Surface Color and Design

• Eliminate that boring, sheet metal look on the surface. Painting the surface of the cabinet a unique color is one method. If you clean and sand the cabinet, apply a primer that supports a metal surface and use metal-based paint to ensure the best color and long lasting results.
  Adding a wood veneer surface to the metal filing cabinet is another way to make it different. It's easy to install and eliminates the metallic, susceptible-to-rust look.
  
  

Simple Solutions

• If you're not looking for a huge project, some simple additions can be enough. Adding magnets are a quick and inexpensive solution. Magnets come in various designs and sizes and can easily accommodate any theme you might be going for.
  You can also hang up small posters on the sides and top. Use magnets, tape or sticky putty to keep them hanging. Purchase basic posters from any general store or make your own designs. Print pictures on your own printer or choose a nice image or design and take it to a professional printing store like Kinko's or NextDayFlyers.com. These places can add any special effects you'd like to them and save you from using your own ink and paper.