Home Office: Filing Cabinets

Some home offices require storage space for files and papers and therefore filing cabinets are a great addition to the office.  Filing cabinets come in different styles and sizes, depending on the features offered.

Types of Filing Cabinets

Most filing cabinets fall into two categories: lateral or vertical. Traditionally filing cabinets were of a vertical design that take up little space on a wall but are usually very deep. Lateral filing cabinets use more wall space but are much less deep. Most filing cabinets offer different features including fire-resistance, locking system, anti-tip mechanism, letter or legal size capacity etc. Rolling filing cabinets have casters attached underneath so that the unit can be easily moved. However these cabinets are better suited for light use in a home office.

Another consideration is the number of drawers needed. Typically a filing cabinet can range from two to five drawers. The type of material used to construct the filing cabinet can be metal, particle board, solid wood or even wicker. Choosing the type of material depends on the design of the home office.

Lateral cabinets for a home office are much more visually pleasing and might have some wood veneer and decorative handles and legs. They are generally smaller cabinets than their business counterparts as home offices typically have limited space.

Current Trends in Filing Cabinets

Current trends for filing cabinets in a home office include cabinets that are integrated into the rest of the office furniture. For instance, instead of purchasing a separate filing cabinet, the cabinet would be integrated into the desk and other cabinets in the office, giving a sleek and contemporary look.  Another option would be to have a designer come into the home office and design the room to the user’s needs. Often this means that the filing cabinets can be built right into the design of the desk.

As with many rooms in a house, even filing cabinets are becoming multi-functional. Filing cabinets in a home office are not just used for filing papers – they are also housing computer components and office supplies. Some filing cabinets incorporate a shelf into the design to keep a printer off the desk. Another use of filing cabinets could be to add some aesthetic appeal to the room by placing decorative accessories on the top of the cabinet. These accessories may include plants, vases of flowers, art etc. This can also give an un-cluttered look to a home office.

Pricing of Filing Cabinets

Filing cabinets for a home office can be costly depending on materials and size. Basic vertical or lateral filing cabinets tend to be less costly than solid wood ones with decorative aspects. Integrating the filing cabinet into the current desk design may not add too much to the overall cost of the room. Another price consideration is the features included in the filing cabinet. If the cabinet is fire-resistant, has a lock, has more than two drawers and so on, the price will increase. That is why it is necessary to think about the features needed and purpose of the filing cabinet prior to purchase.

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