How to Repurpose a Vintage Display Cabinet into a Jewellery Box

Vintage display cabinets like curio boxes often pop up on local buy-swap-sell sites, but they can be hard to repurpose. I came across a miniature one recently. It is still in good condition but far too dated to resell as-is. Restoring it wouldn’t have added much value, and these pieces don’t suit most modern homes. But rather than letting it go to the landfill, I saw its potential for something entirely different.

This tutorial shows you how to repurpose a vintage display cabinet into a functional and stylish jewellery box using mostly recycled and affordable materials. Whether you want a tabletop display or a wall-mounted organiser, this DIY project is perfect for giving forgotten furniture a new lease of life while creating practical storage for rings, earrings, and necklaces.

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How to Repurpose a Vintage Display Cabinet into a Jewellery Box

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Materials You’ll Need

• Vintage curio/display cabinet
• Sandpaper
• Wood stain and clear varnish
• Thin plywood or balsa wood
• Faux leather or real leather scraps
• Staple gun
• Spray adhesive
• Craft knife
• Black velvet fabric
• Foam (repurposed mattress foam works great)
• Multi-grip or Kwik dry glue
• Decorative window film
• Water spray bottle
• Soft cloth or credit card
• Small hooks

Step 1: Strip, Sand, and Stain the Cabinet

Start by removing any old decorative features from the cabinet. I stripped mine down and sanded all surfaces back to raw wood. Once smooth, I applied fresh wood stain and sealed it with clear varnish to give it a modern look.

Step 2: Create Leather Shelf Stoppers

To stop jewellery from sliding off the open shelves, I cut thin strips of wood and wrapped them in faux leather. These were glued in place and secured with a staple gun. The cabinet’s frame helped hold everything neatly in place without extra supports.

Step 3: Make a Foam Ring Holder

I reused an old foam mattress and cut it to fit snugly into the top and middle sections of the cabinet. Then, I sliced evenly spaced slots using a craft knife, just deep enough to hold rings upright without them slipping out.

Step 4: Cover the Foam with Velvet

I used black velvet to give the foam inserts a luxurious finish. Spray adhesive was applied into each slot first. Then, using a ruler, I pressed the fabric into the slots. This stops the fabric from pulling out when removing rings.

Once all slots were covered, I trimmed the excess fabric and glued down the edges. The sides and bottom won’t be visible once inside the cabinet.

Step 5: Insert the Foam

My foam wasn’t cut perfectly straight, but using a carving knife made it easier to shape. Once done, I glued the velvet-covered foam securely into place using Kwik Dry glue.

Step 6: Add Velvet-Lined Partitions

To store earrings and small accessories, I added dividers. First, I glued black velvet fabric to the bottom of the shelf. Then I cut scrap plywood pieces to create partitions, wrapped them in velvet, and glued them in tightly.

Step 7: Disguise the Glass with Window Film

To give the cabinet a clean look (and to keep it from obviously looking like a jewellery box), I covered the glass panels with stained-glass-style window film.

Lay the glass over the film and cut it to size. Spray water onto the glass before applying the film. Smooth it out with a soft cloth or credit card to remove any bubbles.

Step 8: Install Hooks for Necklaces

I added small hooks to the inside top of the cabinet door to hang necklaces and bracelets. It’s a great way to keep them from tangling and makes them easy to grab when needed.

Finished Result

Hooks for necklaces and bracelets

Close-up of the ring display

Custom partitions for earrings and small items

More Jewellery storage ideas

I transformed an old book into a one-of-a-kind jewellery box, complete with a creative mixed-media art makeover.

Made entirely from recycled materials, this stand is ideal for storing bracelets, bangles, or hair scrunchies in style

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