How to Decorate with Shadow Boxes

  • 1-4 hours
  • Beginner
  • 75-250
What You'll Need
Family Heirlooms
Collectibles
Sports Collections
Personal Memorabilia
Picture hanging hooks
Paint
Contact Paper
Scissors
Fabrics
Glue
Tape
Artificial Flowers
Sequins, beads, crystals
Ribbons
Cardboard
What You'll Need
Family Heirlooms
Collectibles
Sports Collections
Personal Memorabilia
Picture hanging hooks
Paint
Contact Paper
Scissors
Fabrics
Glue
Tape
Artificial Flowers
Sequins, beads, crystals
Ribbons
Cardboard

Adding accessories such as fun shadow boxes can quickly turn your house into a home.

A shadow box is like a picture frame but with shelves built in for you to add and display your personal items, collectibles or family heirlooms.

Here is how to decorate your home with a shadow box.

Step #1: Empty Walls

Spruce up bare bedroom walls by hanging up a fun shadow box that holds your favorite things such as glass collections or dolls.

Step #2: Kid’s Bedrooms

Put kids’ keepsakes into shadow boxes such as trophies or their sporting awards and hang above their desks or beds so they can always see their accomplishments.

Step #3: Heirlooms

Display family heirlooms like dishes, silver spoons, and tea cups, in different size shadow boxes and hang them in the hallway or near the front door where visitors can gaze and admire.

Step #4: Wedding Items

Box and show off items from your special day in a large shadow box painted white and decorated by hand with artificial flowers and lace glued on the frame.

Step #5 Put on Tables

If you do not want to hang your shadow box, you can also lean it against desks, fireplace mantels or put it on a table. Use them as accent pieces similar to picture frames to add warmth to the home.

Step#6: Military Memories

Place military keepsakes from time of service inside shadow boxes for an ode to yesteryear. Use contact paper or specialty paper as a background with military insignia or theme purchased at craft stores glued to the inner backing of the shadow box.

Step #7: Paint

Add a shiny coat of paint to any shadow box to give it a more personal touch. For example, for a little girl’s room use a light shade of pink or for a little boy’s room, a light shade of blue.

Step #8: Sequins, Beads

Glue any kind of beads, crystals, buttons or sequins to the exterior of the frame for some glitz and glamour. Buy alphabet beads and spell out kid’s names and glue them on the front of the shadow box.

Step #9: Contact Paper

Be creative and cut out several pieces of colored or patterned contact paper and adhere it to the outer frame of the box. Use stripes, stars, flowers, shiny or textured to give your shadow box a fun flair.

Step #10: Jazzy Jewels

If you collect costume jewelry or have some keepsakes from your favorite aunt, pin the jewels on a piece of cut black or purple velvet fabric. Then, place the velvet on a hard surface such as a sturdy piece of cardboard. Use the cardboard as the backing that is placed inside of the shadow box before closing it up tight. The pins should hold the items in place and keep them from sliding downward.

Step#11: Fun Fabrics

Use colorful fabric scraps that you might have around the house by cutting them into strips and cover the wood frame of the shadow box. Adorn with satin ribbons, and other trims like lace to put your own personal stamp on the box.