On the left is one of my favorite boxes. It is wooden and hand-painted.  I keep candles in this one.

Decorative boxes can provide decoration that is both refined and practical. You can accumulate a wide assortment from different countries and cultures. You may collect delicate antique enamel pill-boxes, porcelain boxes, lacquered boxes, marbleized-paper boxes, and hand-painted wood boxes.

Right: Close-up shows the detail of the artwork from the above box.

Perhaps you have a special affection for antique wooden letter boxes, mailboxes, or decorative flowered hat boxes. These decorative boxes make excellent storage containers for papers, socks, stamps, and other items. Decorative boxes are often used as storage containers.

The above hand-painted wooden box was made in Italy.

Here is a close-up of the beautiful artwork on the box above. I use this one to keep old letters and pictures in.

Because some gifts are given and received in boxes, there is mystery and intrigue associated with them. Just as a cabinetmaker is proud of his dovetail drawers, a box-maker is concerned with a box’s inside. It is therefore not surprising that many boxes are most beautiful and interesting with their interiors exposed. 

Decorative boxes make perfect home accessories that serve functional as well as decorative purposes. Decorative boxes are perfectly sized to accommodate everyday “little things”, that clutter your home entry, living room, family room or any other place in your home.

Things like mail, gloves, remote controls etc., can be hidden inside the box, providing a clean, uncluttered and always sophisticated look in your home .

This box is made out of cardboard and covered with beautiful fabric, giving it a very expensive look.  I use this one to store costume jewelry. 

The floor is a great place to nest and stack beautiful boxes. Before letting your tabletops become too cluttered, remember that right underneath there is a perfectly fine space, framed by four legs, to display a few of your favorite boxes. Group them by scale and material, not shape. When you repeat stained wood, painted wood, or lacquered boxes, the variety of shapes will provide ample interest.

Here’s two boxes made out of thin wood and hand-painted. They look cool stacked together as a set.

Click here to return to  Sans Souci, our hostess for CreARTive Sunday !

deletereply starfishred wrote on Jun 15, ’08 GREAT LITTLE BOXES I LOVE THEM TO VERY NICE COLLECTION

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 15, ’08 Thanks Heidi. It’s great that you can use them for almost anything !

deletereply nemo4sun wrote on Jun 15, ’08 they are really beautifull 🙂

deletereply ruraldiva wrote on Jun 15, ’08 They are stunning.  I like beautiful things that are useful as well. Thanks.

deletereply asolotraveler wrote on Jun 15, ’08 yes, i too LOVE boxes of beauty

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 15, ’08 This is a nice little collection. You did a great job making them too! Maybe you could sell them. 🙂 Great post, sis,

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Jun 15, ’08 Sis, I did not make these, but I do collect them. I bought them in various locations over the years. There’s nothing like something beautiful that has functionality, too !