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DIY Timber Magazine Files

DIY Timber Magazine Files | Saltbush Avenue

You might be thinking to yourself, “Aren’t magazine files already easy to find and pretty cheap?” It gets even easier and cheaper, my friend. One sheet of plywood = EIGHTEEN files! And at $3.50 a pop, no less. The bookshelf in my study just got re-organised in a sturdy, stylish way.

DIY Timber Magazine Files - pieces | Saltbush Avenue

I was inspired by Ana White’s plans for the same, and I followed her cut list on a 4’ x 4’ sheet of plywood (half of a full-size sheet). One full sheet makes 18 files!! I made 9 and even that felt generous.

DIY Timber Magazine Files - Diagram | Saltbush AvenueDIY Timber Magazine Files - Diagram | Saltbush Avenue

I used a half-sheet (4′ x 4′) of plywood, 1/4″ thick. (I sprang for hardwood ply, because I’m worth it.) I also used a 1×4 length of timber, 8ft long, some PVA and painter’s tape. You can read about my cut list and the full step-by-step tutorial in my recent article on Homedit.

DIY Timber Magazine Files | Saltbush Avenue

I assembled the pieces with glue and painter’s tape to hold them together overnight. The next day, I added a touch of wood putty in some of the cracks for a flush finish. I lightly sanded off the excess glue and putty.

DIY Timber Magazine Files | Saltbush Avenue

I went for a very simple finish on these files, in a similar vein to my Scandi dresser makeover, using semi-gloss white paint and danish oil. I even applied little felt feet to the bases, just for that extra surface protection.

DIY Timber Magazine Files | Saltbush Avenue

I let the magazine files cure for a few days, and then brought them to my study and filled ’em up. I like the severe profile of my files, all straight lines and solid-coloured panels. If I’m going to the trouble to make files out of plywood and not cardboard or whatever, I want the wood to be obvious.

There are so many ideas for customising them with your own designs: stripes, stencils, crosses, polka dots, decoupage… it’s endless. You can also find label plates at a craft store and add those on if you wish.

(The bookshelf is another DIY project, which we made out of cut steel. Yay welding!)

DIY Timber Magazine Files | Saltbush Avenue

This bookshelf is looking tidier than ever. Even IKEA couldn’t sell me wooden magazine files this cheaply — if you need loads of these, definitely give it a shot making your own!

This project first appeared on an article I wrote for Homedit. I hope it’s not tacky if I share a few DIY ideas that I’ve written about for other sites on my main blog as well.


 

Check out my other updates in the study: Initial plansflat file storageDIY linen-weave roller blindsgiving the disused fireplace a makeoversetting up a dedicated tea stationrefurbishing the timber desk; assembling a workbench and inspiration board.

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5 thoughts on “DIY Timber Magazine Files”

  1. Pingback: 19 Cute and Easy DIY Home Accessories and Décor Projects - Style Motivation

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