How to Decorate a Hat Box

For decades, hat boxes have been used to protect hats and keep them in mint condition. Hat boxes were often decorated and then left to languish on a closet shelf. Today, hat boxes are used for more than just hats; they are used for storage or simply to add a decorative flair to your home. Decorate your hat box using paint or a wallpaper border. Embellish a hat box using ribbon, lace, silk flowers or other craft supplies and give your hat box a style of its own.

Things You'll Need

• Hat box
• Paint
• Paint brush
• Newspaper
• Wallpaper border
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Sponge
• Craft supplies: ribbon, lace, silk flowers
• Glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Flathead screwdriver

Instructions

Decorate a Hat Box with Paint

1. 

   Place a sheet of newspaper on your working surface. Remove the lid from the hat box and place both items on the newspaper. Remove any loose paper or tags from the hat box.

2. Paint the sides of the hat box lid, avoiding the inner edge of the bottom of the lid. Place the hat box lid on the newspaper. Paint the top of the hat box lid.

3. Paint the top outside edge of the hat box, avoiding the inner edge of the top of the box. Place the hat box on the newspaper, open end facing down. Paint the hat box using long smooth strokes.

4. After drying, check the hat box and the hat box lid for even paint coverage. You may choose to add a second coat of paint.

Decorate a Hat Box with a Wallpaper Border

1. Measure the circumference of the hat box. Mark around the hat box where you will place the wallpaper border. You will follow this guideline when attaching the wallpaper border to the hat box.

2. Measure the wall paper border, adding 1 inch to the circumference for overlap. Cut the wallpaper border straight across.

3. Dampen the sponge with water. Dab water onto the back of the wallpaper border to activate the wallpaper paste.

4. Place the border on the guidelines marked on the hat box. Smooth out the border, using the sponge to gently guide the border into place.

5. Rinse and squeeze out the sponge. Wipe the hat box and border, removing any excess wallpaper paste.

Decorate a Hat Box with Craft Supplies

1. There are no set rules for decorating your hat box lid. You may choose to make a bow out of ribbon or lace. Select ribbon, lace or silk flowers, and arrange them in the center of the hat box lid.

2. Starting at the center, squeeze glue onto the hat box lid. Use the tip of the flathead screwdriver to press items into the glue.

3. Place the lid on the hat box. Turn the hat box and observe from each angle. Add ribbon, lace or silk flowers to fill bare spots or hide glue.

Tips & Warnings

• Wipe paint drips on the inside of the hat box and lid with a clean damp cloth. Consider adding a border to the outside edge of the hat box lid.

• Use caution when using a hot glue gun. The glue and tip of the gun can burn your skin.

References

• Decorating a Personalized Hat Box
• Hat Boxes
• Hat Box Parlor

Resources

• Miniature Hat Box