Pretty Crate Paper Storage

Do you have a craft room or space? Are you like me and have piles of pretty paper Everywhere?! I am kind of a paper hoarder. I buy basic colors and pretty patterns when they are on sale, and save every scrap just in case. My paper storage system was in dire need of a makeover, and a little organization. Inspiration struck when as I was organizing my kids toys in wood crates. I turned a simple wood crate into pretty paper storage.

Turn a simple wood crate into 8.5 x 11 scrapbook paper storage using hanging files and a little paint.

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I use a lot of 8.5 x 11 cardstock in solid colors for all kinds of crafts. I love having a rainbow of colors and patterns on hand for when inspiration strikes. I previously had my paper on a bookshelf stacked in piles and it just wasn’t working. I could see everything, but the moment I took a piece out I would have to re-organize the pile. Something needed to change.

Here’s how I created this pretty crate paper storage.

I used a wood crate like this one and drew triangles on the side slates. I just used a ruler to get semi straight lines and eyeballed the rest. Then I painted the triangles in a random pattern using white, pink, blue and green paint.

Paint a geometric pattern on a wood crate and use it for scrapbook paper storage

Then I painted the front and back in solid colors.

Organize scrapbook paper in a pretty painted wood crate

Here’s the key to organizing this crate for paper storage!

Once the paint was dry I gathered hanging file folders and all my cardstock. These folders fit perfectly into this crate, and all my paper is visible from the top and sides.

This was a nice opportunity to lay out all my paper, toss any crumbled or cut up pieces, and sort it all by color.

Once it was sorted I filed the paper in my crate, and stuck a few up opened packages in the back.

File card stock by color in a painted wood crate

*Update* This paper storage system has been working for me for the last 3 years! I slide the crate under my printer table and easily slide it out when I need paper. I can see the colors through the slats and the painted sides look so pretty in my office. A tip to keep this neat is to keep your crate full. If the folders are empty the paper will slouch. Now this isn’t really a problem for a paper lover like me :) If it’s not full you can use a box or even a block of wood to brace the folders on one end and keep everything straight.

If you like this post, be sure to pin it and share it with a fellow paper lover who need a little organization in her life!