DIY A Chic Faux Wood Drawer Using A Repurposed Box And Dollar Tree Supplies

Plenty of people store things away in unsightly cardboard boxes in the basement or attic. But there are some cardboard DIY projects that can make your boxes display-worthy while still storing important items. If you want affordable and adorable storage for a specific space, then using a cardboard box and some Dollar Tree supplies to DIY a faux wood drawer can be a great option for you. In a YouTube video, user Lovely Moments creating shares how to do this. 

First, she chooses a cardboard box that will fit in the space she wants to keep it. While the box is the correct size, she does trim off the side flaps. Next, she uses packs of wood planks from Dollar Tree to reinforce the sides of the box. Some pieces of the wood planks are cut using a saw to better fit the shape of the cardboard box. Then, she uses hot glue to adhere the planks on the inside and outside of the box, along the bottom and side walls. The planks on the outside are what make this project look like drawers. Once everything is glued in place, she spray paints the entire project. Then, she uses a dark color and a file to distress the areas on the sides of the wood planks. Finally, she adds decorative wood pieces to mimic the look of drawer pulls. 

Most of this project can be done with supplies bought from a quick trip to Dollar Tree, but you may also need to stop by Walmart for paint. Assuming you already have a cardboard box, saw, glue, and hot glue gun, you only need wood planks, some decorative wood pieces, paint, and a file. You can purchase a six-count pack of Crafter's Square Wood Planks from Dollar Tree for $1.25 each, and the DIYer in the video used only three packs for her project. The Crafter's Square Wooden Stickers at Dollar Tree are great for decorative drawer pull pieces. The spray paint in the video, Rust-Oleum American Accents 2X Ultra Cover Satin in warm caramel, can be purchased at Walmart for around $6. The DIYer does not share which paint she uses for the darker color, but you can find inexpensive dark brown acrylic paints at most craft stores. Finally, most nail files should be able to distress paint.

Overall, the project is extremely affordable, even if you need to purchase new paint or a file. The end result may not be the most durable storage solution, but the reinforcements will help, and the project is great for storing items that do not get used too often. You should also keep in mind that this project is susceptible to water damage, so keep it in a dry space. Also, do not overfill the box, as the corners are not reinforced. Even if it is not long-lasting, for the price and gorgeous end result, this project is worth trying.

One feature that makes the DIYer's end result look so lovely and realistic is that it matches its surroundings. The coffee bar shelf she puts the faux drawers on is a similar color to the spray paint she chose for her project. To get a similar effect and make the project look more like drawers, you may need to choose a different spray paint color. The color does not need to be an exact match, especially because the distressing can help you connect your project to its surroundings as well. You can match a white paint and add gray or brown distressing. You can also easily match darker wood with dark brown or black spray paint. 

Another option is to use contact paper to decorate the box. A faux wood contact paper can look great — just be sure to test that the contact paper sticks well and looks good with the ridges of the cardboard. If you decide to give it a try but want a new shelf to set your faux drawers on, you can stick to your budget and make some simple and stylish shelving with Dollar Tree essentials.