The Fun Cereal Box Repurposing Idea That Keeps Your Favorite Books Organized

Have you noticed piles of books starting to take over your shelves and coffee table? If your bookshelf is completely full and you're running out of room for storage, consider using an old cereal box to keep books organized. Whether you're just a fan of do-it-yourself hacks or need a simple activity to keep the kids busy on a rainy afternoon, this fun repurposing project is suitable for crafters of all experience levels.

Of course, there are many other ways to repurpose an empty cereal box, including using old cereal boxes to keep Tupperware from getting jumbled by creating a place for the lids to stay organized. Some people even use them as a DIY solution to drawer dividers, which is a simple way to keep that junk drawer from getting out of control. Upcycling cereal boxes into bookholders is just another creative idea to keep these boxes from ending up in a landfill. 

In addition to the eco-friendly benefits, this DIY project only requires a few materials you probably have on hand already. You can also customize the final look to make sure it's an accurate representation of your style and that it matches the surrounding decor. 

The first step in creating this cereal box book organizer is to gather the supplies: the box, a ruler, a marker, scissors, and your choice of decorative embellishments (more on this later). Next, use the ruler and pen to mark out the sections of the box to be removed. A good rule of thumb is to create marks at 12 inches on one side of the box and between 4 and 5 inches on the other. Use the ruler to connect these two marks with a diagonal line. Then, connect the two lines on the side of the box with a horizontal line. Cut along these lines with scissors to fully remove these sections of the cardboard. You should now have the base for your book organizer, meaning the hard part's over, and it's time to have fun decorating.

While you can keep the original cereal box design if you want, this is when you can completely change this piece's appearance. For example, duct tape with a design or pattern on it is an easy way to cover the box and add a bit of stability. There's also washi tape you can stick to the cardboard to add a unique touch. Another easy customization option to cover the branding is using glue to apply decorative paper. 

Be sure to keep some empty cereal boxes on hand, even after using them to keep books organized. They can come in handy for other DIY projects or as a makeshift dustpan for cleaning in a pinch.