Disappear Your Printer Clutter with a Concealing Cabinet
That pesky printer on your desk constantly in sight can make even the most organized office feel cluttered. Wires tangled around it, the occasional blinking light, and having to crane your neck around it are all reasons you may want your printer to disappear. But going paperless isn't always feasible. The good news is there are clever ways to conceal your printer inside a cabinet or piece of furniture. This opens up desk real estate and reduces visual clutter for a tidier workspace.
Hiding your printer in a cabinet also makes your office look cleaner and more put together. The sight of tech gadgets and cords can make your desk appear haphazard. Stashing the printer out of direct eyesight streamlines the look of your workspace. No more annoying printer impeding your line of vision or cramping your style.
Why Hide Your Printer?
There are several excellent reasons to conceal your printer inside a closed cabinet or enclosure:

- Reduce visual clutter in your home office or workspace
- Create a cleaner, more organized look
- Free up desk and counter space by getting the printer off surfaces
- Conceal unwanted tech eyesores from view
Having a printer, scanner, fax machine, and other gadgets strewn across your desk or countertop makes for a disjointed appearance. Your workspace ends up looking more like a computer lab than a functional home office. Hiding the printer inside furniture gets it out of sight and gives you back valuable real estate.
With your printer discreetly tucked away in a cabinet, the space it previously occupied can be reclaimed. Now you can spread out with room for office supplies, notebooks, coffee mugs or framed photos. Your entire desk area will look more coherent and less crowded.
Choosing the Right Cabinet for Concealing Your Printer
Selecting an appropriately sized cabinet is imperative for effectively hiding your printer. Take into account the dimensions of your printer so you choose furniture that can accommodate it.
Measure printer dimensions - get a cabinet slightly larger
Take measurements of your printer's height, width and depth. Be sure to measure from the absolute widest and tallest points for an accurate reading. The interior cabinet dimensions should exceed the printer size by at least 2 inches on all sides.
This provides you enough room inside the cabinet to maneuver the printer around. It also leaves space for printer cables, extra paper, and other supplies you may want to keep in the enclosure.
Ensure enough depth and height to contain the printer
Many shallow cabinets or drawer chests don't offer enough depth to house a full-size printer. Make sure the cabinet depth can fully contain the depth of your printer, including space for wires in the back.
Larger or bulkier printers also need enough vertical space to fit comfortably inside the cabinet. Double check the cabinet height against your printer height to avoid issues.
Get a sturdy cabinet that can hold printer weight
Don't stash your heavy printer inside flimsy furniture unable to hold the weight. Choose a solid wood, steel or iron cabinet with enough heft to securely support the printer weight.
Test the sturdiness before putting your printer inside. Make sure the cabinet or shelves don't bow or sag under the weight. This prevents collapse, equipment damage or accidents.
Opt for wider cabinets if you have a large printer
Standard printer stands may not cut it for oversized office printers. Look for an extra wide cabinet, at least 20 inches in width or more. Large storage cabinets and wide drawer chests can usually house bigger printers.
Just be cautious of making cabinets too deep for accessibility. Find the ideal width and depth combo to comfortably contain your plus-sized printer.
Cabinet Types That Can Hide a Printer
You have options when it comes to choosing a printer-concealing cabinet style. Consider which furniture type best suits your space and accessibility needs.
- Storage cabinet with doors to fully enclose the printer
- Office cabinet with shelves and space for printer
- Filing cabinet or drawer chest - use lower drawers
- Printer stand specifically sized for your printer
- Rolling file cabinet for easy accessibility
Closed storage cabinets with front doors are ideal for fully hiding the printer away. But open office cabinets or drawer chests with shelves also work if you don't mind partial visibility.
Just designated printer stands and compact cabinets are made to neatly accommodate printers. For easy wheeling access, a rolling file cabinet is perfect.
Important Cabinet Features for Printer Concealment
Look for these helpful cabinet characteristics when selecting furniture to conceal your printer:
- Doors, drawers, or rolling base to access printer when needed
- Inlets, cutouts, or ports for running printer cables
- Neutral color like black, white or wood to blend into office
- Locking cabinet to secure printer if needed
Cabinets with front doors or rolling drawers allow you access to operate the printer when required. Cutouts and ports make threading printer wires easy.
Blend the cabinet into your decor with a neutral wood, black or white color scheme. And lock up your pricey printer in a secure cabinet if desired.
Clever Placement Ideas for Hiding Your Printer in a Cabinet
Get creative with where you place the printer-concealing cabinet in your office or workspace. Here are some clever ideas:
- Inside a storage cabinet with doors to fully conceal it
- Below a desk in a rolling file cabinet you can pull out
- On a shelf inside an office cabinet or large drawer chest
- On top of a locking file cabinet out of sight but accessible
- Inside furniture style printer stand that blends into the room
Tuck the printer away completely hidden inside an enclosed storage cabinet. Or stash the printer on a rolling file cabinet underneath your desk you can wheel out when needed.
A spacious drawer chest or office cabinet with shelving can house the printer partially out of sight. Place the printer on top of a metal filing cabinet for convenient access.
Printer stands crafted like furniture seamlessly blend in versus looking like an office storage piece. Place it behind your desk chair nestled between bookcases or other furniture.
Accessibility Considerations for a Hidden Printer
While concealing your printer, you still need access to operate it. Keep these tips in mind:
- Ensure you can easily open the cabinet doors or drawers
- Use a rolling file cabinet you can wheel over when printing
- Place the printer near the cabinet front for easy wire access
- Leave enough wire slack to pull printer out of deep cabinets
- Consider a cabinet with back cutouts for printer cables
Cabinets with minimal maneuvering room won't work. Make sure doors fully open and drawers glide easily.
Rolling file cabinets let you access the printer anywhere needed. Place the printer close to the cabinet opening for quick connectivity access.
Allow plenty of printer wire slack to remove the printer without disconnecting it. Or use a cabinet with built-in wire management ports.
Decor Tips for a Hidden Printer Cabinet
Completely disguising your printer cabinet will make your office space more cohesive. Use these decor tricks:
- Place decor items like books, baskets or framed art on top
- Choose cabinet style and color that matches office decor
- Hide printer in cabinet complementary to existing furniture
- Stage the cabinet area like any other furniture, not just printer hideaway
A row of framed family photos, ornamental basket or decorative books on top prevents it from appearing like a printer cabinet.
Opt for cabinet colors and style similar to the other cabinets and furniture in your office space. Using corresponding designs make it blend seamlessly into the existing decor.
Treat the printer cabinet like any other furniture. Adorn it with lamps, plants or artwork so it looks like it belongs there.
Don't love the idea of a bulky cabinet? Consider these other printer concealment options:
- Place inside closet on shelf if space allows
- Hide under desk in enclosed pedastal cabinet
- Conceal behind a screen or room divider
- Tuck inside furniture nook or cubby space
Stashing the printer on a closet shelf can remove it from view if you have room. An enclosed desk pedestal neatly hides it under the work surface.
Situate the printer behind a decorative screen, bookshelf or room divider. Look for tight furniture nooks and cubbies to tuck it out of sight.
With a little imagination, you can turn that printer into a hiding spot. No need to tolerate a bulky, eyesore printer when smart cabinet solutions abound. Simply stow it away inside coordinating furniture and enjoy a tidier, more stylish workspace.