How To Make Cute DIY Cardboard Storage Boxes
As winter melts away into spring, there is one thing springing to my mind: spring cleaning. Few of us truly enjoy spring cleaning, but I do love an excuse for cute storage boxes. I think I could be lost in the Container Store for hours. But, often I don’t love the price of storage bins and baskets—especially the cute ones (ugh, why does everything cute have to be so expensive?!).
If you’re ready to take control of your home chaos with cute storage bins that don’t break the bank, this article is for you. You'll only need cardboard boxes and some imagination (and glue or tape).
Why You Should Make Cardboard Storage Boxes
Making DIY Storage Saves Money
Storage boxes cost money- and they aren't cheap, even if you choose the cheapest options you can find (i.e. Dollar Tree).For me, Dollar Tree storage options are a hit or a miss. Plus, the options are limited and often not as cute/stylish. Cuter storage options range anywhere from $10-$17 per box/bin at stores like Target and Amazon!
You can make cuter options for far cheaper, likely with materials you already have lying around your house.
Recycling and Repurposing
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the US generated 67.4 million tons of paper and cardboard waste in 2018. It’s no secret that with online shopping services, cardboard boxes and similar products abound everywhere. About 46 million tons of that paper and cardboard was recycled, creating a recycling rate of less than 70%.
So, while you can recycle your cardboard boxes by placing them in the proper bins- you can also repurpose them to improve these statistics even further!
The old idiom, “waste not, want not” is true. Why waste something you already have and spend more money on something else? Use those cardboard boxes to your advantage!
Limitless Customizable Options and Uniquely Yours!
There are many ways to repurpose a cardboard box.
Here are some decorating options and ways to recover your box:
Decoupage
Wrapping paper
Fabric
Duct tape
Hot gluing rope
Refold shipping boxes inside out (Check out the DIY at the end of my Little Words Project article. So cute and perfect for little knick-knacks!)
Here’s a tip for choosing the right boxes to repurpose- consider the size of where you’re going to put the box and the items that you’re going to put inside. I like using old shoeboxes, or boxes similar in size to fabric storage cubes (around 11-12 inches).
Decoupage a Cardboard Storage Box
Here’s a box I decoupaged with an old copy of the Phantom Tollbooth I had that was falling apart! Not only did I recycle the box, but also found a good use for the pages that kept falling out- plus, it fills this book girly’s heart with so much joy.
Decoupaging is one of my favorite ways to repurpose anything: furniture, shelves, boxes- you name it. Decoupage is my bestie. It’s a great option for bringing some life to boring cardboard boxes, too!
What You’ll Need
To decoupage a cardboard storage box, you’ll need:
A box
Paper to decoupage with
Water
A jar to mix water and glue
A foam brush - Link just for show. You can find these cheaper at a Dollar Tree.
Ribbon/Rope (optional)
Heavy-duty scotch tape (optional)
I like using pages from old books or hymnals to decoupage, sometimes even comic books! Some used bookstores or libraries have “FREE” bins outside. That's a great place to find decoupage materials.
Many people purchase Mod Podge to decoupage. You can make your own Mod Podge at home for much cheaper! All you need to do is mix 1 cup of glue with ⅓ cup of water in a jar (like a mason jar), and shake it up!
How to Decoupage a Cardboard Storage Box
Once you have your materials, decide how you want the box to look. I like to lay out the pages I want to use on the box. For example, I knew I wanted my Phantom Tollbooth storage box to feature the land’s map on the front, and have torn pages of words mixed with illustrations on the other sides.
Decide if you want a handle of some sort. If you do, poke two holes in your box before decoupaging.
After deciding on your layout, you can use your homemade Mod Podge. Don’t worry if it feels intimidating at first- it’s easy. Plus, you can always peel the paper off before the glue dries if it’s not where you wanted it.
Here are four easy steps to decoupaging:
Brush the spot where you plan to place the paper on your box with the homemade Mod Podge.
Place the paper on the box, smoothing it out to prevent wrinkles.
Cover the top of the paper with Mod Podge.
Move on to the next spot and repeat until the box is covered.
When working towards the top of the box, always ensure that parts of the pages fold over to prevent peeling.
You’ll want to let the box completely dry before the finishing touches. If you opted to add a handle, don't cover the holes you made in the box!
Finishing Touches (Optional)
These steps are optional, but they do make a difference.
Here’s how to add a simple ribbon or rope handle:
Cut a bit more than your desired handle length.
Place a knot at one end of the ribbon/rope, then feed it through the hole with the knot on the inside of the box.
Feed the other end through the second hole and tie another knot to secure the handle in place.
I also use heavy-duty Scotch tape on the top rim, bottom, and corners of my decoupage boxes. I place the tape with half on the top so that I can fold the other half of the tape over the rim inside the box- this secures the top pieces and helps prevent peeling.
Tape on the corners and bottom prevents peeling and keeps the decoupage more secure. Putting it on the bottom is important for sliding the box in and out of shelves. The tape makes the sliding smoother and keeps the papers from catching, kinda like a seal.
And there you have it! A cute, super cheap, DIY storage box!
Wrapping Paper Storage Boxes
Another way I like to repurpose my cardboard boxes into cute storage bins is by wrapping them in gift wrap. This is my favorite DIY to do with old, sturdy printer-paper boxes that have lids!
For this DIY, I recommend using a slightly nicer gift wrap. Thinner gift wrap tears easily, so a slightly thicker quality, like Hallmark’s rolls for $4.99, is better. At certain Hallmark Stores (usually Gold Crown) you can find roll wrap on clearance at the start of the year to make room for their newer designs. Each roll will get you around 3 or 4 storage boxes, which is still a steal in price compared to buying cute patterned boxes premade.
Here’s what you’ll need:
A cardboard box
A roll of gift wrap
Scotch tape
The tutorial below is a great example of how to wrap these boxes. Just don't finish it off with a bow!
As with the decoupage, you can also place a handle on this box, or reinforce the corners and edges with heavy-duty tape.
Look at the picture below to see one of my boxes in action! I use it to store larger fabric scraps wrapped around pieces of cardboard inside.
Final Thoughts
A little DIY goes a long way in saving money and doing our part in the recycling world. I adore these storage boxes, more than any purchased options I own. Plus, decoupaging and wrapping are so much fun! It’s hard not to smile when I look at these boxes.
You can also hot glue rope or fabric to cardboard boxes to make them look like fabric bins or rope baskets! Honestly, storage bins usually have a base of cardboard anyway, so why not give it a try and make the baskets of your dreams? Let me know if you try any of these DIY options out!
