I Put a Bread Box in My Home Office, and It Was So Smart

I just love when everyday household objects end up having the most ingenious double uses — like using a shoe rack to organize your pots and pans (mine is still holding up years later), or repurposing a toast rack as clever living room storage. 

So when I read an article on Apartment Therapy about using a bread box for storage in every room of the house, I had to pause. A bread box? Outside of the kitchen? To hold things other than carbohydrates? I was intrigued.

As lifestyle and home decor content creator Gianna Nicolette Caputo showed in an Instagram Reel, this hack works because it’s so simple. A bread box is designed to live out in the open and keep things neatly contained. Its roll-top (or hinged) door hides visual clutter instantly while keeping whatever’s inside easy to access.

While she uses hers for medicine and supplements, the idea works almost anywhere. A bread box can corral toiletries in a bathroom, or hold jewelry in a bedroom. And as soon as I saw it, I knew exactly where I wanted to try it: my home office. Because I work remotely every day, keeping my desk tidy is non-negotiable. When clutter creeps in, it definitely affects my work and makes me feel uneasy. I wanted to see if a bread box could help streamline my space.

There are so many bread box options to choose from, including sleek modern variations, retro-inspired styles, double-deckers, and boxes that fit into corners. I went with this one from Amazon in a pale wood color. I liked that it was slightly smaller (my desk isn’t huge), and that it had a flat top with edges I could use as a shelf. I also liked that it had a fogged-type glass that concealed whatever I put inside. I did have to put it together when it arrived, but the process was simple and only took about 15 minutes. 

Once the bread box was assembled I excitedly put it on the right corner of my desk, where I had some extra space to spare. It fit perfectly! From there, I jumped into the fun part of figuring out what I wanted to put in it. I opted for some books I’m currently reading, a mug with pens and other essentials, and a little tray with some odds and ends. I also displayed a tiny picture frame. Inside, I placed journals, some important papers, an address stamper and inkpad, and my passport for safekeeping. 

I love how it offers a tiered shelf for more storage and cute accessories, and that it swiftly conceals visual clutter like paperwork and other stuff I’m not using daily, but still need to easily access. I’ll also probably keep my earbuds and some cords inside when I’m not using them. Overall, I’d highly recommend this bread box idea. I’m already thinking of other ways to incorporate one in my house!