Mit Modulen des WINEA MAXX Modulregals lassen sich auch bestehende Schränke und Sideboards der WINEA MAXX Familien aufwerten.

Turning Old into New:
How to Extend the Life of Your Existing WINEA MAXX Cabinets

Offices are changing: Teams grow or shrink, files move to the cloud, and private offices give way to open spaces with areas for collaboration and focus. Yet the office cabinets often remain sturdy and function perfectly. They just no longer fit the new spatial concept.

Before you buy new ones, it’s worth taking a look at what you already have. If you have WINEA MAXX cabinets from WINI in your office, you can upgrade them with new elements from the WINEA MAXX modular shelving system, repurpose them, and assign them new functions. This refurbishment doesn’t require replacing the cabinets.

Does your office need new cabinets—or new ways to use the ones you already have?

“We don’t need any more cabinets at all”—really?

With digital files and desk sharing, it’s easy to assume that office cabinets are becoming obsolete. In reality, what’s changing most is what’s inside the cabinet and the role it plays in the space:

Personal items need a place: If you no longer have a dedicated desk, you need a spot for your laptop, bag, and documents. Lockers are becoming more important with desk sharing
Shared materials remain: presentation kits, samples, technology, mail, and supplies must still be within easy reach and organized, even in a paperless office
Open spaces need structure: Cabinets separate work areas and divide large spaces. They create zones for concentration and collaboration without erecting walls
Cabinetry can improve room acoustics: Polyester fleece can be attached to the back panels of cabinets. Cabinets placed in the middle of the room to serve as room dividers, in particular, then have fewer surfaces that reflect sound

So the question isn’t so much whether an office needs cabinets. What matters is where they’re placed and what function they serve there.

What Can Be Changed on Existing WINEA MAXX Cabinets

WINEA MAXX is designed as a modular system: bases, handles, and tops can be swapped out or added without having to replace the entire cabinet. The WINEA MAXX modular shelving unit introduces new elements that are also compatible with existing WINEA MAXX cabinets. The WINEA MAXX modular shelving unit follows the same dimensional grid and the same system as the WINEA MAXX cabinets. This means that new modules can be placed on top of or attached to existing cabinets.

Farben, Oberflächen, Griffe des WINEA MAXX Modulregals

New Handles

Leather handles or L-shaped handles in seven metal finishes transform the front of the cabinet without having to replace the cabinet itself.

Detail: Sockel aus Echtholz für WINEA MAXX Modulregal und Schränke

New Bases

Modular bases made of steel or solid oak raise the cabinet 23.7 cm off the floor. This makes a filing cabinet look more like a piece of furniture.

WINEA MAXX Apotheker mit Modulregal-Aufsatz

Plant Displays

A plant display turns a row of cabinets into a green room divider that defines spaces and draws the eye.

WINEA MAXX Modulregal mit Alkove oder Sitznische, Sockel aus Echtholz und WINEA MAXX Caddie mit Regalaufsatz im Hintergrund

Shelf Modules

Modules from the WINEA MAXX modular shelving system can be placed on top of existing cabinets or attached to the side. The lower section remains closed storage space, while the upper section features open shelves for books, plants, or other items.

WINEA FLEX UP als akustisch wirksame hufgedoppelte Rückwand von Schränken oder Sideboards

Polyester fleece on the back panel

When a cabinet is moved away from the wall into the room, its back becomes visible. With polyester fleece on the back panel, this surface becomes a designed feature that reduces the number of hard, reflective surfaces in the room.

WINEA MAXX – Makeover vom klassischen Stauraum zum zeitgemäßen Möbel in der Fläche

From a filing cabinet to a room divider

A typical example: A row of WINEA MAXX cabinets used to stand against the wall and hold file folders. In the new room layout, less paper is filed away, so the open space needs to be organized.

With a new base, a plant stand or shelving unit, and polyester fleece on the back wall, the cabinets move away from the wall and into the room. They separate work areas, continue to provide storage space, and create a zone for brief conversations.

Reuse, Refurbish, Repurpose: What Happens When Office Cabinets Get a Makeover

In the circular economy, so-called “R” strategies describe how products and materials can be used for longer. According to the waste hierarchy set forth in the Circular Economy Act (§ 6 KrWG), waste prevention takes precedence over recycling. This also includes reusing products or extending their service life. When giving existing WINEA MAXX cabinets a makeover, several of these strategies work in tandem:

Strategy	Meaning	In the WINEA MAXX Makeover
Reuse	An existing piece of furniture remains in use	The cabinet frames remain in the office and continue to be used
Refurbish (Upgrade)	A piece of furniture is fitted with new parts and given a fresh look	New bases, leather handles, or angle handles change the appearance
Repurpose	A piece of furniture takes on a new function	The file cabinet against the wall becomes a room divider with storage space when fitted with a plant stand or shelving unit
Repair	Individual parts are replaced instead of the entire piece of furniture	The UPID label allows the product and model to be identified and parts to be reordered
Recycle (Material Cycle)	Material is turned into new material	New wooden parts are optionally available made from SARA panels, a particleboard made from 100% recycled waste wood

The same principle applies to tables: In the Maersk project in Hamburg, approximately 400 WINEA ECO tables are being fitted with new SARA panels and new control elements, while the frames remain in use.

