Storage
boxes are very practical but sometimes they really aren't that pretty. One
solution is to decorate them – it adds a personal touch and makes the
organizer much prettier! Here's how to cover any organizer with fabric.
Supplies Needed:
First, measure the size of the organizer. The one shown in the picture is 7 1/2" wide x 11 1/2" long x 1 1/2" deep. If you take a closer look, you can see that I covered the top with cotton fabric and the sides with black felt. If you prefer, you can cover the organizer in your choice of fabric, laces, or with scrapbooking paper.
Next, cut your material to size. For the top, cut the fabric so that it is one inch longer than the width and two inches longer than the length. For my organizer, I cut the fabric so that it measured 8 1/2" wide x 13 1/2" long. You don't have to worry about being too exact – the extra material will be folded over the side and be tucked underneath.
For the sides, you will need to cut 4 pieces of felt. Cut the side strips slightly shorter than the organizer and the front and back strips slightly longer. For my organizer, I cut the side strips 6" long and 1 1/2" wide. For the front and back strips, I cut them 13 1/2" long and 1 1/2" wide.
Once all your material has been cut, you are ready to glue it to the organizer using spray adhesive. Make sure to lay out some newspaper on your table to protect it from the adhesive. Start with the felt. Place it on the newspaper, wrong side up. Lightly spray one of the side pieces. Place it on the container, just below where the lid will be when it's closed. Gently press it into place. Then do the same for the other side piece.
Once the side pieces are in place, you can put the front and back pieces on. Try to center the pieces because the ends will wrap around the sides to give a smooth finish to the front of the organizer.
Next, do the same for the top piece of fabric. Place it wrong side up and light spray with the spray adhesive, making sure to cover the edges of the fabric. Position the fabric over the center of the top lid. Note: the back piece will come to the edge, but for the top and sides, you will have to turn the fabric over the edge and stick it to the underside of the lid. This will give a smooth, finished appearance to the lid when it is closed.
For the final step, add embellishments to the side, top or front of the organizer. The colour(s) of the embellishments should compliment the colour(s) of your fabric. If you used fabric that has a pattern on it, you can choose solid coloured embellishments that pick up colours in the pattern. If you used a solid coloured fabric, then the embellishments could have a pattern on them, with the dominant colour of the pattern being the same colour as your fabric.
Here's some before and after shots of my plastic organizer:
Finally, step back and admire your functional, yet beautiful organizer. As you can see from the pictures above, the difference is amazing!
Need fabric to cover your organizer? Then check out our wide range of Fabrics - choose from solid colours or bright and cheerful prints. Or do you need help getting organized? We can help you out - just check out our Storage Solutions - where you'll find exactly what you need.
