Do It Yourself Storage Boxes – 20+ Creative Ideas
Get your home organized with these do it yourself storage boxes!
Have you seen those playrooms, or craft rooms on Pinterest or Instagram that always look beautifully organized?
So many of them use pretty looking storage boxes that look like they’d cost a fortune, but they definitely don’t have to.
I’ve organized many of my rooms at home using DIY storage solutions, and they can look just as good as the shop-bought ones.
Read on to find out how to make your own storage boxes from things you probably have on hand at home.
Table of Contents
Cardboard DIY Storage Boxes
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Cardboard is so easy to use when it comes to making DIY storage solutions. You can make custom-sized storage boxes to fit in awkward places in under ten minutes with just a pair of scissors and a hot glue gun!
Cardboard Storage Boxes
Whether you're looking for a quick and easy make or something that is more specific and custom for an awkward space in your home, I'm sure you'll find inspiration in the tutorials below.
Don't these boxes look great?!
They're really sturdy and can be made to any size you like (the tutorial even shows you how to make boxes that aren't completely square in shape in case you want to build them around shelving or skirting boards.
I love finding upcycles that are quick and easy to make, but also look like they took a while to make - this is one of those!
Using cardboard boxes, fabric, and adhesive spray glue, you can easily make a few of these in one morning and have plenty of storage boxes to keep all your loose bits!
How handy is this! The idea behind this box was to have a way to separate wires, but you can use it for anything that you want to keep together, but separate.
Using cardboard cereal boxes and some fabric, you'll be able to follow this tutorial to have you own storage box with dividers in no time.
This tutorial proves that making your own storage boxes is a super cheap way to get organized.
I think the metal label holders give these storage boxes a really professional-looking finish - I'll have to try that when I make some more storage boxes!
If you love the look of fabric storage boxes, but you're not great with a sewing machine, this box is the perfect alternative!
I love how pretty it looks and it's one of those storage boxes that you'd want to keep on display because it looks so good!
If you're reading this blog, I'm going to assume you're like me, and you have at least one empty shoebox lying around waiting to be used!
This is a really easy and quick way to make a storage box. I love the suitcase decoration too!
This is probably the cheapest DIY storage box solution - cardboard and wrapping paper.
I made these cute custom-sized bookshelves to fit in a small space in my son's room, but you can follow the tutorial to make a box instead of a bookshelf!
Not all storage boxes need to be huge! If you have lots of little bits you need to store, like crafts or legos, you can make mini boxes out of paper mache boxes like this.
I love these lego decorated boxes! You could decorate yours with whatever you plan to store inside!
Plastic Do-It-Yourself Storage Boxes
You can pick up plastic storage boxes pretty cheap, but they don’t look particularly pretty do they? There are loads of ways to pretty them up though. Here are a few!
Line The Inside With Patterned Paper
I did this when I was organizing the fabric in my sewing room. Lining plastic boxes with patterned paper is a really easy way to DIY your storage boxes.
Simply choose some patterned paper, it could be wallpaper, wrapping paper or even fabric and tape them to the insides of your plastic boxes.
You can also make labels for the outsides of your DIY storage boxes too.
I also used this technique on my DIY tea organizer.
Fabric Storage Boxes
When it comes to making fabric boxes, you can make them in all different shapes and sizes. If you look for inspiration online at all the manufacturer fabric boxes you’ll find a huge variety, and you can make your own DIY box to suit your needs perfectly.
Fabric Storage Boxes
Whether you want a box that is rigid and stiff, or flexible and foldable, you can make it exactly as you want when you make your own!
One of the great things about making your own fabric storage boxes is that you can choose whatever color and print fabric you like. There are tonnes of beautiful fabric prints available, and you can make it to match the decor of wherever you'll store your box.
They have handles and even a little see-through pockets at the front where you can label the storage boxes too.
This really sweet small DIY car organizer can be used for many things, it doesn't necessarily have to just be for the car, but it is the perfect size for your car!
It is also easy to make it bigger and add dividers or pockets - it's a very versatile tutorial!
I absolutely love these fabric storage baskets, they're quite big so can be used to store a whole range of things.
They're the perfect size to fit into the popular Ikea Kallax units, and when they're not in use, they can be folded up and stored away.
If you're looking for something a little smaller, this is the ideal tutorial for you!
These DIY small storage boxes are great for storing cosmetics, stationary and bits and bobs.
DIY Wooden Storage Boxes
If you’re handy with tools, why not knock up your own wooden storage boxes?
Lots of big chain hardware stores offer free cutting when you buy pieces of wood so you can even have the wood cut to the size you need in store, and then just fasten the pieces together to form a simple box at home.
If you want to build something that is more long lasting and durable, wood is the way to go. Even if you don’t have much experience with woodworking, this tutorial breaks it down into simple steps so that you’ll be able to build your own wooden storage boxes.
Upcycled Storage Boxes
Sometimes, you might already have something that you think would a great storage box, but it doesn’t look great. This is where upcycling comes in! You can easily give lots of box shaped containers a quick upcycle and make them look pretty!
Upcycled DIY Storage Boxes
Here are some ideas for upcycling what you already have.
Turn dollar store plastic tubs into galvanized looking storage containers with this quick and easy hack!
These take less than ten minutes to make and look like the real deal.
Are you looking for toy storage boxes that don't stand out like a sore thumb?
You can adapt this tutorial by switching up the fabrics to match your decor.
Suitcases make great storage boxes, but how about upcycling one to use as a storage cabinet?
Love this idea and I think it looks great. Functional, fun and really quirky!
This upcycled storage box idea is great for all your loose ends, keys, coins and other things that typicallyy don't have a home!
It looks pretty enough to have out on display and it's super simple to make.
Get Organized With More Storage Ideas
It’s so satisfying to get organized.
I tend to have periods where I work through different rooms in my house and giving everything it’s own space is not only practical but very catartic!
Most recently, I organized my sewing room. Here is the before and after:
See how satisfying that looks?! You can read all about my sewing room before and after here.
I have also written about making storage from your old junk, and have some great projects and ideas for storage over on that post.
I hope you found some of these do it yourself storage boxes useful, and if you have a go at making any of them or have any other suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
Feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email.
-so many great ideas! I always look forward to your blogs. Thank you
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it.