Create A Chic Kitchen Countertop Shelf & Organizer Using A Shoebox

Excellent countertop organization is one of the best ways to control clutter and make your kitchen workspace more manageable and functional. This is especially true in smaller kitchens where you can often lack counter space, which means every part of it needs to be maximized to its fullest potential. While home stores and other retail outlets are full of mechanisms for doing this, including racks and shelves, you may be looking for something a little more budget-friendly to help you organize and say goodbye to cluttered kitchen countertops. YouTuber Mana creative corner shows off how to create an ingenious small shelving unit made from an ordinary shoebox with the help of some peel-and-stick paper, some additional cardboard, and glue. 

This is a perfect way to customize your storage to fit your kitchen decor or aesthetic by choosing a complementary paper. It will also help you save some money. It's a fun and useful way to reuse materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Shoeboxes, especially for larger shoes and boots, can be an excellent source of sturdy cardboard already constructed into a box shape that is easy to upcycle into other projects to help keep you more organized. For more slender boxes, create a similar unit by stacking them together and securing with hot glue. 

To create your organizer, begin by trimming off the lid of the box, if attached, with a box cutter. Measure the box to get the dimensions to create your additional inner supports and shelves out of thick cardboard pieces. Cut three longer pieces and four smaller ones that will bolster the sides of the organizer. Cover these pieces with the peel-and-stick paper (don't worry about the back as these will be glued to the shoebox, but you may want to cover both sides on the longer piece that will be the middle shelf.) You will also want to leave a little extra paper on the top and bottom piece to wrap around the edge so it looks all like one seamless section. Add your side and bottom supports with hot glue. You can also add a small shallow box created from the original lid on top in a complementary paper. Glued-on soda lids work well as feet to elevate the shelves.

This little shelf works perfectly for smaller items like spices or for storing Keurig pods. Or, use it laying flat to declutter and organize every cabinet drawer in your home. You can also create boxes or bins out of remaining sturdy cardboard or other upcycled small boxes with similar dimensions to store small items out of sight like sugar packets and stir sticks in your coffee prep area. To save some more counter space, hang your shelves on the wall.