Storage Boxes have been an amazing tool for mom's and home-makers the world over! The ability to organize, store, and easily retrieve items that otherwise would cause excess clutter is positively invaluable! There's a lot more to storage boxes than one might think though! There are many different kinds ranging from cardboard to metal, and anything in between. There are many more purposes and uses for storage boxes than what they were originally designed for, so stay right here to see just what these wonderful items can do for you!

As mentioned there are a TON of storage box options. First and foremost are the rugged, incredibly useful king of the storage boxes, Rubbermaid Plastic bins. The durable plastic boxes stack, bend but don't break, are light weight, and some even seal airtight! You can also get wall shelving systems that incorporate them in an easy to access way. There are few down sides to using plastic, however the one that stands out the most is that they are not very good for the environment.

• As Mentioned, plastic storage boxes are among the best.
  

• Cardboard boxes offer a very convenient way to store your junk and is the favorite used by anyone moving from place to place. They are cheap, collapsible and can hold their fair share of weight. Some downsides are that they're not very durable and don't generally survive long when moved around frequently.

• Wooden storage boxes offer fantastic looks, excellent rigidity and can hold a fairly large payload. As a bonus can often easily have locks installed onto them by any DIY'er or handyman. The downsides are mostly weight related.

• Metal boxes are generally quite heavy as well and better used as small item storage boxes like jewelry or keep-sakes. They often come with locks installed and offer the highest security of any storage box option. Think Mini-safe, and you won't be too far off

• Photo and Document storage is better suited for purpose built boxes. These special boxes are designed to seal in the photos and sensitive documents from the harmful effects of light and moisture. They generally come with bi-folds or file folders to separate the items for organization. Don't hesitate to use these if you have photos or artwork that are very special to you and you need them put in storage.

• CD Storage is a pretty easy need to fill. Anything that holds the CDs from jostling around are great! If you need something that will store your CD's and allow for easy access and retrieval, say for a DJ gig or something, You'll want a plastic or clear case that spaces the CDs out uniformly so you can alphabetize them for efficient retrieval.

• Decorative storage boxes are the most fun of all. You can turn an ordinary cardboard, plastic, wood, or metal box into a work of art. Use a little creativity or borrow some from a child, it doesn't matter, just have fun! Some people take their decorations a little more seriously however and there are some fantastic options available. All designs from antique to modern to contemporary exist. Flea markets and garage sales are your best bet, but IKEA and other retailers won't fail to please either. Decorative storage boxes also make excellent gifts... so long as you use your good judgment.

There are many uses for storage boxes in general! For instance I frequently use my old plastic bins as oil catch pans or automotive parts bins in my garage. They're a great place to keep messy parts away from my clean ones (or the kids). They also let me organize all my stuff very well and since they are clear I can easily see what's inside without having to rip into them.
Storage bins can be used in the bathroom to store harmful cleaning products. If you've ever accidentally spilled something like Drano on your nice new floors and didn't catch it right away you will quickly appreciate having a secure place to store these items. The bins also help to keep harmful or private items away from public view.
Another great use for these boxes are to use them as a time capsule in your back yard. Get together with your kids, nieces or nephews, sisters or brothers, whoever and dig a hole. Fill a storage box with some cool stuff and turn it into a time capsule. Just don't forget where you buried it!
If you or someone you know are into bugs you can be creative and create your own mini eco-system inside a clear plastic storage box. Albeit a little cruel to the poor insects it's a fun project for little boys.
Yes the uses for these wonderful boxes are nearly limitless, you can use them in your car to keep dirty parts, clothes, jumper cables... you name it! Like me, I often use them for garage storage

Okay... they won't explode unless you put dynamite in them, but there are some concerns and cautions you should be aware of! If you have cardboard or wooden storage boxes sitting in your basement or outside in a shed, rodents can and will eventually make a nice cozy home here. I've even seen mice chew through the plastic bins to make a home. This will do damage to whatever is inside. Also, keep an out for moisture. Basements with water leaks, or just damp areas can lead to mold problems with cardboard boxes specifically. Make sure any lockable boxes are childproofed before use. As the victim of a cruel joke I was locked inside an accordion case at a young age and while it wasn't traumatizing thankfully, it was very dangerous. As I panicked to force the case open the lock broke. It was unable to open completely and my father had to use bolt cutters to get it open. Finally, if your storage boxes are not clear, make sure to clearly label them. Nothing is worse than routing through 10 different boxes to find one small item. Labels are your friend!

That about covers it for this brief overview of the amazing world of storage boxes. Stay posted for an even closer look at what each type of box has to offer you and your projects!