Trash to Treasure! How I Repurposed an Old Silverware Box
If you have an old silverware wooden box, wait until you see how to repurpose it into a usable storage box. This is one of my favorite upcycled trash-to-treasure projects. If you don’t have one, you will be checking thrift stores after you see this transformation.
I have a love for old wooden boxes of any type. They are great for storing items you want out of sight but not out of mind.
I love how they look, especially when they are re-purposed. So when I ran across this old silverware box, I decided it would make a great place to store stationary, stamps, and other office items that get lost in large drawers.
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Thrift Store Find – Repurpose a Silverware Wooden Box
It was slightly banged up when I first spotted it in the thrift store. However, it is solid wood with sturdy construction, and the price was right.
Although the lining was intact, it had to go. Demo time!!!
Silverware Wooden Box Deconstructed
I made sure to keep all the hardware except for the engraved plate that was originally on the top of the box. Those aren’t my initials, so bye-bye!
I filled the holes where the plate was screwed to the top with wood filler. Once that was dry, I gently sanded this area until it was smooth using a fine-grit sanding block.
Hardware Update
I later decided to replace all the hardware except the side handles. One of the drawer pulls was missing, and it was easier to replace all the pulls than try to match the old ones.
I spray-painted the side handles with black Rustoleum paint because the original finish was pitted and rusty in some areas.
Refinish Wooden Silverware Box
Next, I painted the outside of the box with 2 COATS OF ANNIE SLOAN OLD WHITE CHALK PAINT and rubbed a little off around the edges. I then applied clear wax to seal the paint. I’ve included an easy tutorial on how to use Chalk Paint.
I also mixed dark and clear wax and added a coat over the entire surface. This gave a more aged look to the paint.
This is the same technique I shared on my Instagram Stories when I re-purposed the side table in my living room.
Decoupage Inside of Wooden Silverware Box
To cover the inside of the silverware box, I used some old music sheets and decoupaged them to the inside.
This was just something I had on hand and didn’t have to buy. This step would look very nice with any extra wallpaper, lovely stationary, magazine pages, etc.
Since the box’s insides were not smooth and the finish was undesirable, I tore the hymnal pages to cover the inside.
I used mod podge to adhere the torn music pages to the box’s interior. After the pages were dry, I applied another coat of mod podge over the surface to seal the pages and give them a smooth finish.
This was such a quick and easy project. The only difficulty I had was getting rid of my sticky fingers! I would forget and use my hands to spread the mod podge! LOL
So many small items fit perfectly inside the silverware wooden box.
Repurposed Silverware Box
The repurposed silverware box is the perfect size for storing stationary, stamps, paper clips, pens, etc.
I added replacement hardware from Amazon to the front of the drawers. The label holder from D Lawless Hardware is just for looks. I hand-printed “Cards” on a piece of brown craft paper to add to the file card holder.
Remote Control Holder
In addition to stationary, the small drawer is perfect for hiding the remote controls when friends drop by. Otherwise, they are glued to my husband’s hands. LOL
The spray-painted hardware matches the other hardware perfectly.
I initially thought I’d put the new Stationary Box on my desk. However, I love it here! It matches my re-purposed side table so well. Maybe I’ll change the label to “remote controls” and leave it here!
If you like trash-to-treasure updates, check out What You Can Do With a Broken Light Fixture or How to Update a Thrift Store Chandelier.
I hope you enjoyed the process of this repurposed silverware box and that it will inspire you to see beyond the obvious when shopping at thrift stores.
Pin It To Remember It
Did you find some great ideas you’d like to save for future reference? Hover over the images you’d like to save and pin to your favorite Pinterest Boards when you see the PIN button.
I love this project! I have two silverware chests that were practically free (w/out silverware!) and I’ll be doing this to both! Thanks for the inspiration and how-to! Sandra
Sandra,
I’m so glad you like this project. Can’t wait to hear how they turn out.
Rachel
Hi. Do you have a store in NC or is all of this beautiful decorations at your home?
