Everyone has to store some papers and folder at one time or another in the home or in the office. You can always put some file in boxes or pile them on your desk, but nothing beats a good wooden file cabinet when you have lots of documents. You can keep all the important stuff close and it takes care of a lot of clutter, making your office look more professional. But how to you choose the right file cabinet?
First, you will have to take a look at your space and your needs to see what kind of cabinet would fit better. A vertical cabinet can store a lot of files in a small space since there are models with 2, 3 or 4 drawers, but the larger top of a lateral cabinet can be used to display or store other things if you have the space for one. Also, there are cabinets for the most common paper sizes, letter and legal, so choose one that fits the paper you use.
In addition, you should check the strength and construction of the drawers in particular and of the whole cabinet in general. Do the drawers slide out well and can you access most of the drawer? Is the locking mechanism, if there is one, is easy and convenient to use? For a longer lasting cabinet, you should avoid particle boards that can bend and wrap with time and choose a cabinet made from real oak, maple or cherry wood. You should also avoid plastic since it can yellow and crack and looks pretty cheap in an office. Metal cabinet can also be good, but they're not a very nice piece of furniture.
Finally, you should take a look at special features that may be necessary for your particular case. If you want to store important documents or medical files, you will probably want a strong lock and a fire proof cabinet. But if you need to move around a lot with your file, a rolling cabinet may be the best option.
In conclusion, there are many ways to store files, but nothing else is like a file cabinet even if you get a cheap or used one. You will have all your files close so you can be more productive and make your office look cleaner by getting rid of all those stray folders and papers on your desk.