The Sentimental DIY That Turns An Old Briefcase Into The Sweetest Keepsake Box

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The purpose of the keepsake box is to wrangle all of those common sentimental items — such as ticket stubs, birth announcements, childhood clothing, or event invitations — which may otherwise get in storage. However, if all of your cherished memories are enclosed in an ugly, utilitarian box, you are likely to push it to the back of the closet and only pull it out when something else needs to go inside. But what if the keepsake box itself could become a beautiful memory, one that would enable you to display it in your home and enjoy its contents on a more regular basis?

Well, content creator @touch.of.townsend8 recently shared on TikTok how they picked up an old briefcase from their local thrift store and transformed it into a charming, personalized memory box. By painting the outside pink, they gave the briefcase a more fitting look for the baby items they planned to store inside, and covered up some of the shallower scuffs and scratches. In addition, they lined the inside with a floral fabric which made the interior much more inviting. They even embroidered initials into the lining of the case to customize it to their family. This DIY shows that a keepsake box doesn't have to be relegated to the back of a cupboard, but can instead be proudly displayed to add personality into your decorating scheme. So, even if you're not a fan of the pastel style of the original example, there are plenty of alternative ways to customize this hack to suit you. 

One way to turn an old briefcase into a memory box is to center it around specific eras or events. If your school days were a happy time or you have leftover memorabilia from your wedding, you could decorate the briefcase to match those memories. For example, you could stick some lace from an old wedding dress onto the outside of the case using Mod Podge Matte Sealer. This will help you remember all the details of your wedding day every time you see the box. Or, if you'd like to use the briefcase to hold memories from past vacations, you could line the inside with postcards from each location to give it a well-travelled feel.

Alternatively, if you would like to display your keepsake box out in the open, styling the box to match your interior design tastes might be a better option for you. For example, you could paint the outside and then scuff it up to match your shabby chic decor. If you like the original brown leather of the briefcase and have a mid-century home design that it would go well with, then you can use a damp cloth and some leather cleaner to polish up the exterior. If the case is cracked or dry, leather conditioner can also be used to help restore the texture of the case. Then, add some decorative details such as lettering or decals to the inside of the case to match some colors in the rest of your space. This means that it will still blend in with your home's style even when the briefcase is open.