8 Creative Ways to Reuse Empty Gift Boxes

Drawer Organizers

A haphazard drawer is quickly transformed with a few dividers, and empty gift boxes are ready to report for the job. Chelsea Barton, a craft expert and author of Cricut Weddings: A DIY Book, says that the smaller ones are especially handy for this. 

“Instead of tossing them, place them inside drawers to create compartments for things like hair accessories, office supplies, craft materials, or even small kitchen knickknacks,” she suggests. “Just remove the lid and arrange the boxes inside your drawer to organize items into neat sections.” 

Recipe Holder

Many recipes are stored digitally these days, but if you still have some handwritten recipes passed down or shared between family and friends, this empty gift box idea is for you. Many are the perfect size for storing small recipe cards or recipes jotted down on a piece of paper. 

"I’ve seen many people keep printed recipes, handwritten family recipes, or recipe cards tucked into kitchen drawers where they can easily get bent or lost," shares Allie Licata, owner and lead organizer at The Curated Home Company. "Using a small box keeps everything together in one place, and it can even become a little family recipe collection you add to over time."

First Aid Box

Every home should have a grab-and-go first aid box stocked with simple items like bandages, gauze pads, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, and pain relievers. For this project, choose a sturdy box and consider adding a simple decoration and label that reminds you of the contents inside. Then, fill it with first aid items that you and your family routinely need. Keep it stored in a place that’s easily accessible and make sure everyone knows where it’s located.

Craft Organizers

Empty gift boxes are also great for arts and crafts. “I often suggest keeping one as a small craft supply box where you can store things like markers, glue sticks, paint brushes, or scraps of paper,” Licata says. “If you have kids, they can also decorate the box itself and turn it into part of the craft project. It’s a simple way to reuse something you already have instead of buying new storage.”

Memory Boxes

With their sturdy frames, medium to large gift boxes are easily transformed into beautiful memory boxes that house keepsakes, treasures, and mementos. 

“Decorating them with scrapbook paper, patterned cardstock, or fabric instantly elevates a simple used box into a refreshed and pretty storage solution. And any box with a lid can also be personalized using adhesive vinyl,” Barton says. “Simply place your treasured items inside and you have a stylish, meaningful way to preserve memories.”

Grab-and-Go Snack Boxes

From road trips to sports practice to pool days, train rides, and concerts, a box filled with tasty snacks is the best treat ever. Medium-sized gift boxes work best for this idea since you want enough space to add a few different items. Pack each one with something salty, something sweet, and something healthy. You can even add little notes of encouragement, and decorate the exterior so it feels more custom. After the goodies have been noshed, you can easily refill the box for next time. 

Holiday Storage

Holiday decorations are always at risk of getting out of hand, largely because they’re out of sight (for most of the year), and therefore out of mind. But when you go to that box of Christmas ornaments or Easter décor and it’s organized, it feels like a little gift from your past self. Empty gift boxes come in so handy here, allowing you to group like-items together and protect fragile decor.

Cat Toys

There’s a running joke about cats loving the box their toy came in more than the toy itself. Well, an empty gift box is the perfect opportunity to give your feline one of their favorite types of entertainment! The box on its own could work—especially if it’s big enough for them to sit in or hop in and out of—but Barton says you even add a few enrichment items, like crumpled paper, ribbons tied to the side, or small soft toys inside to make it even more engaging. 

“It’s a low-effort way to give your cat a safe, stimulating space, and it’s a perfect example of turning something you’d normally discard into pure joy for your pet,” Barton explains. “The simpler, the better. Most cats are happiest just hiding, pouncing, and peeking out from the box, so there’s no need to overcomplicate it.”