small hand tools.
03:01After placing the cabinet against the garage wall, I screwed a few reclaimed wood planks directly to the wall above
03:08it for a rustic backing and to protect the wall.
03:11Once I loaded the hooks with hand trowels and stored all my tall shovels and rakes inside, the garage went
03:17from chaotic to completely organized.
03:21Running out of space in your garden beds?
03:23Solved that problem with leftover rain gutters.
03:27I cut three gutter end caps in half on my miter saw and sealed them onto the ends of the
03:32gutter sections using a silicone sealant.
03:35Then, I measured two and a half inches from each end and drilled holes slightly larger than my rope.
03:41After giving the gutters a fresh coat of white spray paint, I cut two 8-foot pieces of rope, tied
03:48heavy knots in the end, and threaded them up through the drilled holes.
03:51I tied the top ends together, hung the assembly on the side of my shed, and added a center screw
03:58through each gutter section directly into the wall for extra stability.
04:02And now you have a gorgeous hanging garden that uses zero floor space.
04:06If you need some extra storage, don't buy basic shelving.
04:10I got a set of house shutters on Facebook Marketplace.
04:12Cut them in half, pulled out all the old nails, and gave them a deep clean.
04:16I love their natural rustic look, so I skipped painting them.
04:20I attached the side shutters using three 2-inch screws on each side.
04:24Leaving the back open allowed me to slide the wood boards straight into the louvered slats to create sturdy shelving
04:30tiers.
04:31It turned into an easy, rustic plant display built entirely from rescued materials.
04:36Solve entryway clutter with ceiling fan blades from the trash.
04:40I used one blade as a template to mark and drill mounting holes into the others.
04:45After laying the blades onto burlap fabric, I cut out matching strips and adhered them using a thick coat of
04:51Mod Podge.
04:52While those dried, I scuff sanded the original metal blade brackets, wiped off the dust, and painted them with a
04:59semi-gloss black spray paint.
05:01Once dry, I trimmed the burlap with scissors to get clean edges and reattached the brackets using the original nuts,
05:09bolts, and washers.
05:10To hide the exposed screw holes, I hot glued natural wooden plugs over them.
05:14Finally, I pre-drilled and attached brass cup hooks to the top of each blade and added stenciled industrial graphics
05:22for a cool look.
05:23Now my entryway has a custom, organized station for keys, coats, and bags.
05:29This rusted, broken garden bench was left out for the trash truck.
05:33I used a mini-wire brush to scrape away rust, debris, and flaking paint from the cast iron ends.
05:39Then I unbolted and discarded the rotten wood slats.
05:42After wiping the metal clean, I sprayed all the cast iron pieces with rust-oleum semi-gloss black paint.
05:49For the new seat, I ran fresh boards through my table saw to rip them down to the standard 1x3
05:56dimensions.
05:56I sanded them smooth and applied two coats of exterior clear varathane for weather protection.
06:03Finally, I reassembled the bench frame and secured the new wooden slats using sturdy screws.
06:09It completely transformed a piece of junk into a brand new outdoor seat.
06:16Need an accent table, but low on budget and space?
06:19I found a lone wooden drawer on the curb.
06:22I gave it a thorough cleaning, removed the old hardware, and gave it a quick scuff sanding.
06:27I applied a soft blue chalk paint over the entire drawer body and let it dry.
06:33Next, I took four old wooden furniture legs, sanded them down, and coated them in the exact same blue paint.
06:40Once everything was dry, I secured the legs to the bottom of the drawer using wood glue.
06:45To cover the plain exterior, I lined the bottom with a colorful patterned paper.
06:50Now it's an adorable custom nightstand or side table.
06:55Looking for a way to add storage and charm to a room without spending too much,
06:59I reclaimed an old wooden window frame and built a shadow box backing out of pallet wood.
07:05After dismantling the pallet and removing the nails,
07:07I sanded the boards and built a square frame to match the window dimensions,
07:12using pocket holes that I drilled with my Kreg jig.
07:14I added three interior shelves using pocket screws,
07:18sanded the original window frame,
07:20and replaced the old, crumbling caulk with fresh, white silicone.
07:25Next, I mounted decorative metal hinges to attach the window to the box frame.
07:30I added a glass knob and thoroughly cleaned the pane.
07:34After spraying the glass with soapy water,
07:36I applied a textured stained glass window film with a squeegee.
07:39It creates a stunning wall cabinet with built-in charm.
07:45Are your plants looking a little plain between flower blooms?
07:49Try picking up a bundle of old spoons, knives, and forks from the thrift store.
07:53I washed mine in soapy water and used the Dremel tool with a cutting wheel to cut off the handles.
07:59To build a metal butterfly,
08:01I arranged four spoon bowls around a decorative fork handle
08:04and bonded them using a strong metal adhesive.
08:08For the antenna, I bent leftover craft wire in half
08:11and glued it directly to the back of the handle.
08:13Once dry, you just tuck them right in among your plants.
08:17They add instant whimsy to your garden
08:19and give discarded cutlery a second life.

Recommended