Keep Your Memories Organized And Safe With A Photo Storage Box

While most people take photos with their phones and send the files to live in the cloud, there are still some who still prefer to hold physical copies of their memories. Getting film developed or getting digital photos printed comes down to personal preference, but that preference comes with a dilemma: figuring out where to store the ones that are not currently being displayed to add personality to your home. There are really only two options: You could frame and hang even more photos while avoiding these common mistakes, or you could find a safe place to store them for the future.

Photo albums have been a popular option for decades because of the book-like layout and the ability to store dozens if not hundreds of photos at once. Photo albums are still readily available today in craft stores and via other retailers, but they are not the only option. Repurpose those photo albums to keep your home and garden organized and consider switching to photo storage boxes instead. A level up from that old shoe box under your bed, modern photo boxes are made with preservation and organization in mind so those memories can last for generations. There are also many options to choose from depending on what you're specifically looking for. DIYing a storage box is always an option as well, but for the best protection, you may want to leave it to the pros.

The major benefit that photo storage boxes have over photo albums is protection. Museum storage boxes, like the two-pack of Lineco Museum Archival Storage Boxes for $41, are made of thick, 60-point board (often used for hardcover books) and have reinforced metal edges to prevent crushing. They are also acid and lignin-free, which means the box itself and the documents inside won't yellow over time — a common problem for photo albums that use adhesives and plastic sleeves to keep photos in place. The museum boxes lose points in the organization department, but there are also archival sleeves, like the 25-count of 4x6-inch Creative Mark Krystal Seal Art and Photo Bags for $8, that you can buy as makeshift dividers.

Plastic photo storage containers are a great alternative if you want the organization benefits of a photo album but with the superior durability of a photo box. For instance, a two-pack of the IRIS Photo Storage Craft Keepers for $45 has 16 internal boxes that are capable of holding up to 1,600 4x6-inch photos total. The container is BPA free, acid free, PVC free, and lignin free, so as a long-term storage option, it checks all the right boxes. If you're really hardcore about photo storage, there are even waterproof and fireproof cases with integrated locks available, such as the Engpow Fireproof Photo Storage Box that's said to withstand up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The box comes with 16 plastic compartments that are the perfect size for 4x6-inch photos and costs $40.