Filing Cabinets Explained: How to Choose the Perfect Metal Filing Cabinet for Your Home Office
13/04/2026
Since we’ve spent over 90 years crafting sturdy, stylish pieces with care, durability, and expert British craftsmanship, we thought it was about time we, the storage experts, explained a home office staple: the filing cabinet.
We’ll be exploring why filing cabinets continue to stay relevant, covering various filing options, how you can make the most out of your filer and tips on choosing the best metal filing cabinet for your home office. Let’s walk through the basics together.
A brief history of filing as we know it
As long as there’s been paper, there’s been places to store it away but filing as you may know it – AKA “vertical filing” – was invented towards the end of the 19th century to make finding the right documents much, much easier. Before vertical filing arrived on the scene, businesses would keep files in wall-lined pigeonholes so you can imagine how much of a pain it was to find what you were looking for! With vertical filing, documents are lined up behind one another in an upright position, so that finding that file doesn’t feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Why filing still matters today
Even with so many of us now working from home and moving towards a more paperless way of doing things, filing cabinets are still totally relevant in today’s world. Here are four reasons why:
The most practical storage space for your home office
Much-needed home office helpers, filing cabinets keep your colouring pens, Christmas cards, arty bits and important documents organised and easily accessible. It’s a small change that can make your daily life feel a lot easier and one that helps to keep your mind clear as well.
Lifting your home office design
With plenty of stylish, modern metal filing cabinet designs out there nowadays, available in an array of bold and beautiful colours, these pieces can add joy to your home office aesthetic. Either maintaining a slick cohesive look, adding zest with a bold focal point or creating clear zones as a space-divider, filing cabinets can be just the thing you need to shape your visual landscape just how you like it.
Keeping your documents safe and sound
As the times have moved on, many metal filing cabinets are now lockable, meaning you can store away sensitive documents, personal certificates and IDs, like your passport, in your home office with your mind at ease.
Home office storage you can really rely on
Filing cabinets are usually made from metal meaning they are incredibly durable, making for a smart way to store files, stationery or technology in your home office for decades and decades, when properly cared for.
Step into a world of filing types
These days, when it comes to filing, there are two main types: vertical and lateral. Here’s how they differ.
Two sides of the same coin: vertical and lateral filing
Vertical filers, as you may have noted, were the first kind of filing cabinet to arrive, where upright documents are organised one behind the other in narrow, usually taller, cabinets. This means you can enjoy the simplicity of flicking through files front to back to find just the thing you’re searching for. Vertical filers are also a great option if you’ve got an awkward alcove in your home office and want to put it to good use.
Lateral filing, however, is where upright documents are filed next to each other, rather than behind each other, meaning you look through from left to right (or right to left). These cabinets are usually much wider than vertical filers and usually shorter, making them great perches for printers, whilst also having large capacity for file storage.
Both vertical and lateral filing cabinets generally come in three sizes A4, A3 and foolscap. Foolscap is a paper size that is slightly larger than A4 so if using foolscap-sized drawers, A4 documents won’t be squashed and are kept in better condition – pretty nifty, eh? A4 size is great if you only have a few files and are looking for a more snug approach, whereas, foolscap gives you that extra bit of room to spread out and stay on top of things.
What on earth is suspension filing?
We wish we could say that suspension filing is a really exciting, document-sorting style but it’s more practical than pulse-racing… It’s more about the fact that your files are suspended in the air or, to put it more simply, aren’t touching the bottom of the filing cabinet.
The way this works is you place your files into labelled folders which feature a lightweight bar running across the top with hooks on either side. These hooks then rest on top of rails fitted inside your cabinet so your folder can slide back and forth as you flip through. Not only does it avoid file damage by keeping them from slumping at the bottom of the drawer, but with labelled folders, it quite literally couldn’t be easier to find the right file. Not to forget, with files organised upright and tight against each other, like sardines in a tin, you really can maximise the storage space you have.
How to file if you’re not a fan of suspension filing
Although suspension filing is widely considered the superior filing type due to its ease of use, you may find some of these alternatives helpful too.
Traditional folders with compressor plates and drop-in bases
You may prefer to use traditional folders that sit at the bottom of the drawer, rather than hanging, and use a drop-in base and compressor plates to put pressure on the files so you can squeeze more in. You can also place your drop-in base into your existing cabinet drawer to split your drawer between suspension filing, traditional folders and stationery storage with the help of the heavy plates. Your metal filing cabinet really can cater to all your home office storage needs with this simple accessory.
Lever arch files, ring binders and box files
These types of files are usually made from sturdy cardboard and can then be labelled and slid into your filer, storage cabinet or shelving unit. The best perk is you can have all files linked to one topic in one neat little place and can easily take out the whole lot to peruse from the comfort of your desk. Lever arch and ring binders open like a book and are ideal for study notes or sheet music, whereas box files are strong boxes, which are great for organising your craft papers, paint brushes or momentos.
Keeping it horizontal with flat filing
Flat filing really is what it says on the tin. Instead of your documents sitting upright, they’re lying down – a bit like settling in for a long, relaxed afternoon. For this kind of filing, you’ll be better off with flat office drawers, such as our iconic MultiDrawers, which are specifically designed to keep flat files organised with lots of sections to keep everything in order. We love seeing how you use your MultiDrawers at home for stationery, crafty bits and keeping those precious birthday cards and photographs close by.
No matter the size of your home office, there’s a metal filing cabinet for you
Every WFH setup is different which is why filing cabinets are available in such a huge variety of sizes to cater to your needs. To run you through the options in the simplest way possible, we’ve broken sizes down into two simple categories: small and large.
