This fabric storage box is easy to DIY, get the details below, and make yours today. If you have materials and tools straying around the home, make these boxes to keep them and de-clutter your home. If you used carton boxes collected from the street, dress them up with this method and there will be no more ugly carton boxes scattered around the house.
Before I had these DIY fabric storage boxes completed, the fully stuffed pigeon-hole cabinet never looks as tidy as I want it to be, provided I restrict only display items to be put into the cabinet LOL.
Space is really a huge issue for me and I need to fully utilize each and every space I could find in the home. That’s how I decided to convert the pigeon-hole cabinet into DIY fabric storage box drawers. Now I have it done, I have more space to keep away my materials. Also, with the proper labeling, ie., the label plate and color of the fabric storage box, I can easily find the materials.
What Do You Need To DIY Fabric Storage Box?
The basic materials to make these fabric-coated storage boxes are carton boxes (without cover) and fabrics of your choice. We are lucky to have found some boxes that fit nicely into our pigeonhole. If you can’t find any that fit perfectly into yours, it is ok to have the boxes slightly smaller. In other ways, you can alter the box size to meet the dimensions or make your own carton box from scratch.
Since storage boxes are meant to be strong and long-lasting, I recommended using upholstery fabrics to cover the boxes. Find some color-matching ribbons to cover the raw edges of the fabric inside the box. The cotton webbing is important because not only will it neaten up the inside of the boxes, but it also uplifts the quality of your workmanship. Besides, thick plastic sheets are used to reinforce the structure of the storage box further, especially the front, where there is higher traffic of contact with the user. We placed some felt pads at the bottom of the boxes to further protect them from any damage from gliding them in and out of the pigeonholes.
Next, you need cotton webbings and brads to make into handles so that you can pull the fabric storage box out from the pigeonholes. Lastly, install the label plates for a well-organized storage; you can get these label plates from Amazon (affiliate link) or your local scrapbooking craft shop.
To make all these work, you will need supplies like Quick-dry adhesive, I used UHU, but you may use hot glue too. A spray adhesive works wonders in this tutorial, and we highly recommend it. Apart from these supplies, you will need those normal craft tools like scissors, a pencil, a ruler, an awl and some old newspapers too. Get the quantities required and more details in the tutorial section, you may also download the list and print it out from easy reference.
Let’s make them! This fabric storage box is easy and quick to make, I am able to make 8 of them in a day. I used 3 different colors of fabrics to create a mix and match arrangement for the boxes. The fabric storage box really brightened up my sewing room and most importantly, no more messy items displayed on the pigeonhole cabinet.
No pigeonhole cabinet to make the exact one as shown here? No worries, the wall shelf, and cabinet shelf can take this nice idea equally well. Make it now to dress up your shelf while organizing your items properly.
Feel free to explore the DIY Home Decor section for more inspiration!
DIY Fabric Storage Box
This fabric storage box is easy to DIY, get the details below, and make yours today. If you have materials and tools straying around the home, make these boxes to keep them and de-clutter your home. If you used carton boxes collected from the street, dress them up with this method and there will be no more ugly carton boxes scattered around the house.
Enjoy making them!
Materials
- Carton box (without cover)
- Fabrics (upholstery)
- Cotton webbing (1 1/4″ wide), slightly shorter that the width of the front of your box
- Brads (1/2″), 2 pcs.
- Label Plate & brads
- Ribbon
- Thick plastic sheet as the reinforced backing for the handle
- Cork or felt pads
Tools
- Quick-dry adhesive, I used UHU
- 3M 21210 Super 77 Spray AdhesiveSpray Adhesive or equivalent
- Plastic spreader
- Scissors
- Pencil and ruler
- Awl or sharp tool that able to make a piercing hole
- Old newspaper
Instructions
- Get a carton box that you wish to work on. If it has a cover, remove it.
- Gather all the materials and tools needed. Not all items are shown in the picture, please refer to the list above for details.
- Cut fabric pieces according to the measurement as shown in the picture.
It is recommended to use thicker fabric that is used for upholstery since it is more durable for high traffic usage. - Protect your floor with old newspaper. Place the box above the old newspaper and spray adhesive on the side of the box, do 1 side at a time.
