Hatbox: Decorative Closet Storage

Are you ready to celebrate the first day of Summer? I am and just in time.

All week I have been concentrating my efforts on getting my work schedule planned for the next two months. When that was done, I switched gears and headed up to my clothes closet to purge and organize so my summer clothes are front and center. Does anyone else do this?

I like to think of the start of each season like it is New Years Day – time for a fresh new start. The ease of summer requires the ease of being able to reach in my closet for a favorite – grab it and go. No having to search for it.

As I was doing this, I decided to refresh the look of a hatbox that I use to store summer beach hats. It was covered with leftover wallpaper that I had used in my powder room. Purple and blue overall floral design. Time for a little decorative closet storage update to put a new vibe into my closet.

On my purging streak, I also cleaned up a shelf in the garage where I save shopping bags. Most of the bags have come from my twin sister. She brings her unwanted stuff to my daughters and me. In my house we call these items “Aunt Carol rejects”. It feels a little like Christmas day every time she comes since she always has goodies to give us.

She brings the goodies in pretty shopping bags she gets when she shops. We both save them since some are so sturdy and can be re-used many times. I had way too many and decided to repurpose them to update the cover on the hatbox. You may remember I did something similar with the bags when I made subway style art using them. I called the post For the Silhouette-less.

Department store and designer logos…perfect for a clothes closet, so I grabbed a few and got to work.

How to Cover a Box Using Shopping Bags

supplies needed:

1. Gather your shopping bags.

2. Cut the logo section off using scissors or a paper cutter.

3. Figure out placement of each logo and then use decoupage medium to attach. I like Martha Stewart Crafts Decoupage better than Mod Podge, but either will work. I always use the matte finish regardless of brand. To attach each strip, brush the decoupage medium over the back of the paper and then on the box itself. Once you like the placement – go over the surface of the paper to seal the it with the decoupage medium. If the paper wrinkles, gently press them out with the brush. The wrinkles will lessen as they dry.

4. When adding the logos along the top edge, place each so there is excess to wrap over the top edge of the box. Use scissors to cut tabs in the paper and then fold over to the inside of the box.

5. It should look like this.

6. Once I had the sides covered, I used the black and white stripe section on the sides of a Sephora bag to place around the sides of the lid. I cut it so I had enough paper to make tabs on the bottom and the top so I could wrap it around the bottom edge of the lid and press the other side on the top of the box.

7. You can cover the top and bottom of the box with more logos, but I decided to cover them with a piece of gift wrap. I placed the paper face down and traced around the box to get the right size circle. I attached it to the box with spray glue and let it dry.

All organized and ready to go.

This afternoon I am going to a backyard party. I think I will wear the long black T-Shirt with my white jean skirt and gold ring flip flops. I better grab my white hoodie, too since we will be at the party when it gets dark and I know I will get chilly.

Sum…sum..Summertime XO

How are you going to start it off?

If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy the easy to follow DIY Decorating Tutorials and Creative Ideas on my blog, In My Own Style.com Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of Copyright law @2009-2014, all rights reserved