Don't Throw Out An Empty Tissue Box - Try This Creative Upcycling DIY Instead

It's fun to find ways of upcycling instead of throwing things away or putting them in the recycling bin. It's better for the environment, as well. Sometimes you come across an upcycling project that really blows you away — one that turns a seemingly useless item into a beautiful object that looks like it's from a high-end boutique. Instead of tossing out the next empty tissue box you have, use it for a tissue box upcycling project to elevate the look of your home. 

Using a tissue box and a few other items, you can create a faux basket decor piece that's both functional and pretty. Along with an empty tissue box, the supplies you will need for this project include scissors, crafting beads, twine, a hot glue gun, wood contact paper, decorative yarn ball fillers (optional), and a couple of feet of cotton craft rope.

When you are through with this upcycling project, you will have a boho-chic decor piece that's perfect for a living room coffee table, a three-season room, or a nightstand. There are plenty of ways you can customize this tissue box hack to suit your taste, as well. So, if a beachy, boho-chic look doesn't fit your home's decor, there's no need to skip over this project. You can simply swap a few features to suit your home. Skip the decorative fillers altogether, and you can even use this decor piece for light storage.

To begin upcycling an empty tissue box, use scissors to cut diagonal slits that extend from the center of the tissue box to the four corners. Then, fold the four top pieces of the box downward and use a hot glue gun to stick them to the inside. Next, cut pieces of wood contact paper and line the inside and outside of the tissue box to achieve a faux wooden box. Cut enough twine to cover the outer circumference of the box. String the twine through the crafting beads, then use hot glue to attach the beads just below the rim on the outside, leaving two areas of slack at each end of the tissue box. Take two lengths (of any desired size) of craft rope and tuck the ends into the slack areas of the beaded edging. Secure them with hot glue. Lastly, fill your new decorative faux basket with yarn or wicker ball fillers, similar to this YouTube tutorial, and that's it — you found a way to reuse an old tissue box. 

This tissue box upcycle is beautiful as it is, but there are plenty of ways to modify it, too. If you have a tall tissue box, you can disregard the rope for a pretty, faux wood planter cover. There's also no need to use wood contact paper. Instead, you could use a color that complements your home's decor, or opt for something fancy, like marble contact paper.