11+ Creative Ways to Use Old Tool Boxes (all through the house)
What can you do with a vintage toolbox? these fun decorating and organizing ideas for old wooden and metal tool boxes will find you searching the garage!
Whether you like your decor rustic, industrial, farmhouse or country, old tool boxes can add a fun style element to your home. Happily, there are plenty of them out there if you shop secondhand; just head to the handyman area and expect to use some hand wipes after you’re done shopping;) Once you’ve got them home and all cleaned up, you can decorate and organize with these 11+ Creative Ways to Use Old Tool Boxes (all through the house).
Today I’m joining my Lifestyle of Love blogging friends to bring you oodles of ideas for toolboxes! These ladies all love old stuff like I do, and are so creative. I can’t wait to see their ideas! Thanks to Cindy at County Road 407 for organizing us all. If you’re popping over from Dabbling and Decorating, I’m sure you loved Ann’s Wooden Toolbox Centerpiece; she has amazing style!
I’ll have links to everyone’s posts down below! Now to give you some tool box decorating and organization ideas!
11+ Creative Ways to Use Old Toolboxes (all through the house)
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Tool Box or Tool Caddy? Let’s Define the Terms First
When you do a google images search or look on Pinterest, there’s different definitions as to what type of tool carrying case a tool box or tool caddy is. Yes, all old tool boxes and tool caddy’s are just as amazing for decorating whether they’re made of metal or wood, if you ask me.
But let’s agree on a definition first. Toolboxes or tool boxes have a closed top with latches, so when you pick them up, nothing will fall out. Tool caddy’s have an open top and are much handier for people like me that are out-of-sight, out-of-mind:(
Of course…I love them both…if they’re old, crusty and vintage!
Can we all agree on the terms? Check.
Now we can get to the cute stuff…
Wooden Tool Box Decor Idea
Two is always better than one, right? If you separate the top and bottom of a vintage wooden toolbox, you’ll have twice the decorating and organizing possibilities!
Years ago I picked up an amazing black with green vintage wooden toolbox in a curbside pile. It had me at the dovetail corners and clamshell hinges. I used it for years as a genuine toolbox for all my floral arranging and interior styling supplies. Then the repurposing bug hit and I split it up. Mr. Fix-it put knobs for feet on the skinnier half and I added a couple more cool old hinges to the other side. See “Best Tips for Using Vintage (and vintage inspired) Hardware” for more creative ideas.
This vintage wooden toolbox now has twice the decorating options!
Style a Centerpiece with an Old Tool Box
Whether you use half a tool box or the whole thing, the rustic style of a toolbox is the perfect canvas to add seasonal decor. This black painted bottom of a toolbox gets used as a seasonal centerpiece often at my house.
“Vintage Toolbox Centerpiece for Spring”
“Easy Yarn Ball Centerpiece How To”
Vintage Metal Toolbox in Decor for the Seasons
Toolboxes with a lid can also be used as seasonal centerpieces. If the lid tends to fall open, simply prop it open with a stick or tie it with twine. Or lean it up against something to prop it open.
Fill your tool box with seasonal accessories. I also like to add a candle or lighting feature and a cute greeting with old game letters.
See “How to Clean Galvanized Metal and Revive the Vintage Patina” so your old metal toolboxes can be home decor ready.
See how to create these festive toolbox arrangements in “Easy DIY Vintage Toolbox Christmas Decor”.
Lastly, Use Vintage Toolboxes for Home Organization and Storage
Old toolboxes are perfect for home organization and storage. Their inner drawers and dividers can be used to corral items, too. From my desks to my kitchen, toolboxes are a mainstay at this vintage junk-loving house!
This mini tool caddy is perfect for small things organization. I filled it with pretty-colored washi tape that’s just as pretty as it is useful.
My “Upcycled Old Tin Organizer DIY” is another handy repurpose.
This custom machinist toolbox has been awaiting it’s makeover in my garage for many years. It’s owner, Fred Schaeffer (via the front panel and the crest) would never have thought it would be filled with colored pencils and paperclips!
The top half of my vintage wooden toolbox gets used often, too. It’s handy for organizing kitchen essentials so the counter doesn’t get too cluttered.
