Wooden Storage Boxes and Drawer Chests 

Our wooden storage boxes are plain timber blanks, ready for you to paint, stain or decoupage into something you'll actually use. Sort jewellery, keep small keepsakes safe, or wrangle beads, threads and the usual desk clutter. Most of the boxes come as unfinished timber ready to decorate, while the four-drawer chest has a rustic finish. 

What to make with a plain timber box

Start with what you want to store. A finished wooden trinket box holds earrings, rings and small keepsakes. A rectangle box suits stationery, letters, or a gift for someone who collects little things. Drawers are best for sorted craft supplies like beads, findings and threads. If this kind of project is your thing, our wider range of craft blanks to decorate covers frames, trays and more.

Boxes with drawers for craft and art storage

The Urban Crafter 4 Drawer Wooden Storage Chest is the one to reach for when small bits keep going missing. Sort by colour, by project, or by type. Beads in one drawer, findings in another, small tools in the third, threads in the fourth. Painted or stained, it earns a spot on the desk rather than getting shoved in a cupboard. For bigger sorting jobs, have a look through our craft storage options .

Hinged boxes for jewellery and keepsakes

The Hinged Plywood Jewellery Box opens with a proper lid, so you can see everything at once and pick out what you need. It suits earrings, rings and small keepsakes, and makes a thoughtful gift once the lid's been painted or decoupaged. The Paulownia Rectangle Box gives you a softer timber to work with. Good if you'd rather stain than paint and let the grain do the talking.

Preparing raw timber, sanding and sealing

The unfinished boxes in this range include plywood and paulownia pieces, so a little preparation can improve the finish. Give the surfaces a light sand with a fine grit, working with the grain, then wipe the dust off with a dry cloth before you paint.

Sealing matters. Raw plywood and paulownia are thirsty. Paint soaks straight in if you skip a sealer, and you'll end up with patchy colour, raised grain and, on thinner plywood panels, a small risk of warping if the timber gets too wet. A coat of clear timber sealer or a thinned PVA before painting keeps the surface even and the paint sitting where you want it. Our plain woodcraft boxes collection follows the same prep steps if you're working across several pieces.

Painting, staining and finishing your box

Once it's sealed, acrylic and craft paints stick well and give clean, even colour. Stain works beautifully on paulownia if you want the grain to show through. For decoupage, seal first, brush a decoupage medium onto the timber, press your paper down flat, then seal over the top. Finish any painted box with a clear sealant to protect it from handling. If you're decorating with kids, a washable poster paint works fine once the box is sealed. Browse craft paints suitable for timber for acrylics and finishes.

Choosing a size for what you want to store

FAQs

Do you need to seal a raw plywood box before painting?

Yes, and it's worth the extra step. Without a sealer the timber absorbs paint unevenly, which leaves patchy colour and raised grain. A thin coat of clear timber sealer or diluted PVA gives you a smooth surface and truer colour with fewer coats on top.

What paint works best on a wooden trinket box?

Acrylic and craft paints work best on a wooden trinket box once the timber's been sealed. They dry quickly, give solid coverage and hold up to handling. Chalk paint sits well on sealed plywood if you want a matte finish. Finish with a clear sealant to protect the paint from marks and moisture.

Can you decoupage directly onto raw timber?

You can, but sealing the timber first gives a cleaner result. Raw plywood and paulownia soak up decoupage medium, which can leave the paper looking dull or wrinkled. Seal the box, let it dry, then brush on decoupage medium, press the paper down flat and finish with another coat over the top.

What can you store in a four drawer wooden chest?

Anything small you want to keep sorted. Beads, findings, buttons, threads, embroidery floss, stamps, small stationery, jewellery components or hardware. Sort by colour or by project so you can grab what you need without tipping everything out. Once decorated, it works just as well on a desk as in a craft room.

How do you stop paint from soaking into plywood?

Seal the timber first. A coat of clear timber sealer or a thinned PVA mix blocks the wood pores so paint sits on the surface rather than sinking in. Sand lightly once dry, wipe the dust off, then paint. You'll use less paint and get more even coverage across the box.