Do or DIY: Vinyl Record Storage Bowls

Record storage bowls are a really interesting and retro looking way to hold your bits and bobs, each design is completely unique and they can be created with high or low sides depending on what you're planning to store. Making these bowls is easy but does take a bit of a time, and you can use 7” EPs or 12” LPs depending on your spare space. This quick guide will show you how to make your own vinyl record storage bowl to store anything from kirby grips to lipsticks.

I've got a lot of records hanging around at home from when we had a record player and decks, but they’re easy to pick up from a charity shop for well under a pound. If you can, try and find one with a label colour that suits your room décor or even some coloured vinyl if you come across it. I'm going to be using this clear one below; I love Bloc Party but this record never played well, maybe it took a knock on the way back from Virgin, but either way I'm trying to downsize my collection as I don't have a player at the moment and am only really keeping classics or limited editions.

As well as your record you'll need a large bowl, a kettle full of boiling water and some tongs or possibly pliers at a push. You'll also want to be close to a sink so you can refill your kettle easily. I've tried a few different methods and I think this is the best- you have the most control over the final design of the bowls (even though they’re all a bit random) and you don't smell your house out with the scent of melting plastic.

Start by filling your bowl with just boiled water then dip your record in and submerge it with the tongs. It will start to bend and become floppy, it will be hot but not boiling once its pulled out the water for a few seconds, so you can begin to use your fingers to quickly start off a scalloped shape. Bend the edges of the record up and pinch together to create some waves.

The record will cool quickly and be less malleable so hold the area you want to bend under the water for about 30 seconds before having another go, the trick is to work as quick as you can and not let the already bent parts dip below the water or they'll go floppy again.

As the water cools a bit you'll be able to use your your tongs to press the record against the side of the bowl to create the shapes of the record sides while its under the water. If the record refuses to move then you'll need to top up with fresh boiled water.

The last bit is the trickiest and you'll need to press quite hard to get a shape but don’t give up because it will happen. If there are any areas you’re not very happy with you can pour boiling water just onto those parts over your bowl and quickly reshape (if you're having trouble getting out a kink you can try using something like a pencil to press against the side of the bowl).

Finally to get the base as flat as you can, pour hot water into your record bowl and then use the ridged edges to press it down against the table, you can also create higher or lower sides by pulling or pushing on them.

There we have our bowl done! Leave it to properly cool and the label to dry out then fill it with your loose bits and pieces. The label on mine really didn't like the water (this is the only one where bits have flaked off and also the most recently made that I've created a bowl out of, they don't make them like they used to eh?), I'm not too bothered as I wont be able to see much of the label when it's got things in but if the same happens to you, you can paint or embellish the label how you like, or even peel it off altogether.

I hope you found this guide interesting and useful, I'd love to see photos if you create your own record bowls!