Upcycle Old Matchboxes Into Adorable Organizers For Tiny Items

When it comes to household organization, we often think about the big things, like pots and pans, bedroom closets, and whole-home decluttering projects. But what about the paperclips you keep losing behind your desk or the bobby pins spread across the bottom of the bathroom vanity drawer? And if your child is a doll fanatic with all the tiny accessories to prove it, you know exactly what we're talking about. All those little things can be hard to organize. But there is one super simple item that can help: a matchbox.

We're upcycling an old matchbox into a tiny-things organizer, and it's one of the best storage ideas for keeping small items organized without hogging space or breaking the bank. This versatile DIY can be made by combining three matchboxes into a multi-drawer organizer, or by using a single matchbox for a more portable option. The single matchbox is great for making on-the-go items like an emergency sewing kit with a needle, thread, and button. Or even just to have a safe place to put a ring or earrings on the nightstand before bed. The multi-drawer organizer is a fun thing you can use to organize your desk and work space, or pop into the dollhouse in the kids' playroom.

To make this DIY, you'll need one to three matchboxes, depending on the size organizer you want. To cover and decorate the matchbox, you'll need paint or construction paper, scissors, and glue. You can also use markers, ribbon, or stamps. You will also need one bead per matchbox for the drawer pulls, as well.

Let's get started with our budget-friendly method to keep your home organized and all the tiny items contained. The first way we're going to approach this DIY is by making an individual matchbox organizer. Begin by measuring a piece of construction paper to be the same depth as the box and long enough to wrap around all four sides. Use glue to attach the construction paper to the top, bottom, and sides of the box, leaving the front and back open so the inner box can still slide forward. Alternatively, you can paint it. You might need to use several layers if the matchbox has a design that might show through the paint, or begin with a thin layer of gesso. You can use a marker to label the box with the item stored inside and glue a bead onto the front to act as a drawer pull.

To make a multi-drawer organizer, begin by stacking three matchboxes on top of each other, securing them together with a layer of glue. Then you can measure and cut construction paper to size the same way we did with the individual box. Glue the paper to the box, covering the top, bottom, and both sides. Optionally, you can cover the back by cutting construction paper to size and securing it with glue. Then, glue on your makeshift drawer pulls and decorate and label the box with markers, stamps, or any other accessories you'd like to make it your own.