How to Find or Make Decorative Storage Boxes

If you are looking for a great way to add some extra storage to your living spaces without detracting from the décor of a room, decorative storage boxes are just what you need. These boxes combat clutter while complimenting or even adding to the room's look and feel. Some people, instead of using decorative boxes for storage just set them in a room as a design feature in and of themselves! These boxes are available to buy in many places, but making them yourself can also be a fun and rewarding project.

Decorative boxes are available in any major retailer. The selection will vary from store to store, though, so if you have something specific in mind you may end up searching for quite a while. Alternatively you can visit a store more tailored to storage or decorating needs, which will probably have a much larger selection of pretty storage boxes from which to choose. For the largest selection, of course, you will want to search online. For major retailers and other stores in your area that have a website, you can often find the box you want online, reserve it and then pick it up in person at the store, saving you shipping costs. The sheer variety of boxes you can find online, in all shapes, sizes and patterns, is astounding. You can even find decorative file storage boxes for your home office. No matter what your room's décor is, there is almost certainly a box out there that will suit it.

Other great places to look for unique boxes are flea markets and yard sales. At yard sales you can find boxes for prices far less than you would pay in a store. If you are lucky and good at bargaining you can even grab a whole set of matching boxes for very little money. The same is true of flea markets. Besides the more standard decorative cardboard storage boxes selling for cheap, many times at yard sales and especially flea markets you can find older or rarer decorative storage boxes that you would not be able to buy anywhere else. These could be made from wood, metal, or even other materials, and may be a little more expensive than cardboard, but they may also be a better deal than even the seller is aware.

If you are a) creatively inclined; b) are interested in trying a relatively simple arts and crafts project; or c) unable to find that storage box with a design that perfectly matches your living room -- or just unwilling to pay for it -- there is the option of making your own decorative storage box. There are two major ways to go about making the boxes, and neither of them is particularly difficult, although they can be time-consuming. For either option, first you must find the boxes you are going to decorate. For decorative storage boxes with lids, sturdy shoe boxes can be a good choice. Plain hat boxes are great if you want a round decorative box.

The first option is to decorate the boxes with paper. This can include magazine cutouts, photographs, wrapping paper or anything else with a design you like. The possibilities are endless, and if you find you enjoy making boxes this way you will probably amass a huge collection of decorating items. To decorate the boxes, you attach the paper cutouts in small sections, in any pattern you choose using decoupage glue. Once the box is covered, you put another thin coat of glue over the entire surface, then let it sit to dry. This method is especially good for making themed boxes, such as for storing -- and using as! -- holiday decorations.

The second common way of decorating storage boxes is with fabric. For this you will need enough fabric to cover both the inside and outside of the box you are decorating, as well as enough quilter's batting to cover at least the outside. If you would like for the inside to also be padded you will need more. Making a fabric-covered box that looks nice is a slightly more complicated process than the decoupage boxes. You must take exact measurements and cut the fabric to fit, as well as glue the fabric on so that it is smooth and the seams do not show. It can take a few tries to really get it right, so you may want to practice with less-important boxes and fabric first.

Once you start getting the hang of making your own decorative boxes, you may not want to stop. Since you can use the boxes in practically every room of your home, as well as for seasonal storage and as gift-giving boxes, there's really no need to!