Shoeboxes are sturdy and very handy containers with lids. Best of all they are readily available. The price is right since they are generally included with pairs of new shoes, but they are worth saving and using for storing and holding far more than footwear. Use these creative and practical ways to use shoeboxes, and come up with creative new ways to store all types of things.
Drawer Organizers
Shoeboxes make fantastic drawer organizers, and they are easy to alter to fit any drawer. For a shallow drawer, place the box inside a rectangular pan with sides. Use a utility knife to carefully trim the sides while using the pan as a guide. Use the shoeboxes to hold everything from undergarments to kitchen tools and anything in between.
Open Shelf Storage with Papered Shoeboxes
Shelves are great for more than displaying trinkets and holding books. They make fantastic platforms for open storage. Shelving can look far neater and more decorative when using shoeboxes rather than simply piling things on the shelves. Wrap the boxes with wallpaper, wrapping paper, or shelf paper. They will look decorative and colorful. Even ribbon can be added to make them more pleasing to the eye. The article entitled How to Make a Pretty Papered Box provides a number of fantastic ideas. This is a great way to use shoeboxes.
Donate the Shoeboxes to Charity
Many charitable organizations use shoeboxes to give items to those less fortunate. When several extra shoeboxes are available, contact local churches and charitable organizations to ask if they can use them. Some use shoeboxes to send items to those serving overseas, people in prison, underprivileged kids, and more.
Use Shoeboxes for Winter Glove Storage
Gloves can end up scattered from the top to the bottom of a coat closet. Use old shoeboxes to contain the clutter. Assign a box to each family member, and use them to hold mittens, gloves, and other hand wear. Each family member can use a different color or design, and this will eliminate the need to dig through a basket or single box.
Create a Homemade Dollhouse for a Lucky Little Girl
When looking for ways to use shoeboxes, consider making a multi-room dollhouse. Combine the boxes with strapping tape, cut out windows, create doors, and paper the walls and carpet or tile the floors of each one. Several boxes will make a spectacular dollhouse, and for far less than the cost of a store-bought version of much cheaper quality.
