3 Expert Tips To Choose Office Storage Cabinets

There are two main types of office storage cabinets. Which one works best for you will depend a lot on the makeup of your office, or the place in which you plan on storing and using your office storage cabinet.

The two main types are:

• Vertical office cabinets. These function much like a wardrobe, as large, vertical shelved units. Some have drawers, others just have shelves with optional accessories such as vertical file storage. In most cases, they will have at least one pair of vertical doors to open, to best keep all of your office storage supplies out of sight as much as is possible.

• Horizontal office cabinets. These are often referred to as credenzas; however, they are just long, wide, short file drawers. There will typically be at least one set of doors, or a sliding door, that covers shelves or pull-out paper file systems. They typically hit at about hip height.

Which one works for you depends a lot on how you use your office! For example, if you don't have a lot of floor space and you need to depend instead on taking advantage of your vertical space, you should likely consider a vertical office cabinet. On the other hand, if you have a lot of room to work with, going with a credenza is a good choice. With a credenza, you will likely have to plan on accessing the storage from a seated position, so positioning it near a desk or a natural place where you might have a chair will likely allow for the most ease of use. Then, you'll have vertical space in which to hang shelves, art, or other visual works.

Because office storage cabinets are essentially large pieces of furniture, you'll find that they come in many different materials, just as a table or chair might. From aluminum locker-style cabinets to classy mixes of dark wood and clear glass, you have many different options! Here are the most popular:

• Plastic: While it might not seem like a viable long-term option for your home, plastic office storage cabinets are lightweight - which makes them both versatile and portable. Plastic is a good choice if you think you'll need to move the storage cabinet around, and especially if you're worried about any dampness or water exposure to the cabinet.

• Metal: Metal storage cabinets can give off an industrial look, particularly aluminum. If you're going for a locker kind of vibe, these types of storage cabinets are a great idea! However, you'll want to make sure that they're not in direct sunlight, as they will get hot.

• Wood: For the most classic, formal look for an office storage cabinet, turn to an all-wood version. These can be stained or painted any color or shade of your choice to best match the aesthetic you need. A wood cabinet is a good choice if you're looking for a versatile piece that will last you a long time.

• Glass: All glass or wood-and-glass cabinets are great for feeling classy but also giving you the accessibility of a full view of your documents at a glance. However, this also means that your office will look significantly busier; you'll likely have to invest more time into keeping your documents and office supplies organized and clean if you have a glass cabinet, just so everything looks nice and tidy.

Depending on how you'll be using it, there are several different things that you might want to keep an eye out for. Office storage cabinets, after all, can range from simple shelving units all the way to high-security vaults! Here's a quick rubric of some features to remember when you're looking for your office storage unit:

• How much security do you need? If you would feel more comfortable putting your documents behind lock and key, look for an office storage cabinet with a locking mechanism. There are versions that come with physical keys, or you could think about one with an electronic code for added security.

• Will your needs feature primarily paper storage? If so, it's likely a good idea to look for an office storage cabinet that has multiple drop-down file systems for the most efficient and easy-to-use file system. However, if you're not sure that you're going to need that much dedicated room for paper storage, look for a cabinet with shelves that you could later customize as your needs change.

• Do you know what your needs will be over the next few years, or would a versatile, expandable office storage cabinet be a good idea? There are some storage cabinets that offer add-ons or built-ins that you can opt to purchase later, perhaps after you get an idea for how the furniture will support your office (or if your business needs end up changing anytime in the near future). For example, if you purchase a horizontal credenza-style office storage cabinet, consider whether it could stack nicely or support the weight of a smaller storage cabinet on top of it. Leaving yourself the option to effectively double your storage in the future is very likely an option that your future self will love to have.