How to create a stationery box for your home office

How to create a stationery box

Got a cluttered study with no style? It’s time to give it a vintage overhaul and organise your stationery with a handy storage box - by Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Create a vintage-looking storage box for your writing desk or craft area using a store-bought set of drawers. It’s the ideal place to store all those little bits and bobs you can never find when you need them the most.

Gather your supplies

• Small set of drawers (here, from IKEA)

• Timber stain (we used Cabot’s water-based Interior Stain in Dark Chocolate)

• Tab file handles (1 per drawer), see Note, below

You’ll also need Fine-grit sandpaper; sanding block; medium flat paintbrush; boot polish in dark brown (see Note); clean soft cloth

Note

1. For similar hammer-in handles, try online stores – eBay and Etsy are good resources.

2. You may wish to apply a clear coat instead of boot polish for a harder-wearing finish.

Here's how

Better Homes and Gardens

Step 1 With sandpaper wrapped around sanding block, rub over edges of drawer carcass. Remove drawers and rub over all edges of individual drawers, too. You want to remove sharp, new-looking edges so your piece appears well worn.

Better Homes and Gardens

Step 3 Using small amounts of polish on cloth, apply to carcass and drawers. Rub polish into timber grain, focusing on edges of carcass and drawers. Leave polish for 10-15 minutes, then buff to a low sheen with a clean section of cloth. Apply more polish and buff as desired.

Better Homes and Gardens

Step 4 Since our drawers had existing finger tabs, we re-inserted them into carcass back-to-front. With this in mind, plan to attach tab file handles to required end of drawers. Place hammer-in handles in position and gently tap edges with a hammer to secure. Re-insert drawers into carcass.