The Best Shadow Box Ideas for 2026: Personal Décor Trends You’ll Want to Try

As a craft project, creating shadow boxes has become one of my favorite ways to remember the experiences of life, and I find it’s a trend that’s only going to continue. Designers featured on the biggest home decor websites, such as Apartment Therapy and The Spruce, have repeatedly shown the power of personal spaces that bring interest and personality into the home. The trend for 2026 focuses on emotional keepsakes that are all about the love of memory, connection, and craft, and the following are the first ten that involve what Americans (and I personally) love to remember:

1. Wedding Story Shadow Box

Of course, the happiness of a wedding day is a moment that’s every bit as important as the day itself, and I’ve found that a way to remember the experience of the wedding day itself is through creating a shadow box that celebrates small tokens such as a pressed boutonniere, small notes, and even a bit of the wedding day lace taken from the wedding dress itself. Of course, pictures of the wedding itself are also common, and I’ve even learned of people putting it above a dressing table mirror—one friend of mine keeps it right next to her desk at work so she won’t forget the promise that’s been kept.

2. Christmas Memory Box

A festive shadow box brings warmth to Christmas décor by preserving ornaments, wrapping scraps, or handwritten tags that carry sentimental value. Families often tuck in small pictures from past Christmas mornings, creating a cozy holiday memory piece. One neighbor includes a tiny jingle bell for each year—a tradition that turns the box into living history.

3. Graduation Cap & Gown Display

Marking a major milestone, this idea honors graduation by showcasing a tassel, medals, and a piece of the cap and gown. Parents love adding pictures from the big day, turning the shadow box into a proud focal point in the living room. A friend of mine keeps hers near her desk as a reminder of perseverance.

4. Eras Tour Concert Memory Box

Fans of live shows—especially the famed Eras tour—use shadow boxes to immortalize tickets, bracelets, or setlist notes. Combining concert wristbands with Polaroids creates a vibrant music-themed keepsake. My cousin’s box glows with pastel hues that match the tour vibe, making it as joyful as the night itself.

5. Newborn Baby Keepsake Box

A sweet way to welcome a newborn is to gather hospital bracelets, tiny socks, and early baby pictures. Many parents include the name tag from the bassinet to create a heartfelt memory piece. One mom I know added a small crocheted flower for a soft touch, making the box gentle enough for a nursery wall.

6. Beach Shell & Dried Flowers Box

Perfect for summer homes, this shadow box blends shell collections with dried flowers to create a calm coastal feel. Travelers often add pictures from favorite beaches, making it both soothing and personal. I once made one using shells gathered during a stormy trip—it reminds me how peaceful the ocean feels after the waves settle.

7. Cricut DIY Rolled Flower Art Box

For craft lovers, Cricut machines help create intricate rolled flower and paper flower designs that shine inside a shadow box. This DIY idea is great for birthdays, Mother’s Day gifts, or vibrant room decor. A friend once surprised her mom with one on Mother’s Day, and it still hangs proudly in her hallway.

8. Halloween Memory & Art Shadow Box

A playful option for fall, this idea mixes mini props, handwritten notes, and spooky shapes to celebrate Halloween. Many people include pictures from costume nights or small pieces of decor that capture the season’s charm. A coworker’s box features tiny faux pumpkins gifted over the years—each one tied to a funny memory.

9. Boyfriend Gift Shadow Box

A sentimental shadow box for boyfriend gifts can display ticket stubs, notes, or tokens tied to shared experiences. Many couples add pictures from dates or birthday celebrations, turning the display into a meaningful timeline. My friend once created one filled with tiny inside jokes—still one of the sweetest things I’ve seen.

10. Memorial Tribute Shadow Box

Honoring someone for passed loved ones is deeply personal, and a memorial shadow box can gather gentle items like handwritten messages, dried petals, or meaningful symbols. Many families add pictures or soft art elements to keep the person’s spirit present. A neighbor keeps one above her bookshelf as a quiet daily comfort.

11. Disney Magic Memory Box

A whimsical shadow box featuring tokens from a trip to Disney, such as park maps, bracelets, confetti, and pictures with favorite characters. This style leans into bright colors and playful nostalgia, perfect for hallways or kids’ rooms. A friend of mine framed her first visit wristband, and it still sparks joy whenever she passes it.

