IKEA filing cabinet: At last, an easy, perfect solution

·June 25, 2019·12 Comments

This has got to be the simplest IKEA hack ever. I did some online research and did not find any simple ways of using IKEA KALLAX shelves as a filing cabinet for hanging files.

However I have the KALLAX in my home office and they are useful and better looking than my old metal filing cabinet. So I decided to find a way…

IKEA items used:

Any KALLAX shelves
DRÖNA boxes

Other materials and tools:

Elba X-Cross Suspended Filing Basket (available on Amazon)

DIY Easy IKEA filing cabinet:

A short time on Amazon and I found the Elba X-Cross Suspended Filing Basket. Dimensions (W x D x H): 362 x 324 x 276 mm.

This would fit into the KALLAX cubes perfectly if I slid them in sideways. My original idea was simply to do this.

However, when they arrived and I assembled them, I discovered that they fit, perfectly, into the DRÖNA box for the KALLAX (which I luckily had already).

27 Euro for each hanging file unit (I bought two), and a few more for hanging files to put in them. (I had some already).

Elba Go-Fix 84408Sw Suspension Filing Basket

Now the basket slipped into a DRÖNA.

And finally two of these in the KALLAX. Voilà! An IKEA filing cabinet. Easy hack, happy days!

You can just about see the ugly old filing cabinet to the left of the KALLAX.

In my case the KALLAX was already on wheels so I can move it near my desk if I am doing paperwork.

Even the cat likes it!

An easy tweak made this desk set-up more affordable

And yes, that’s an IKEA manual standing desk, and an IKEA office chair. It is, in fact, a very comfortable and functional space.

The files are easy to access by pulling the boxes partially or fully out. The Elba fits tightly and provides the DRÖNA a rigidity that means the weight of the files does not cause the box to crumple up.

And the room is much nicer to look at without the filing cabinet!

~ by Allen HP

Jules Yap

Jules Yap started IKEAHackers.net in 2006 as a personal blog to showcase the most impressive IKEA hacks from all over the world. Since then, she has learned a lot more about power tools and DIY. Her site has helped thousands modify IKEA furniture with step-by-step tutorials, craft projects and home styling.

Jules is the author of IKEAHackers.net: 25 Biggest and Best Projects".