Decorating with a Vintage Toolbox
Looking for a unique holiday decor idea? Learn how to repurpose a vintage toolbox to store and display children's Christmas books. Perfect for adding charm and festive flair to your home!
Now that we have our first grandchild, I am having fun adding children's touches again. I have saved many of the kid's books over the years.
Each year, I pull them off the top shelf of the coat closet and stack them on a table in the family room.
This year, I decided to use this found vintage toolbox. Decorating with it is perfect for the festive Christmas season.
Latest from OSH
- Decorating with a Vintage Toolbox
- Saturdays on the Porch #73
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins with Crumb Topping
- Create a Cozy Fall Home with the 5 Senses: Part 2
- Create a Cozy Fall Home with the 5 Senses: Part 1
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase something using one of my links, I may earn a small commission from the retailer costing you nothing more. You can read more on my disclosure page. Christy Little of Our Southern Home is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Thrift Store Makeover Day
Join us each month for NEW thrifty ideas from the team. You'll find links to all of the projects below.
Use the slider below to see the before and after!
Let me give you the backstory of this toolbox.
It didn't come from a thrift store, but could have come from the dump! Ha, ha!
I know that my neighbor volunteers at a thrift store. Their barn, across from the street, is packed with stuff. A few months ago the neighbor was cleaning out the barn.
I walk most days on our road. He had placed a ton of junk out in front of the barn at the road with a handwritten sign that read FREE.
Y'all….I walked by the junk and sign for several days. The pile dwindled. I caved.
I stopped and brought 2 things home early one morning. I grabbed those things and hightailed it home. I felt like a thief. I think that is the first time I have grabbed anything with a free sign.
Before
The box was extremely dirty. It's been stored in a barn after all.
These items were in it. I tossed them. The box is of very simple construction using plywood. It looks like it was roughly made with scraps.
Surprisingly, the toolbox was quite sturdy and didn't require any securing.
Supplies Used to Repurpose the Toolbox
How-To Paint the Toolbox
This is a very simple project. Simple is fabulous during the holiday season. Never underestimate the power of paint. You can take something in terrible cosmetic shape and give it new life in an afternoon.
Krud Kutter is a favorite product for cleaning all sorts of things. I started first by dusting off all of the cobwebs, dust and debris with a rag and soft brush. I then sprayed the box with the cleaner.
I let it sit for a few minutes, then with clean, wet towels, I scrubbed. I rinsed my rags out several times.
I then left it alone while I spray-painted a couple more houses for my Christmas village you can see HERE.
When spray painting, this is how I save money. I usually have bits and pieces of cans from previous projects. It is usually not an amount that would cover an entire project.
I “prime” my new projects with the bits and pieces of the partial cans to cover the wood that I know will suck up a lot of paint. Doing this allows me to only have to buy one can of paint for this project. The new can will be my 2 finish coats.
I sprayed one coat on the toolbox with like 3 partial cans of white paint.
I then went in with another coat in a darker green with 2 different cans in different colors.
I let this dry before I went in to complete the project with the actual color.
This is one of my favorite spray paints. It is so smooth and sprays so evenly. This was my first time using this color.
If the can is a traditional-style nozzle, do yourself a favor and add this sprayer add-on. It's so much easier on your hands and gives a nice even spray. Plus it helps keep your hands cleaner.
I completed 2 coats in this color. Let it dry for several hours.
Decorating Ideas with Vintage Toolboxes
- Storing Children's Books
- Storing Cookbooks
- Organizing Paper Products
- Centerpiece for a tablescape
- Seasonal Flowers
- Counter Organizer for Oils and Vinegars
- Dish Storage
- Front Entrance Decoration
- Art Supplies
- Desk Organizer
- Bathroom Cady
As you can see, there are so many uses for repurposing a vintage toolbox. I'd love to find one that needed no work to it. Years ago, I painted this toolbox. It's a bit on the larger side. I use it in the kitchen for cookbooks.
I debated on the final look of the toolbox. I thought about painting embellishments on it. In the end, I decided to keep it simple. I thought it would be fun to add the bells to it for Christmas. Then I can maybe change it up with the seasons.
Also keeping it plain will allow me to use it for any of the ideas above.
This toolbox has a nice hefty weight to it.
The sleigh bells added such a nice vintage touch.
Yes, I have started decorating for Christmas! Do you notice my Christmas village in the secretary? I started displaying them here a couple of years ago. Visit our Christmas Home here. I hope you have been inspired to use spray paint.
More Thrifty Decor Ideas from the Team
Refresh Thrift Store Artwork by My Repurposed Life
Upcycled Brass Christmas Bell Decoration by Petticoat Junktion
Decorating with a Vintage Toolbox by Our Southern Home
Repurposed Santa Mug by House of Hawthornes
Refresh Outdoor Lanterns for Inside by Shop at Blu
Christy has been creating content for Our Southern Home since 2012. She has been featured in numerous print and online publications. Her classic, eclectic design approach spans her home and fashion style. Christy has a way of mixing store-bought with thrift store, antique and vintage finds. As a recent empty nester, she is having fun navigating this new stage of life. Read more about Christy HERE. Be sure to subscribe below. You can also contact me HERE.
This Christmas is going to be so much fun with the little one in the house! Enjoy your holidays!
This is the best kind of project…free and useful! I’m laughing at the thought of you scurrying away with your prizes. lol pinned!
Christy,
How sweet is that old toolbox! I’m so happy you finally dashed in to get it. 🙂 I love it with the bells. It is a lot larger than it appears in the before photo.
I love the idea of putting out the kid’s Christmas books for the holidays. Now you have a new reason for the books! So exciting!
Pinned and shared on FB
gail