DIY Industrial Office Supply Organizer from an Old Jewelry Box
Every upcycle has a beginning, and this one started with a little jewelry box that had seen better days. It was covered in cheerful flower knobs, painted with tiny bugs, and splashed with more colors than it needed. Cute once, but no longer suited to my modern office needs. Rather than toss it, I decided to transform it into a small industrial-style office supply organizer.
This project is a quick, low-cost DIY that turned a nostalgic piece into a functional accent for our military-inspired home office. The result is a compact organizer perfect for pens, clips, labels, and other desktop essentials—clean, stylish, and built from something that already had character.
Supplies Used
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Coco
- Annie Sloan Soft Dark Wax
- Pliers (to remove old knobs)
- Chip brush (for painting)
- Clean lint-free rag (for waxing)
- Label drawer pulls
- Ivory cardstock for labels
First I removed the old flower knobs with pliers and gave the whole box a light coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Coco. The neutral tone creates a calm industrial base while still allowing the wood grain and details to show through. After the paint dried, I applied a thin layer of Annie Sloan Dark Wax with a rag to age the piece and achieve a weathered, industrial look.
Rather than reusing the whimsical original pulls, I attached small metal label pulls to the drawer fronts. I used hot glue for a quick hold when I ran out of screws—functional and a little unconventional, but it works for a small organizer. Adding label pulls makes each compartment easy to identify and gives the jewelry box a more tailored, industrial feel.
How I Finished the Organizer
Once the paint and wax were applied, I cut small labels from ivory cardstock and slid them into the label pulls. The drawers are now perfect for sorting small office items: binder clips, rubber bands, sticky notes, and extra pens. Smaller compartments hold push pins and labels while larger drawers store tape and scissors. The compact size keeps the desk surface tidy without sacrificing accessibility.
This little upcycle fits right into our office decor and helps keep crafting remnants and supplies off the floor. A neat organizer like this is especially helpful when multiple people use the space for different tasks—crafting, paperwork, or quiet reading. It makes it easier to keep the room tidy and makes small tools easier to find when you need them.
Why Upcycle for Office Organization
Upcycling a jewelry box into an industrial office organizer is sustainable, budget-friendly, and creative. It breathes new life into an item that might otherwise sit in storage and turns it into a useful piece. Small projects like this are ideal for experimenting with paints and finishes—especially when you want to try an industrial-chic aesthetic without committing to bigger furniture changes.
If you have a small jewelry box or similar container and are looking to organize desk clutter, this project is a great place to start. It takes only a few steps—remove old hardware, paint, wax for an aged finish, and add label pulls—and the payoff is an attractive, practical organizer that adds personality to your workspace.
Transforming a small, sentimental piece into a useful organizer is a satisfying way to update your space without buying new storage. Whether your style leans industrial, farmhouse, or modern, this simple makeover can be adjusted with different paint colors, hardware, and labels to match your decor.
Do you prefer the original colorful knobs or the more grown-up, industrial look? Either way, repurposing is a fun way to customize storage and keep your desk organized. I’m excited to continue sharing small updates from around the house as we tackle more projects and bring fresh life to everyday items.
