Don't Throw Out Empty Gift Boxes: 12 Brilliant Ways To Reuse Them Around The House

Gift boxes can be the perfect package for presents, regardless of the occasion. From birthdays to anniversaries to holidays, these decorative boxes can minimize the wrapping supplies (and skills) needed to present an eye-catching present that keeps up with the festivities. However, when loved ones follow suit, you can end up with more gift boxes than you know what to do with. While repurposing them for the next gift-giving experience is always an option, that's not your only solution when it comes to keeping gift boxes out of the trash.

Empty gift boxes can be the starting point for various DIYs, including those that help you create a tidy, organized home where all your favorite items are just an arm's reach away. Smaller gift boxes that can fit into bags and purses are perfect for taking essentials on the go, while larger boxes can help organize your home office or other areas of your home. With a little creativity, leftover gift boxes can even be used in the garden.

Many gift boxes are decorative or holiday-themed, which may not suit year-round use in visible spaces like kitchens. In addition to using neutral gift boxes or hiding them in unseen areas like drawers, you can also use glue and cardstock or contact paper to give your gift boxes a unique look.

If you often start your mornings by wondering where your car keys are, you may benefit from a catch-all box or dish. This junk drawer alternative doesn't have to be anything fancy; it just needs to function, serving as a place for your keys, wallet, and other essential items to end up once you walk in the door. However, with a decorative gift box turned catch-all box, you can have the best of both worlds, pairing accessible storage with visually appealing designs that make it perfect for entryways or countertops. This also helps reduce clutter.

Seed starting trays can offer many benefits in your garden, including helping produce healthy seedlings you can easily transplant into your garden. However, when you're trying to garden on a budget, purchasing new trays may seem like just another investment. Fortunately, gift boxes can recreate similar effects without the need for another purchase. Smaller boxes can act as individual cells, while larger gift boxes can give structures to older seed starting trays you already own. When planting directly into the box, just make sure that it isn't made of any harmful materials.

Drawers can quickly become catch-alls for small clothing items, such as socks, underwear, or accessories like ties. Using a drawer organizer can help cut down on clutter and maximize your storage space while making it easier to find your lucky pair of socks. With a few empty gift boxes, you can create your own DIY drawer organizers. Choose boxes that can accommodate the size and shape of your drawer, as well as the amount of belongings you need to store in them.

Are you a tea connoisseur? If so, you may have an array of loose-leaf varieties to choose from. Even casual tea drinkers often have packets tucked haphazardly into drawers or cabinets. Leftover gift boxes from the holidays can be the perfect way to organize your tea packets. Decorative boxes can also help display your collection, curating an eye-catching tea bar.

Your desk is one of the things you should clean every day in your home office, and having an organizational system can make this process easier. Larger boxes can be combined with scrap cardboard, such as toilet paper rolls, to create segmented organizers. However, a simple, stylish box alone is enough to keep your belongings tidy. This can be used for a visually appealing on-the-desk storage option or tucked away into your drawers for stationery and supplies that stay easily accessible and ready to use.

Is your bathroom overrun with hair supplies? If so, then a few leftover gift boxes can help you organize your supplies while keeping them at arm's reach. Gift boxes come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Larger boxes can be repurposed into holders for claw clips, bows, or even supplies like hairbrushes and combs. Meanwhile, smaller gift boxes can be useful for keeping hair elastics and rubber bands tidy within your drawers. You can also use gift boxes with a lid to stack your hair supplies, freeing up even more space in your bathroom.

Just as gift boxes work well for desk organization, leftover gift boxes can also be helpful when it comes to your craft supply storage. If you prefer fabric crafts, gift boxes can organize your crochet hooks or knitting needs, scissors, and stitch markers. They can store paintbrushes, organize different scraps of paper, or be used for needles and thread. You can also repurpose gift boxes for children's craft supplies, like glue sticks and crayons.

Reusing smaller gift boxes around your home can be easy. After all, who doesn't need a little bit of organization here or there? However, when it comes to larger boxes, you may find yourself at a loss. Fortunately, larger cylinder-shaped gift boxes can be the perfect place to store makeup brushes, which benefit from being stored upright with a lid to keep dust or debris to a minimum. Plus, many gift boxes come with decorative designs, helping elevate the visual appeal of your bathroom or vanity space on a budget.

Few things are worse than feeling confident for a major event only to notice a small tear in your shirt right beforehand. Or, losing your hair tie and needing a replacement while on the go. Small boxes, like those used for gift cards, are slim enough to fit into your pocket or purse, offering convenient storage without the bulk. This makes them ideal for emergency kits filled with wardrobe essentials, such as a sewing needle and thread, extra hair ties, or even travel-sized stain removal sticks. You could also leave one in your car.

Do you have more screws and bolts than you know what to do with? DIY enthusiasts know how easy it can be to accumulate additional hardware from projects, those extra pieces you don't want to part with in case they come up in the future. Smaller gift boxes, like those used for gift cards or jewelry, can easily fit into a drawer, making them perfect for keeping hardware like nails or screws organized but out of sight.

Trading card games are all the rage right now, and if you happen to be somebody who enjoys building decks and testing them at local events, you may find yourself with more cards than you know what to do with. While there are plenty of store-bought options to choose from when it comes to storage, you can also reuse those old gift boxes to organize your bulk. DIYing a TCG card holder from an old gift box keeps cardboard out of the trash while also providing a tidy, eye-catching display that's easy to access.

Leftover gift boxes from holidays or birthdays can be the perfect way to declutter and organize your jewelry. This is especially true for those boxes designed specifically with jewelry-related gifts in mind. While you can simply set your jewelry in a box, whether for storage or travel, with a few simple DIY steps, you can also take your storage box further. With leftover cardboard, fabric, and a few tools, you can create a divided jewelry box that helps prevent tangling