How to Design Decorator Boxes
Decorator boxes are cardboard storage boxes that have been covered and color coordinated to match or blend in with the color palette of a room. These boxes provide storage for clutter in a way that is attractive and simple. Making a decorator box is easy and inexpensive and they can be used in every room in the house, from cubbies in the kitchen to open shelves in the home office.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Cardboard box with lid
- Contact paper
- Tape measure
- Thin Sharpie marker
- Scissors
- Straight edge
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1
Pick a cardboard box that is rigid enough to stand up well and a box that comes with a fitted lid.
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2
Select contact paper in a designer color or a solid that coordinates with the theme and style of the room you are decorating.
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3
Measure two times the height of the box, plus the length, plus 3 inches. Measure two times the height of the box, plus the width, plus 3 inches. Cut a piece of contact paper to these dimensions with your scissors.
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4
Place your contact paper face down on your work surface. Center your box and draw an outline around the bottom of the box. Use a thin Sharpie marker and hold the box still so that your lines are straight. The contact paper makes this easier because it has a pre-printed grid on the back of the paper. Set the box aside.
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5
Extend the outline lines along the length of the box to the edge of the paper by using your Sharpie and a straight edge. Make a big dot at the corners of the box outline to make the corners easier to see. Cut from the edge of the paper to the corner dot.
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6
Extend the outline lines along the width of the box to the edge of the paper by using your Sharpie and a straight edge. These should cross through your big dots. Measure 1 inch from this line toward the edge of the paper. Draw a parallel line from the paper edge to your cut; do not draw a line between your two cut lines; draw a parallel line from the cut to the edge of the paper. Repeat for the other side.
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7
Cut along your parallel line from the edge of the paper to the cut. You will make four cuts. Remove the excess rectangles of contact paper. You will have a cross shape. The bottom of the box will fit in the center.
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8
Peel the contact backing paper off the contact paper. Position the bottom of your box centered on the cut paper. Press down firmly. Two of your contact paper sections line up with the sides of the box, and two of your contact paper sections are wider than the sides of the box. Fold one of the wider sides up along the side of the box. Start at the bottom and smooth the contact paper with your hands so there are no wrinkles or bubbles.
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9
Wrap the extra contact paper around the corner and onto the ends of the box. Fold the extra top paper down inside the box to cover 1 1/2 inches. Press the contact paper firmly to the box. Repeat with the other extra contact paper side. The bottom and two sides of your box should be covered.
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10
Press the remaining side of contact paper up and over the top. Your contact paper will cover the contact paper that covered the corner. This will produce a clean look. Make sure to work out any wrinkles or bubbles. Press the contact paper firmly along the lip of the box. You should have contact paper covering the entire outside of the box and 1 1/2 inches inside the box. Repeat this process for covering the lid.
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1
Tips & Warnings
This process is much easier than it sounds. The only tricky part is preventing wrinkles and bubbles by smoothing the paper on carefully from the bottom up. You can also use fabric and spray glue. Spray the outside of the box. Use fray arrest on any exposed edges. You can also dress up your box with grosgrain ribbon and a hot glue gun.
