C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
Easy Weekend Project: DIY Mailbox Makeover
See our 2022 Mailbox Update by scrolling to the bottom of this post!
Our DIY mailbox project was featured on the spruce! Click here to view the article on thespruce.com.
DIY Coastal Mailbox
Mailboxes are one of the most overlooked home design elements. The post box is something that many renters and homeowners visit every day, yet don’t seem to think about it’s design, how it looks or if it is the best solution for today’s consumers who receive almost a daily delivery of packages.
Replacing a mailbox is something everyone should consider when thinking about doing some easy weekend home improvements. It helps with curb appeal, especially if you are trying to sell your home.
Read on to see our latest extra large mailbox makeover plus a buying guide!
BEFORE: Our Old Rusty Mailbox
My husband and I noticed the mailbox the day we looked at the house before purchasing it. We both have an eye for detail and this mailbox was merely only functional.
We moved to Sanibel from a home that had a mail slot, so we never had to think about mailboxes. We did, however, make sure our mail slot cover was freshly painted before selling the house. You may think things like that don’t matter to new homeowners, but they can. People shopping for homes notice EVERYTHING!
The Old Rusty Mailbox Needed a Makeover
The mailbox was rusting (due to the heavy salt air of the Sanibel Island environment, where all metal rusts faster than most environments), faded, and did not fit the overall design of the home.
If you love this article, we think you’ll love this one too: Sanibel and Captiva Travel Guide By a Resident
How to Makeover Your Mailbox
Many people living on Sanibel Island take pride in their mailboxes. It’s like they are a form of the “island life” self and artistic expression. There are manatee and dolphin mailboxes everywhere as well as mailboxes that look like boat motors, fish, ones covered in seashells, ones that look exactly like the home they are sitting in front of and more.
Sanibel Mailbox Fun Is Customary On the Island
We knew we had to do something about our poor, old rusting mailbox quickly. Not only was it unsightly, it also wasn’t quite large enough. We receive many packages (as we do a lot of online ordering of home supplies and more) and needed a mailbox that could house small packages as well as our mail.
Extra Large Mailbox and Accessories Buying Guide
After some research, I settled on the Whitehall Products Balmoral Mailbox. It is extra large, can be customized and looks very nice. I chose the white and gold version, but they have other colors available.
Attaching the Custom Made Address Plaque to and Rope to the New Extra Large Mailbox
Read on for more photos, a buying guide and how we put it all together.
Extra Large Mailbox Buying Guide by Carolyn’s Blooming Creations
Here is a buying guide for the items we purchased for this makeover:
—We ordered the Whitehall Products Balmoral Mailbox (an extra large mailbox which is great for packages and magazines!) via Amazon. It only included the mailbox, which is all we needed because we already had a post we liked.
—If you want to view the complete customized mailbox package (with the custom address plaque and monogram, visit this link. We didn’t want the monogram because when you stick it on, it becomes permanent and we don’t know that we will stay in this house forever. If we ever sell, I don’t want the next homeowner to have our monogram on the mailbox and then have to replace the whole mailbox.
—If you want to view the complete mailbox system (custom address plaque, monogram, newspaper box, finial and post), visit this link
—We separately ordered the Whitehall Products Personalized Side Plaque via Amazon. Amazon guides you through the customization and even includes a visual mock-up so you can see what it will look similar to when delivered to you. This plaque took a couple of weeks for us to receive as it is a custom order. I tried stick on gold numbers from Amazon at first, but they fell off. The additional cost of getting this custom plaque was worth it to me.
—We visited our local Lowe’s and purchased 10 feet of one inch thick rope. We selected a rope that fit the aesthetic we were going for and they cut it to our desired size. 1/15/22 Update: We have since replaced the basic sisal rope we originally chose with a same sized polypropylene rope. The sisal rope started looking dingy after a few months. They two rope types look the same, but the poly rope is much more durable.
—We purchased Banana Spray Car Wax via Amazon. Not everyone that purchases the mailbox needs car wax BUT Whitehall (the manufacturer of the mailbox) suggested using car wax on the mailbox every so often. It can help it keep it’s shine and protect it from weather elements. We live on an island surrounded by oceans. The salt air rusts metal very quickly and we are hoping the wax keeps our mailbox looking great for more years than if we didn’t use the wax.
—You’ll also need water and a rag. The mailbox manufacturer also suggested wiping the mailbox down from time to time to also help protect it from damaging weather elements like salty air.
Attaching Our New Extra Large Mailbox
This mailbox is heavier than most, but we knew the post we had in place already could hold it up. Someone already screwed a white platform to the top of the post to mount the previous mailbox, so we didn’t have to add that.
If you are considering buying an extra large mailbox, I recommend doing some research to make sure your existing post can support it’s weight. If you don’t think it will, it may be time to replace your post.
Attaching Our New Extra Large Mailbox to the Wood Posts
After mounting the mailbox, we added almost a full ten feet of 1 inch thick rope. If making a cut to rope, I suggest placing masking tape on the area where you are in need of cutting it, then cut directly on the tape. This will prevent the rope from unraveling.
AFTER: Our New Extra Large Mailbox for Our Sanibel Island Home
I tucked the end of the rope (with the masking tape still on it) in between the posts and wrapped it as tightly as I could around our posts. My husband used stainless screws to secure the rope. We screwed in only a few screws around the back side of the posts to hold it in place.
Our New Extra Large Mailbox Holds All Size Packages Now
Overall, we are very happy with our purchase, design and how it came together very easily. It fits the aesthetic of our home, it meets our needs to hold magazines (they can lie flat in this mailbox!), packages and mail. Our neighbor has the same mailbox and loved the custom address plaque. We were happy to direct him to get the same one as we love it so much!
Our New Extra Large Mailbox with Custom Address Plaque
2022 DIY Mailbox Makeover Update!
In 2022, almost two years after purchasing our Sanibel Island home, I finally decided on a name for our house: DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY. It just came to me while cleaning one night. That’s when many of my ideas come to me! I was listening to some 80’s hits and the song Don’t Worry Be Happy came on and I instantly knew that was the name of our house.
I designed the look of the sign using Canva, emailed it to a local sign company, Sabal Signs, and they were easily able to mock up a design from my concept. They created it for us and we decided to add it to our mailbox. This way everyone that drives past our house can see it. I’ve already had neighbors tell us they’ve gotten the song stuck in their head after seeing the sign. That was my point. It’s a great song and a great phrase to live by.
Did you do this DIY? Please let us know by commenting below! We love to hear when our readers use our tips and tricks and share their experiences.
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.