12. Easter Bloom Shadow Box

Celebrate Easter by combining pastel eggshell shards, ribbons, and small dried flowers or pressed blossoms. Families often include pictures from egg hunts, creating a cheerful spring memory piece. My aunt keeps hers on a sunny windowsill, and the soft palette brings a breath of spring even in gloomy weather.

13. Cheer Team Spirit Box

A spirited shadow box honoring cheer moments, filled with mini pom-poms, uniform bows, or competition patches. Athletes like to add pictures from performances to create an energizing display. One former teammate told me her box gives her a boost on tough days, reminding her of teamwork and resilience.

14. Teacher Appreciation Shadow Box

A heartfelt teacher gift displaying tiny classroom items—mini pencils, handwritten notes, art from students, and even small paper flower accents. Many students include pictures from special classroom moments, turning it into a keepsake teachers proudly display on their desk. My son’s teacher still treasures the one he made years ago.

15. Horse Lover’s Memory Box

This idea is perfect for anyone passionate about horse riding. It can hold a piece of a worn lead rope, show ribbons, or hold a small horseshoe charm, along with pictures from rides or competitions. My riding buddy made one after her first trail event, and it beautifully captures her bond with her mare.

16. DIY Birthday Celebration Box

A lively DIY birthday shadow box featuring candles, confetti, and snippets from cards collected through the years. Many people add pictures of cake-cutting moments to create a cheerful, layered display. My cousin makes one every decade as a personal tradition—her 30th box was overflowing with love and color.

17. Artistic Paper Flower Showcase

This is a creative shadow box that features sculpted flowers such as paper flower art and rolled flowers. The project is a blend of art and craft and works well for arts and craft studios and quiet reading nooks. I follow a designer who also makes annual collections of winter whites that resemble sculpted snowflakes.

18. Travel Concert Memory Box

This is a concert-going traveler’s favorite decoration to showcase concert programs, concert bands, airplane passes, and photographs of networking. It becomes a colorful history of sound and experiences. I know a friend of a friend who is a serious indie concert supporter and has a wall dedicated to such boxes, each reflecting a different concert experience.

19. Baby’s First-Year Milestone Box

This is a sentimental baby keepsake that features the first year of milestones, such as pacifier clips, first-year milestone cards, a first-year sock, and small pictures symbolizing growth every month. It is normally kept near the baby’s nursery rocking chair to serve as a reminder that time flies. My neighbor ended up crying after completing hers because of the emotions of capturing time.

20. DIY Shell & Beach Art Box

This is a DIY project that involves putting together fragments of shells, sand derived from a fun trip experience, and art paintings inspired by the ocean. Many people include pictures of beach visits to symbolize a calm summertimememorial. I created one after a spontaneous weekend trip and ended up feeling that I could smell the ocean every time I walked into the room.

21. Mother’s Day Floral Tribute Box

This is a sentimental Mother’s Day keepsake that includes cards expressing love and affection, dry flowers, and soft pale colors. Many people include pictures of the time spent during brunch and youth to symbolize a token of esteem. My sister created one using the favorite flowers of her mom and hung it in the entrance of the house so that every day, I see the symbol of gratefulness.

22. DIY Wedding Dress Lace Keepsake Box

This is a magnificent decoration that utilizes trimmed wedding dress laces and ribbons and beautiful art details. Many people take pictures on the morning of the wedding day and immortalize the moment into the keepsake. I know a friend of a friend who saved a portion after a wedding alteration and turned it into a beautiful centerpiece of the keepsake box.

23. Passed Loved Ones Candlelight Memorial Box

A gentle tribute for passed loved ones, this shadow box blends a small LED candle, pressed botanicals, and favorite pictures to create a soothing memorial. Families often add handwritten quotes or tiny mementos symbolizing shared moments. A neighbor placed one near her reading nook, calling it her quiet corner of reflection.

Crafting shadow boxes is one of those creative traditions that never loses its charm. Each design tells a story, whether it’s joy, remembrance, celebration, or pure nostalgia. As you explore these styles, think about the keepsakes tucked away in drawers or boxes—many of them deserve a place on your wall, where they can spark conversation and bring warmth to your home. I’d love to hear which ideas you’re planning to try, as well as the styles you’ve created yourself. Share your thoughts and inspiration in the comments so we can keep the creativity going together.