Lately our family has been playing a silly little game: Hide the Remote from the Baby. No matter how many bright, noisy toys an infant has, the truly irresistible objects always seem to be car keys, a cardboard box, or—of course—the TV remote. Go figure.
I decided to turn the problem into a solution by creating a pretty, practical home for the remote that keeps it out of sight but still easy for us to find. A thrifted cigar box wrapped in contact paper made the perfect remote control holder for our coffee table, and it cost me almost nothing since I already had marble contact paper leftover from an earlier project.
I often find cigar and jewelry boxes while thrifting, so they make ideal candidates for small DIY projects. With a bit of contact paper and a few basic tools, you can transform a plain box into an attractive, functional accent that hides clutter while blending with your coffee table decor.
Quick cost note: If you already have contact paper, this project is essentially free. Buying a small roll of decorative contact paper typically keeps the total under $10.
Supplies
- Cigar box (or a similar small wooden box)
- Marble contact paper (or a pattern you prefer—burl wood contact paper is another great option)
- Pencil
- Ruler or straight edge
- Scissors
- X-Acto knife
- White craft paint
- Medium craft paintbrush
Step 1 – Position the Box on the Paper
Roll the contact paper out with the decorative side down. Place the cigar box in the center, leaving enough paper on each side to cover the box’s height and edges. Aim for a little extra to ensure full coverage.
Step 2 – Mark the Corners
Use a pencil to mark the corners of the box on the backing paper, then trace the box edges so you have a clear cutting guide.
Step 3 – Trace for Flaps
At each corner, draw a diagonal cut line and then add a vertical and horizontal line meeting the diagonal. These lines create the flaps you’ll fold to wrap the corners cleanly.
Step 4 – Cut the Flaps
Carefully cut along the lines with scissors or an X-Acto knife to create folding flaps at every corner.
Step 5 – Repeat for All Corners
Repeat the tracing and cutting process for each corner so all sides will fold neatly around the box.
Step 6 – Peel Back the Backing
Peel away about one-third of the backing from the contact paper and align the box carefully on the exposed adhesive. Make sure the corners line up before pressing down.
Step 7 – Smooth and Adhere
Press the contact paper onto the box slowly, peeling the rest of the backing as you go. Use a ruler or straight edge to smooth out air bubbles and ensure the paper lays flat.
Step 8 – Wrap the Corners
Open the box and fold the corner flaps inward to wrap the sides and bottom neatly. Repeat these steps for the top lid, treating the top and bottom like separate pieces.
Step 9 – Trim Excess
With an X-Acto knife, trim any contact paper that overlaps the latch or hinges so the hardware can function freely.
Step 10 – Paint the Interior
Finish the project by painting the inside of the cigar box and the latch and hinge areas with white craft paint. Let the paint dry completely before returning remotes to the box.
This quick makeover gives a thrifted box a fresh, cohesive look that resembles real marble at a glance. It’s not perfect under close inspection, but from across the room it blends beautifully with most modern and neutral coffee table arrangements.
Design tips: if you prefer a warmer look, try wood-grain contact paper; for a bold statement, choose a patterned or metallic finish. You can also add felt feet to the box bottom to protect surfaces and keep it from sliding.
How long before the baby figures out the remote is inside? I’ll bet less than a day. Still, this little holder is handy and pretty—and if necessary, it’s an easy thing to move to a higher shelf out of reach.
If you want to save this idea for later, pin the image above to your favorite board.
More Thrifty Craft Ideas
- How to Make No-Sew Café Curtains Using Kitchen Towels
- DIY Cordless Lamp Using a Thrifted Vase
- DIY Candle Using a Thrifted Canister