Lonnie Beer
Lonnie,
All that I share on here is at my home. thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. I am just starting out and am going to look for some feed sack and try this method of dying it with coffee and stenciling the bag. I think I will start out with a bag for my first project. I enjoy rug hooking and quilting, so I thought I could put my scraps of wool, etc and have a bag for different colors. I signed up and will check my email for more projects and idea’s. Thanks again so much.
Christine,
I’m so excited to have you join me. I appreciate your sweet comments and look forward to sharing more with you.
Hi, I love all the projects u show how to do, but can’t believe u threw away that plate with initials?? I always keep those, if I can find them, do not care if they r mine,, ha.. ..thank you..hard to leave message from ads all over page..thanks again
Lynda,
I’m so glad you found this tutorial helpful. I’ve also thrown items away and have many regrets. You can click the ads off at the X.
Hi, Rachel! I LOVE this – I “inherited” an old, wooden silverware box when I bought a 2nd set of my stainless flatware on ebay; the shipper just shipped in in the box to avoid wrapping all the pieces!! Fun!
I am a pianist, so I personally get the heebie-jeebies when someone tears up music of any kind to decoupage (I frame especially beautiful, old pieces – such great artwork!); I once saw a fellow musician who had decoupaged an entire powder room wall with music for his black-and-white theme in there! Anyway, my solution to this, because I love the look? I have CDs of Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Back, with all piano compositions’ sheet music on them to print out. I print them, and then tea-stain the paper! They look vintage, and I have no guilt!!!
I just stumbled on your website, and I love so many of your ideas – we are doing a historic renovation to a 1906 Craftsman Bungalow that we purchased (we’ve done a number of these, for homes on the Historic Registry, but this is the first time we’ve done one for ourselves!); it is slow-going, since we must source period materials, etc., not just stuff that “looks” period, but it’s a labor of love – I can completely see how The Ponds is yours! I have high respect for anyone who treats an old, period home with the respect it deserves!!!
Chrissie,
I’m so glad you stopped by. Best of luck in your renovations. We have been remodeling our 1940’s beach cottage and doing all the work ourselves. It’s tiny so not a huge undertaking but still a lot of work.
Hi Rachel! I am with you, i love finding these silverware boxes and upcycling them. I will defintely use your idea with the insides. They are a great seller in my booth. Thank you for your great ideas.
Cheryl,
I’m so glad you liked this idea. Thanks for stopping by.
How lucky you were to even find a silverware box! I just love the idea of doing that! I will be looking out for one 🤗 thanks for sharing
Margie,
I really appreciate this.
What a wonderful idea!!! I have my grandmother’s (and maybe my mother’s) silverware box that I just can’t part with and this would be a great way to use it and get it out of the closet!! Happy New Year!!
Jane,
I’m so glad you like this idea.
Love what you did to the silverware box. Such an awesome idea. I’m going to keep my eyes open for a box that will work in my home for remotes and “thing”. I really enjoy your ideas. Thank you for sharing. Happy New year!
Deborah,
I really appreciate your kind comments.
This is amazing! I would love to share this in my Friday newsletter next week. Hugs to you.
Renae,
Thank you so much. I appreciate you doing this.
Super cute Rachel, I think I have about three of these hanging around. Thanks for the inspiration.
Wendy,
You are so welcome. Thanks.
I love silverware chests. They are really well made pieces of little furniture. Your transformation is fantastic!
Kyra,
I really appreciate this. Thanks for commenting.
I have always loved wooden boxes and have several silverware boxes and old wooden jewelry boxes. One silverware box has a plate with my old initials from a dissolved marriage. It is glued on without screws and I have not been able to remove it. The woodgrain is beautiful and I do not want to destroy it by prying off the plate. Any suggestions on how to get the plate off the box or how to repurpose over it?
Nancy,
I would suggest finding something that you could put in place of the plate. Maybe an image from a card or your initials in calligraphy. If you damage the box when you remove the plate, you can fill it with wood filler and then decoupage the new image over the area to hide the damage. I hope this helps, let me know if you find something.
This is such a great idea, Rachel!
AnnMarie,
I really appreciate this.
This is fantastic! Love how it looks on top of the other table too. pinned!
Cindy,
I’m so glad you like it.