Making the most out of compact home offices with small metal filing cabinets
For those dealing with cramped corners or really wishing to maximise the space they have, take a look at compact filing cabinets. For instance, you can pick 2-drawer cabinets or 3-drawer filers that can be easily slid underneath your desk and ensure your WFH essentials are within arm’s reach.
If you’re looking for more tips on making the most out of your small home office, take a look at our blog.
Livin’ it large with big filers
If you’ve got the luxury of space in your home office, you may be looking for a large metal filing cabinet. We recommend choosing a 3-drawer filer or 4-drawer cabinet, which can come with attachable plinths to make them higher and castor bases so you can wheel them about to your heart’s desire.
And if you’re after a real showstopper, let us introduce the plan chest. It’s ideal for storing large A0 and A1 files, such as architectural blueprints or artists’ drawings, not to mention they burst on the scene in a striking range of colours. From Palest Pink to Golden Sunflower Yellow, these large filers can make a characterful impact on any home office, doubling up as a sturdy worktop for arts and crafts too.
Things to consider when deciding on the dream metal filing cabinet for your home office
By now, we’re hoping you’re starting to feel a little clearer about all the different kinds of filers out there. But, just in case you’re needing a little more guidance, we’ve put together some simple steps to help you select the best metal filing cabinet for your home office.
Get measuring
The first step to securing your ideal filing cabinet is to measure up the area you’d like to put it in. Remember, if you’re short on space, perhaps opt for a tall filing cabinet that can slot into an awkward alcove or take a look at under-desk storage. Revisit the section above for more ideas on sizes and remember to consider whether you need A4, A3 or foolscap-sized drawers.
Pick the filing type of your organisational dreams
Once you know how big you want your cabinet to be, make sure to choose a filing type that’s going to fit your needs and make your day-to-day run smoother. If you’ve got a high volume of files, we’d recommend going for a 3- or 4-drawer cabinet. Then, you can decide whether you’d like to use suspension filing, flat filing, folders or a mixture of the three!
Decide how important document security is to you
You probably have in your head by now what you’re going to use your new filing cabinet for, but have you considered whether your documents are sensitive and need to be stored securely? If so, a lockable option might be worth considering.
Think about how mobile you want your filing cabinet to be
Something you may not have thought about is how helpful it might be for your metal filer to be mobile, so you can access your bits and bobs more easily or switch up your home office layout in seconds. You can go for a cabinet that can be fitted with a castor base, like our F-Series Filer or if you’re looking for home office storage that’s mobile but has even more versatility than a filing cabinet, have a look at our Note Pedestal. It features a mixture of stationery and drawers that can be used to file documents.
Select a durable material for your filer
Most filing cabinets are made of metal due to their ability to hold lots of heavy files and their impressive longevity. We particularly recommend high-grade steel – a material we’ve been the experts on for many years – as it is the strongest and most durable.
Wooden filing cabinets also have good longevity, with the added bonus of wood finishes adding a warmth to the visual scene. However, they can be less easy to maintain as they are susceptible to moisture damage and often have less storage capacity than metal filing cabinets due to the wooden structures being bulkier.
Plastic could be the material for you if you are looking for something lighter, less expensive and more portable. Saying that, they’re lovely for smaller loads, but can get quite heavy if overfilled and plastic options also don’t do any favours for the environment.
Choose a colour and style for your metal filing cabinet that feels true to you and your home office
These days, there are so many filing cabinet designs out there that it’s simple to find something that either lifts or melts into your existing home decor.
Traditional cabinets tend to have handles folded into the steel, like our Home Filers, which makes for a uniform and sleek look.
Once you’ve found a style you like, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to colour too. From traditional neutrals, like Traffic White or Goose Grey to the more lively Bisley Orange for a pop of personality, you can easily find the perfect shade for your filing cabinet.
How to keep your home office super organised with your filing cabinet
When it comes to making the most out of your new filer, it’s all down to how you organise your files and the filing accessories you use to support that.
How to organise files so you can find what you need in seconds
Keeping your personal documents in order first requires a declutter: get everything spread out on the floor or a table and decide what needs to stay and what needs to go.
Once this is done, you can start to group your files into similar topics and depending on your preference, place them in suspension files, traditional folders or box files – and don’t forget to label them!
The devil’s in the detail with labelling systems
If you’ve got lots of files, you may find a labelling system is just what you need to help you find things quickly, especially when that last-minute passport panic hits.
If you’re a visual person, colour-coding might be a good one for you as well, for example, ‘red’ could be for finance and ‘blue’ for bills. Alternatively, you could order your files in alphabetical order, for instance, starting with ‘A’ for appliances, ‘B’ for bills, ‘C’ for cocktail menus and so on.
Keeping your filing cabinet in tip-top condition
We recommend you have a good declutter of your files at least once a year, as the paperwork really can pile up and you don’t need to keep everything forever. And who doesn’t mind decluttering when you’ve got the motivational tunes playing in your ear?
Once you’ve gotten all the files out of the cabinet, give each drawer a hoover to remove any dust and then wipe with a warm, damp cloth and mild detergent solution to keep them looking pristine. You can repeat this process for the top surface too.
That was a lot to squeeze in but here we are. Now you know why filing still matters, different types of filing cabinets and how to pick the best home office filing cabinet for you. All that’s left to do is browse some sturdy, sleek designs and get ready to become the most organised version of you.
Ready to get going? Explore our collection of metal filing cabinets today to find one that fits just right in your home office.
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