Transform Cardboard Boxes Into The Cutest Storage Baskets

Decorative storage baskets are a great way to add a touch of elegance and charm to your space while simultaneously tackling clutter in any room of the house. However, buying lots of brand new ones can get expensive, and you may even struggle to find some that perfectly reflect the current design scheme of your home. So, instead, why not try a super affordable DIY option to create cute bespoke baskets in your home for stylish storage?

This project involves taking simple cardboard boxes and covering them with a range of decorative elements such as fabric, twine, or ribbon to make them look like store-bought storage baskets. The beauty of this DIY is that it can be done in so many different ways, meaning you can incorporate whatever materials you like best as long as they sufficiently cover the base cardboard. 

Before you get decorating, though, it can be helpful to think about what you might be using the basket for and how you should design it to suit your purposes best. For example, if you have lots of miscellaneous items on the bathroom counter, you can save the lid of the box to use as inserts. This will allow you to have separate sections inside the box itself, perfect for keeping small items organized. Alternatively, if you are likely to move the box from room to room, you may want to make sure you have some rope or strips of leather on hand to form convenient handles for carrying. There are many ways you can decorate the cardboard box to suit your style and needs.

The important first step of this project is removing or gluing down any extra tabs or sections on the cardboard box. This will help the overall container to look more like a sleek, purpose-built basket, rather than a repurposed box with lots of random pieces hanging off. For example, you can cut the lid off a shoe box and glue down the rounded sides so that they are flush with the rest of the container. If you plan to fill the basket with bulky items — such as for living room blanket storage — you may want to add some extra support to the sides at this stage with additional squares of cardboard to prevent it from bending outward.

Once that is done, the entire surface of the cardboard will need to be covered. This is where your creativity can really shine! You can grab some fabric you love the look of and hot glue it onto each side, making sure to cover the inside as well because this will likely be visible whenever the box isn't full. Or, you could paint the box a fun color and layer over bits of ribbon or lace for a multi-dimensional effect. Then, you get to start adding on all the fun extra details which will really make the basket look customized for your space and style. For example, you could add twine or rope to the edges to create a nautical look and help define the angular shape. Or, you could glue tassels around the box for a romantic, bohemian vibe.