Use It Longer: The Benefits of Reusing Office Furniture

A makeover extends the useful life of existing office cabinets. The cabinet bodies remain in use; the only new additions are bases, handles, tops, or shelving modules. This requires significantly less new material than building completely new cabinets, and results in less old furniture needing to be disposed of. From an economic standpoint, it’s also worth considering the entire lifespan of the furniture. Read more about this in the article “How Much Does a Desk Really Cost?”

Warranty: For commercial customers, WINI offers a 10-year extended warranty and a 10-year replacement parts guarantee
Reordering: WINI furniture has carried a UPID label since 2025. This allows the product and model to be uniquely identified, for example, to reorder parts in the matching color
SARA Panel: New wood components are optionally available made from SARA panel, a particleboard made from 100% recycled waste wood

WINEA MAXX – Umbau vom klassischen, arbeitsplatznahen Stauraum zum Raumteiler in der Mittelzone

Here's how to do it

Assess the existing space: What cabinets are there, what condition are they in, and what styles do they come in?
Define your goals: What do you want to change? For example, a new look, zoning, more open storage space, greenery, or acoustic improvements
Plan: Your WINI authorized dealer will determine which elements are compatible with your cabinets and design the new layout

Assess existing furniture, add specific pieces, and extend its useful life: This way, office furniture remains part of the office, even as the office changes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Upgrading Office Cabinets

Existing WINEA MAXX cabinets from WINI can be upgraded with new bases, handles, plant stands, and shelving modules. The cabinet frames remain in use; only individual elements are added. This gives existing office cabinets a fresh look and new functions, such as serving as room dividers with storage space.

Even in a paperless office, employees need storage space for personal items, technology, samples, and work materials—especially when sharing desks without a dedicated workstation. In addition, cabinets in an open-plan office take on a new role as room dividers: they organize spaces and separate work areas. Existing WINEA MAXX cabinets can be retrofitted for this purpose with bases, plant stands, shelving modules, and polyester fleece on the back panel.

For WINEA MAXX cabinets, there are modular bases made of steel or solid oak, leather handles and L-shaped handles in seven metal colors, as well as plant shelves ranging from 60 to 100 cm in width. In addition, modules from the WINEA MAXX modular shelving system can be placed on top of or attached to the side of the cabinets, and polyester fleece can be attached to the back panel. Which elements are compatible with your cabinets depends on their specific design and will be verified by an authorized WINI dealer.

Polyester fleece can be attached to the back panels of existing WINEA MAXX cabinets. This reduces the number of hard surfaces in the room that reflect sound, especially when cabinets are placed freestanding as room dividers and their backs are visible.

When upgrading existing WINEA MAXX cabinets, the cabinet bodies remain in use; only the bases, handles, tops, or shelving modules are replaced. There’s no need to dispose of the existing cabinets and replace them with new ones. Whether it’s worth reusing them in each individual case depends on the condition of the furniture and the new room layout—your local WINI dealer will assess this for you.

Reuse means continuing to use an existing piece of furniture. Refurbishing involves upgrading it with new parts, such as new bases or handles. Upcycling refers to turning discarded items or materials into a new product. The makeover of existing WINEA MAXX cabinets combines reuse and refurbishing: The cabinets are preserved, given new elements, and often take on a new purpose—for example, as room dividers.

Used office furniture is an option when additional storage space is needed. Existing WINEA MAXX cabinets, on the other hand, can continue to be used right in the office and adapted to the new room layout using elements from the WINEA MAXX modular shelving system—matching the layout and color scheme of the existing furnishings. Your WINI dealer will determine which cabinets are suitable for this purpose.

Since 2025, WINI furniture has been equipped with a UPID label featuring an NFC chip. This allows you to uniquely identify the product and model using your smartphone or the UPID search function at wini.de/service. For older pieces of furniture without a label, your WINI authorized dealer will help you identify the model.

WINI manufactures the furniture and components; planning and installation are handled by authorized WINI dealers. Your authorized dealer will assess your current setup, plan the new system, and install the components.