Mailboxes can be SO much fun! I love all the DIYs I’ve seen on Pinterest over the years. My Grandma had a real thing for loons (our state bird) so, of course, she had herself a loon mailbox! Unfortunately with where we live so far out in the sticks we don’t have many options to be able to really make our mailbox too much fun as it is almost certainly going to be hit by the plow a few times every winter… I did have some fun saving my Grandparents’ old mailbox though and upcycling it into our garden this spring!
(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)
Mailboxes don’t have to be boring. In fact, they can be as fun as you like if you decide to go down the DIY route.
In this post, we take a look at some do-it-yourself mailbox ideas you can set up that will make receiving mail so much more fun.
Spray Your Existing Mailbox A Different Color
Does your mailbox have to be standard red, white or black? No, actually. You can make it any color that you want. Adding some unique shades and a funky typeface can make all the difference in the world.
Wallpaper The Interior
Opening what looks like a metal tin can every morning to retrieve your mail is lacking in drama. To elevate the experience, try wallpapering the inside of your mailbox with your favorite patterns. Floral prints are particularly stunning.
Use An Upcycled Filing Cabinet
If you have a slender filing cabinet, consider upcycling it and adapting it for PO box purposes. Often, you can use its existing mechanisms to provide an opening compartment for the person delivering the mail.
Tiny House Mailbox
You could also try making your mailbox look more like a bird house instead of just a generic tube. You can buy mailboxes with this design off the shelf. However, it is much more fun doing it yourself.
Start with a sturdy wooden or metal pole with a section you can interface with the bottom of the house. They construct the walls, the roof and the handle for opening the door. Depending on where you live and the mail services in your area, you could also include a code for the door to improve security.
Ditch The Mailbox
Sometimes, you don’t want a mailbox at the front of your property at all. It’s additional clutter you can do without.
Services such as PhysicalAddress help you resolve this problem. The idea is actually quite simple. Instead of providing people and businesses with your home address, you give them an address run by a third-party mail sorting company. They then open your mail, scan it and send it to your account via the cloud. This way, you can eliminate the need for any paper to come to your address at all.
Reinforced Mailbox
Regular mailboxes look a little weedy. So now homeowners are making reinforced ones that could withstand the most violent storms.
Essentially, the idea is to shroud the mailbox in either treated wooden planks or sheet metal bolted together. You can either use the shroud as protection for the regular mailbox inside, or you can build the mailbox into the structure itself.
Classical Column Mailbox
You can also try experimenting with a classical column mailbox. Here you start with a large Greek-style central column and then attach a regular white mailbox on top or to the side. Some homeowners like to adorn their column with flower boxes. This design goes particularly well with homes that offer classical architectural design features.
DIY mailboxes can totally transform your driveway – and your home for that matter. Start experimenting today and see if it can make a difference in how you feel about your home.
(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)