A DIY faux marble remote control holder turns a small cigar box into a practical place to store a remote and keep a coffee table looking tidy. With marble-pattern contact paper and a few basic craft supplies, you can give a secondhand box a fresh finish. The project cost about $4 using leftover contact paper, though the price will depend on what materials you already have.
A lidded cigar or jewelry box works well because it keeps the remote out of sight when it is not in use. Choose a box large enough to hold your remote comfortably, and check that the lid, latch, and hinges open and close before covering the surface.
Supplies for a DIY Faux Marble Remote Control Holder
- Cigar box
- Marble contact paper, or another design you prefer, such as burl wood
- Pencil
- Ruler or straight edge
- Scissors
- X-acto knife
- White craft paint
- Medium craft paint brush
Before starting, wipe dust from the box and work on a flat surface. Make sure the contact paper is wide enough to cover the box, including its sides, with extra material for wrapping the corners.
How to Make a Faux Marble Remote Control Holder
1. Position the box on the contact paper
Unroll the contact paper with its decorative side facing down. Place the cigar box near the center, leaving enough paper around every edge to cover the sides and fold underneath. Allow extra paper at the corners so they can be wrapped neatly.
2. Mark and trace the box
Use a pencil to mark the box’s corners and trace along its edges. Keep the ruler close by to make the lines straight. Accurate tracing helps the covering sit evenly and reduces the chance of cutting away too much paper.
3. Draw the corner guides
At each corner, draw a diagonal line, then add a vertical line and a horizontal line that meet the diagonal. These guide lines form the flaps needed to wrap the box. Check that the flaps are positioned to fold around the sides without covering the latch or hinges.
4. Cut the flaps
Use scissors or an X-acto knife to cut along the marked lines and create a flap at each corner. If using a craft knife, cut carefully on a suitable work surface and keep your fingers clear of the blade.
5. Apply the contact paper
Peel back roughly one-third of the paper’s backing on one side. Align the box with the corner marks, then press the exposed adhesive onto the box. Once the first section is straight, remove the rest of the backing gradually and smooth the paper with a straight edge to push out air bubbles.
6. Wrap the sides and corners
Open the box and fold the paper over its sides. Wrap the corner flaps around the bottom so the surface is covered without bulky folds. Repeat the process for the lid, treating the top and bottom as two separate box sections. Working slowly makes it easier to keep the pattern aligned and the edges smooth.
7. Trim around the hardware
Use an X-acto knife to carefully remove contact paper covering the latch and hinges. Take small cuts rather than trying to remove a large section at once; this helps preserve access to the hardware and gives the edges a cleaner finish.
8. Paint the interior and finish
Paint the inside of the cigar box, along with the latch and hinges, using white craft paint. Let the paint dry before closing the lid or placing the remote inside. Follow the paint label for drying guidance.
Using and Caring for the Finished Box
The finished holder offers a convenient place to return the remote after use, and the faux marble surface adds a decorative touch to a coffee table. Contact paper can resemble real marble from a distance, although the result may not look perfectly seamless up close. To help the covering last, avoid soaking the box or using abrasive cleaners; wipe it gently with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
If the box is kept in a home with a baby or young child, place it where the child cannot reach it. A decorated cigar box is not a childproof storage container, and small hardware or other contents can pose a hazard. For everyday organization, choose a stable location that is easy for adults to access.
Conclusion
This DIY faux marble remote control holder is a straightforward way to repurpose a cigar box with contact paper, paint, and simple tools. Careful measuring, gradual application, and neat trimming around the hardware help create a useful storage spot with a refreshed look.
