Smart Ways To Repurpose Empty Phone Boxes For Home Storage & Organization

You know how sometimes when children get new toys, they prefer to play with the cardboard box? Well, we're channeling our inner child today. When you get a new phone, the box that it comes in can be just as exciting as the tech gadget. Phone boxes are sturdy and have removable lids, which makes them great to repurpose for storage. They are an easy way to make your home more organized. From sorting miscellaneous tools to loose change, we have nine different ways to reuse phone boxes to house almost anything.

All of these upcycling projects utilize the shell of standard cell phone boxes. You don't need the interior lining that has a pocket for the device, charging wire, or other accessories. Empty boxes from any electronic brand will work. You can also use tablet, laptop, or smartwatch boxes as a substitute. Since these containers are going to be reused all over your home, it might help to decorate them beforehand. Embellish the boxes with wallpaper, contact paper, or paint to cover up logos and give the container an ornamental touch.

Your old phone box is ready to become hanging wall storage. Simply add cord, rope, or any other strap to mount the box. The small container can house various items, anywhere in the house. Hang it inside kitchen cabinets to store spices, on the bedroom wall to hold accessories, or in the bathroom vanity to organize toiletries. You can even hang multiple to create an entire storage system. Just remember there is a weight limit. You don't want to store heavy items that can cause the box to fall off the wall.

Similar to the hanging storage, you can transform your space with floating shelves made from cell phone boxes. Forgo the string and mount the box directly onto the wall. This creates a neater and more sophisticated look. Mount the phone box inside cupboard doors, on the side of furniture, below window sills, or anywhere else you need extra storage. It is a great place to store electrical cords, remotes, and other miscellaneous items. Mount multiple boxes side by side for a longer shelf or install several vertically to make a chic floating bookcase.

If you have two or more phone boxes lying around, create a mini storage dresser. The more boxes you have, the larger the dresser can be, and the more it will stow away. The containers act as the drawers in this mini furniture piece that you can fill with all your small items. It helps to add dividers inside the phone boxes to create compartments to house more objects and organize inside the mini dresser. This piece is great to store on top of a desk, counter, table, or bookcase.

Another easy project is to turn your phone box into a pencil case. The compact container fits inside larger storage baskets, on top of shelves, or even in your bag, if you need to take your pencils on the go. You can add ring holders inside the box, so each pencil has its own slot. If you want to go a different route, the storage system also works for other equipment. Slide your crochet needles or glue gun sticks in the pencil slots to organize craft supplies or fill it with bandaids and wipes to make a first aid kit.

Your phone box also comes in handy as a jewelry organizer. The sturdy container is great for housing necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other accessories. If you have multiple phone boxes, use one for each type of item. If you only have one, create dividers inside of the box to separate your jewelry into compartments. Then, stack the jewelry box on top of a dresser, shelf, or vanity. You can also line the box with felt, fabric, tissue paper, or another soft material for extra cushion to protect your precious items.

The dreaded junk drawer filled with a bunch of tangled miscellaneous items can become a neat oasis thanks to your phone box. The durable container doubles as DIY drawer dividers that will make organizing your home a breeze. Put safety pins, rubber bands, paper clips, or other small items that typically get lost inside the drawer neatly inside the box instead. Use as many phone boxes that you have or can fit inside the drawer. It even helps to stack them side by side and remove the middle panel to create one large compartment.

Similarly to using the phone boxes as drawer dividers, you can use it to neaten up your tool box. Put the phone box inside the tool box and use it to store items like nails, bolts, hex keys, and other small equipment. Upgrade the divider by adding a magnet on one side of the phone box, so that the metal materials easily stay in place. Then, when you need these items, simply remove the phone box from the tool kit instead of carrying the entire collection. This storage hack also works inside tool bags and closets.

The empty phone boxes can also be used to create a charging station. When mounted to the outlet, the box holds your phone, headphones, and smartwatch while they are charging — all you need to do is cut holes and slits for the electronics to fit into. This is great for outlets that don't have a nearby table to rest your device. Leave the charging station attached to the outlets or remove it when you're not juicing up your devices. Then, when it's detached from the outlet, use it to store your charger, headphones, and other accessories.

Your couch shouldn't have more coins than you do. Often we discard coins on dressers or even forget them in our pockets until we hear the rattling in the washing machine. You can create a coin bank from the empty phone box and collect loose change. Leave it near the front door or in the laundry room for easy access. It can even be used as a swear jar or savings bank for all your money-collecting needs. Instead of throwing away the empty phone box, it'll be helping you stack your coins.