Even the toolbox dividers come in handy for organizing and storage around the house!
Hopefully you’ll think twice the next time you see a vintage toolbox when you’re secondhand shopping. There are so many great ways to use them, and they give your decor a great rustic, industrial style. Maybe you’ve spied an old wooden or metal toolbox in the garage or basement. Definitely give it new life with a little repurposing! You can always get a new plastic version for your tools to live in:)
Hopefully “11+ Creative Ways to Use Old Toolboxes (all through the house)” inspired you! If you’re hopping in order, visit my friend Katie at Let’s Add Sprinkles next; she’s got drool-worthy vintage finds in her home!
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Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop: Toolboxes
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I am loving all the great ways you have used your tool boxes Lora. Thank you for the inspiration.
Glad you enjoyed them, Kim!
So many cute ideas, Lora! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Glad you liked them, Cecilia!
Lora, you have so many great ideas for using your amazing old toolboxes. I love the Easter one and the Valentine’s day one, and the one with your supplies is so clever. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks, Angie! I definitely use them all through the house, and all through the seasons!
Love these ideas! I have two old metal ones. One stores my craft stuff and the other is just decorative but you gave me some great ideas!
So glad you found some inspiration, Cheryl!
I love your vintage tool boxes. So cute. Your styling is fabulous as always. The one from your dad is amazing. The color is so much fun.
Thanks, Katie! It’s my first red one, and I can’t wait to style it up for the 4th!
Lora, you always inspire me so much with how you use and repurpose vintage finds in your decor! I love all your ideas, but my favorite is the one styled for Valentine’s Day. The way you used the string to keep the lid from falling all the way open is sheer genius!
Where there’s a will there’s a way, Michelle! Helped that I had that red and white twine handy from Christmas decor;)
I’ve never thought to take the toolbox apart. It’s genius! And you are so right about the tool box coming open and everything falling out. Had that happen more than once. Ugh. All of your ideas were fantastic. I can hardly wait to find one I love and bring it home just so I can take it apart! Thank you for joining in. Pinned!
Happy vintage toolbox hunting, Cindy!
You shared so many great ideas! My favorite is the Valentine’s Day toolbox, probably because I’ve been thinking about how I want to decorate for it this year.
I’m excited to have a red one to play with through the seasons! This challenge got me to scrub it up so I could bring it inside.
I do love all your ideas and do have a few of these beauties. I head straight for the garage or toolshed when I go junk’n!! I love your idea to separate and put feet on them, so cute.
Lucky you that you’ve got some already, Marlene! Have fun with them:)
I loved all of your toolbox ideas. But I especially liked the storage whatever-it-is made of the old tins. I love tins and try to limit myself to 1)old ones, and 2) ones I can use to “wrap” Christmas gifts in! My current fave, although it is not a “tin” anymore is using a Hershey’s cocoa plastic tin to hold my hot glue sticks; it is EXACTLY the right height. Course, I need 2 for the overflow and colored sticks!
I’m going to remember that Hershey cocoa tip, Kathy. Think my daughter’s been emptying one, and my glue sticks are just in a plastic bag. Thanks for the great tip!
Lora you are so creative my friend. Luved all your toolbox ideas here today🙌🏻
Thanks, Ann! I just love using old toolboxes around my house!
Lora,
I love all your creative ideas for using tool boxes. Obviously, we both have a love for the old and chippy ones.
Rachel
Yes, the crustier the better, Rachel:)
I can’t get over how many vintage pieces you have. Lora, they’re all fabulous! I love all the creative ways you’ve styled them. Especially, the seasonal ones. My favorite is how you organized the craft and art supplies. I need to implement those ideas stat 🙂 Hugs and Happy New Year, CoCo
I do use them throughout the seasons and all over the house, CoCo. And I can never say no to one more;)
So many amazing ideas, Thank You.
Your welcome! Glad you enjoyed them:)
Lora, you have a truly amazing collection! I adore each vignette that you have created. Your tin organizers are pretty fabulous too!
Yes, I do have quite a few, Laura! You’d think I whispered in Cindy’s ear to come up with this theme;)