- a. Lay the side fabric piece on the box with right side facing up.
b. Reposition the fabric to the center of the box with equal allowance at the edges.
c. Use a plastic spreader to smooth out the fabric to achieve a good contact to the box.
d. Repeat the same to the opposite side of the box. - Edge treatment:
(1) Glue one of the edges to the box with quick-dry adhesive. Smooth out with plastic spreader.
(2) Clip the corner as shown in the picture.
(3) Glue the next edge down to the box.
(4) Clip away the excess fabric.
Repeat on all edges except the top edge.
Don’t worry if your edges don’t align, they will get cover up later. - After both sides of the box have been covered up, we will proceed with the front, back and bottom part.
- a. Mark the width measurement of the box on the wrong side of the fabric.
b. Fold the long edges and glue them down with adhesive.
c. Give a quick check and make sure the dimension is correct before the glue dries, adjust it if needed. - a. Put the bottom fabric aside, cover the sides of the box to prevent the sprayed adhesive to get into contact.
b. Spray adhesive to the front, bottom, and back of the box.
c. Lay the bottom fabric to the box, align it well.
d. Use a plastic spreader to smooth out the fabric.
e. Apply quick-dry adhesive to edge to give better adhesion. - Fold the top edges into the inner part of the box, glue it on with quick-dry adhesive.
You may either cut away the excess fabric at the corner or you may fold it in. - Glue the ribbon to the edge as a trim.
If you are using tacky glue or other glue that need longer drying time, leave to dry before proceeding with the next step. - a. Decide where do you want to put your handle on. I put it in the middle of the front/back of the box.
b. Lightly mark the handle position on the box, 4 little dashes to indicate the 4 corners of the webbing is good enough to show the position.
Note that the webbing is slightly longer than the marking width, this is to allow a space between the handle and the box, for your hand to grab the handle.
c. Apply glue on both ends of the cotton webbing, about 1″ from the edge, glue them on the box. Press it until it sticks well if needed.
d. Use an awl or any sharp tool to poke a hole about 1/2″ from the end of the handle, repeat the same to the other end.
The tool must poke through the box so that you can see a visible hole marking from inside. These 2 holes are for brads installation. - a. Glue the thick plastic reinforced plate to the inside of the part you place the handle.
The plate mustn’t go below the area you want to put the label plate.
b. Continue to pierce the hole on the plastic plate according to the markings made just now.
The awl must be able to go through all layers from fabric to the box and to the plastic plate. - Insert the pin of the brad into the box, put in the backplate of your brad has one, open the legs to lock the brad to the position.
- a. Align and mark your label plate at the center bottom of the box.
b. Use the awl to make 2 holes for the brads, install the label plate as shown or follow the installation instruction of the product if the different label plate is used. - Glue the cock pad or felt pad to the base of the box to complete it.
- It is easy and quick to make yet appealing to the eye. I used 3 different colors of fabrics to create a mix and match arrangement for the boxes. The fabric storage boxes really brightened up my sewing room and most importantly, no more messy items displaying on the pigeon-hole cabinet.
Notes
- You may use tacky glue to replace UHU (item 9), the drying time is a little longer than UHU.
- I am not able to give exact measurement of the materials needed as everyone’s box might be different. Please read the tutorial and estimate the amount needed for your box.
Get the full article at https://www.craftpassion.com/diy-fabric-storage-box/
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Nuraan
Friday 22nd of December 2017
Absolutely stunning and easy! I use crates and sew my fabric into a slip cover. That tames a bit of time though. Will definitely try out your way. Thanks for sharing.
Fabric Heart
Monday 24th of April 2017
great idea. I am sure the fabric exchange has so many choices of fabric for this kind of project.
pam
Sunday 31st of January 2016
I love your fabric storage box.i'm going to try to make some. thank you for your post.
Cynthia Banessa
Thursday 8th of October 2015
Here I am frustrated over my workroom and I come across your post on creating these very neat storage boxes...love everything about them! Thanks for sharing!!
Denyse
Tuesday 15th of September 2015
Hi. Love how the boxes look like. Where did you get the shelf from? Thanks!
Craft Passion
Wednesday 16th of September 2015
It is a custom made pigeon-hole shelf, the boxes happened to fit in nicely.