15 Ways To Repurpose A Breadbox Around Your Home For Organization & Style
Back in the day, breadboxes used to be an absolute necessity. Fresh-baked loaves from the bakery can go stale incredibly quickly and make for a tempting treat for pests when left out on the counter, so these simple boxes helped to protect the bread and keep it in a more temperate environment to extend its life. While breadboxes are certainly still used nowadays, modern plastic packaging and the addition of preservatives has made it so bread can last longer than ever before without the use of special storage.
Because of this, you might find that your old breadbox has grown obsolete. If you're looking to declutter your kitchen and free up some counter space, removing your breadbox and storing your bread in the pantry can give you much more room than you had before. That, however, doesn't mean that you should just toss it out with the rest of your garbage. If it's still in fairly good shape, consider repurposing it into something more functional that you can use elsewhere in your home. Breadboxes are usually fairly simple in design, made of sturdy materials that are meant to hold up to wear and tear, and the perfect size for organizing smaller objects, so they can make incredibly convenient bases for upcycling projects. With a bit of creativity, you can transition your old breadbox into just about anything, from a place to store and charge your tech to a fashionable piece of furniture.
1. Charging station
Tech has come a long way in the past few decades, and while our devices have become more streamlined, not much progress has been made to help combat the annoying jumble of cords required to charge these items. Until that day comes, consider creating your own charging station out of an old breadbox. Drill a hole in the back of a breadbox to feed your wires through and place it on a counter with easy access to an outlet. After threading your wires though and plugging them in, you can close the breadbox to hide away the mess.
2. Nesting box
While a breadbox might not appear all that cozy to human eyes, it can make the perfect spot for a chicken to set up shop. If you have your own coop, all you need to do is remove or prop open the door to an old breadbox to create a comfortable and sheltered spot for your hens to build a nest. If this hack is a bit too barnyard to apply to your current living situation, however, not to worry — you can also use a breadbox as a more traditional DIY birdhouse in your backyard or on your patio.
3. Free library
In many neighborhoods, especially areas where there's a lot of pedestrian traffic, you might stumble upon a tiny box filled with books that passers-by can borrow and read for free. If you're looking to get more involved beyond donating your old reading materials, consider building your own little library. Breadboxes, especially ones made of sturdier materials that can withstand exposure to outdoor weather, can make for a perfect base for this project. Mount one on a stand by the sidewalk, add a sign, and put in a few of your own books to get things started.
4. Bedside table
Bedside tables can be surprisingly expensive for being so simple, so if you're looking for a cheap but still stylish alternative to store-bought options, consider making your own out of a breadbox. It seem a bit intimidating to build your own furniture, but this project is a great place to start if you're a beginner. All you need to do is source some table legs that match your style — there are plenty of options available online or at the hardware store — and screw them on to the bottom of the breadbox to transition it into a side table.
5. First aid kit
Having a first-aid kit that's well organized and easily accessible is incredibly important in case of an emergency, but that doesn't mean you should have to sacrifice style in favor of functionality. If you have an old breadbox lying around, give it a fresh coat of paint, add a label, and fill it with all of your first aid essentials, like bandages, gauze, and alcohol wipes. Store it somewhere that's easy to find, whether that's in a cabinet or on your bathroom counter, to guarantee that you have quick and convenient access to all of these important items.
6. Mailbox
If you're looking for a way to spruce up your outdoor space, consider replacing your mailbox with something that has a bit more personality. Breadboxes and mailboxes are incredibly similar in shape and size, so they can make for an easy alternative if you don't want to purchase something new or build a mailbox yourself. Give it a fresh coat of paint, making sure to clearly add on your street address if necessary, and seal everything to ensure no water can get in before mounting it on a post by the sidewalk or on the side of your house.
7. Medicine cabinet for pills
It's important to keep your pills, vitamins, and supplements in a spot where they're easily accessible so you don't forget to take them, but this can lead to a cluttered, messy counter that's less than ideal. The solution? Stow them away in a breadbox. Keep your breadbox somewhere you normally start your morning or nighttime routine, whether that's in the bathroom, by the coffee maker, or on your bedside table, and fill it with your daily supplements. The breadbox will still act as a convenient reminder, but you can easily close the door to conceal your home's clutter.
8. Decorative vignette
Small trinkets are a great way to add some personality and style to your space, but if you feel like your collections look more like a random smattering of objects than intentional decor, it can be beneficial to place them in something larger, in this case a breadbox, to create a small vignette. After removing the door from your breadbox, place it on a table top that looks a bit bland, and get to work filling it with your favorite decorations. The breadbox will help to make the individual pieces look more cohesive and provide some much-needed structure.
9. Mini coffee bar
Home coffee bars can elevate your morning routine and help to encourage you to make coffee at home, but many kitchens don't have the room for a full barista-worthy setup. If you find yourself in this situation, consider downsizing the idea rather than abandoning it entirely. Take your old breadbox, then store your favorite coffee mugs on top to ensure they're easily accessible. Fill the box itself with your coffee pods, grounds, and favorite syrups, then place the whole thing next to your coffee pot or espresso machine to help revamp your existing layout.
10. Hanging spice rack
Sometimes, when you're repurposing an item, a change in perspective helps. In this case, we mean that quite literally. When you flip a breadbox on its side and mount it to the wall, it can make for a surprisingly convenient corner cabinet. Breadboxes are typically fairly small, so it's likely that this cabinet won't be a replacement for your existing pantry, but, with the addition of some small shelves or an organizer on the inside, it can become the perfect spot to store your spices so they're easily accessible but still out of the way while you're cooking.
11. Planter
There are a ton of common household items you can turn into beautiful planters, but have you ever considered giving your breadbox this treatment? Breadboxes that open at the top can be easily filled with soil and used as a unique pot for your favorite houseplants. You can place planter pots into the box or drill holes in the bottom for drainage and plant directly in the box. As long as you're willing to use a bit of creativity, this is a super easy way to give new life to an old breadbox.
12. Toiletry cabinet
When you look carefully at their designs, square breadboxes actually have a lot in common with cabinets. Because of this, they can make for fantastic places to store your toiletries or other small essentials if you're lacking space in your existing setup. All you need to do is mount your breadbox on the wall, and voila, a bit of added space to stow away your most-used skincare items, nail polishes, or hair products. For some added security, especially if your breadbox is heavy, make sure to mount it on a stud.
13. Household letter box
Even if you're on top of your organization, it can be difficult to find a place for all of those bills, letters, and flyers that seem to pile up. If you're tired of staring at a stack of envelopes on your counter, consider transitioning your old breadbox into a letterbox. When you check your mail, toss out any unwanted ads or junk, then place the more important letters in the letterbox. This will keep everything contained and help hide the mess, even if you don't have the time to sort though everything right after checking the mailbox.
14. Craft supplies storage
If you're someone who enjoys crafting, you know that just about every hobby that falls into this category requires plenty of material to get started. Because of this, it's not uncommon to find that your crafting station has devolved into a mess of miscellaneous supplies from all of your various projects. To help conceal this mess, consider repurposing an old breadbox into an organizer. Add a few shelves along the inside for better organization, pack it full of all of your most-used materials, and close the door to eliminate all of that annoying countertop clutter.
15. Desktop office organizer
Tidying up your office desk can be a struggle, especially if you don't have access to many drawers, but this breadbox hack can help you clear away clutter in a matter of seconds. The simple design of a breadbox can make for a perfect desktop organizer. If you need to stow away larger items, like books or files, you can leave your breadbox as-is. If you want more segmented organization, however, you can easily add a couple of scrap wood dividers into the inside of the breadbox to take better advantage of the space you have available.