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If you hate clutter and somehow find yourself spending more time looking for the documents you're after rather than doing the actual work, you need a filing cabinet! These functional bad boys are perfect to streamline your document management and optimize your workflow, whether you're based in a traditional office or at home. If you want, they can even feel cohesive with the rest of your existing furniture.
Not sure how to choose a filing cabinet that can fit all your papers without taking over the room? It's a good thing we've cataloged these expert tips for you!
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Filing cabinets come in a large variety of designs and materials, but understanding whether you need a vertical or lateral model will immediately help you weed out half of your options:
The number of drawers depends on two factors:
How much paperwork do you need to store? Run a little inventory, but make sure you leave some extra room as you're likely to build up more paperwork over the years; depending on what you're planning on storing in it, it might even be handy to have a separate drawer per type of documents;
What's the layout of your room? If it's rather wide and you could do with some additional storage space on top, a long two-drawer lateral cabinet will do; however, if you haven't got a lot of floor space, it's better to go for taller cabinets in thinner designs to avoid ending up with a crowded feel.
Filing cabinets are available in three main materials. Given the importance of what they're going to store, you should consider practical matters such as durability as well as personal preference and the style of your office or room:
Durable, sturdy and professional, metal is the best choice for office cabinets; however, usually monochrome and available in a variety of hues, metal cabinets can easily match the accent color in your room's palette, too;
Wood is another durable choice that, thanks to its traditional look, is better suited for home offices;
Available in different styles and finishes, these versatile filing cabinets will allow you to complement the style of your existing furniture or, if you prefer, be the main eye-catching accent piece in the room;
However, keep in mind that, in the rare but tragic event of a fire (especially in an office), your documents will undoubtedly be lost unless you specifically look for a fireproof model;
While it's not as durable and reliable as the other materials, plastic is a handy budget-friendly option, also available in lots of colors and designs and better suited for modern settings.
