Inside: The best ideas for upcycling and repurposing wooden wine boxes and crates in your home with full tutorials.
I love old wooden crates, whether an old apple or wine crate. They are a cheap and easy way to create unique, rustic-looking storage for your home.
Lucky for me, I have a ready supply of old wooden crates from my Aunt. She passes on to me all her old wine crates.
If you don’t have a wine-loving Aunt, wooden crates can easily be bought from local thrift and junk shops or on eBay or Ikea. These crates can be stained for that vintage look.
Old wooden crates are handy storage but can easily be taken to another level with simple tweaking. This can be as simple as a lick of paint and clever use of stencils.
I’ve used stencils to transfer plain storage into something fun, like with my denim storage boxes.
Decoupaging with paper napkins and fabric is another easy way to dramatically change the look of the crates. However, I also think that simple stained wooden crates look great as they are in your home, especially if you have a rustic or industrial vibe to your home styling.
Take your upcycled crates even further by adding castors to the base. This enables the storage to be easily moved from room to room.
Height can be added to the crates by adding legs. One of the easiest ways to do this is to add hairpin legs. Hairpin legs are great as they come in various colours and sizes. From coffee table to console table height.
These wooden wine boxes and crates can be combined to create bookcases, shelving systems, and desks.
Unique and Clever Old Wooden Wine Crate Ideas
Here, I’ve rounded up the most clever uses for an old wooden crate in your home. There are ideas for small and large crates and wine boxes.
Hopefully, you will find something here to inspire you. If you want upcycled storage ideas, check out these denim storage ideas too.
If you have a lot of wine crates, then the chances are you’ll have a few corks, too; check out these fabulous wine cork crafts.
DIY Nightstand From An Old Wine crate.
An old wooden wine box crate is upcycled into a fabulous handy side table. All you need are some hairpin legs and wallpaper.
Easy Denim DIY Storage Ottoman Crate an Ikea Hack
There are so many things to love about this wooden crate upcycle, the personalized stencils on the side, the handy casters and the relaxed denim seat on the top. Not only does it provide extra seating, but super-useful storage too.
How to Build DIY Crate Lockers
This has to be one of the most fabulous crates to upcycle into stylish lockers. I love the random numbers on the side of each crate. The doors on the front also enable you to hide away some of your junk.
DIY Crate Shelf Statement Wall
This may take a lot of crates to make, but the effort is worth it, to make this statement wall.
Old wooden crate to a fireplace holder
Stencil an old crate and add wheels for a stylish log basket for by the fire.
Simple DIY Wooden Crate Planter And Outdoor Storage Project
This is an upcycle for the garden using two crates, one as a planter and the other for storage.
Simple And Fun To Make DIY Light Box Sign
A small wine box crate makes this cool illuminated lightbox sign. There is even a fun coffee version.
DIY Crate & Pipe Industrial Table
The clever use of copper pipes upcycles a simple wooden crate into a good-looking industrial table with storage.
DIY Crate Bookcase
Six wooden crates are painted and screwed together several to make a large bookcase.
DIY Bathroom Cabinet from an Old Wine Box
This wooden wine box was upcycled into a fun DIY medicine cabinet. The post includes a free download of the anatomical poster. Check out these other painted wood box ideas.
Easy DIY Wood Crate Desk – Perfect for Homeschool!
I know my son would love this crate desk in his room. The sides would be great for storing all his tech.
Simple Hanging Closet Storage Crates with Rope
I love this idea of making unique hanging storage in the wardrobe with old wooden crates and rope. This is a good idea for shallow crates.
Medicine cabinet out of an upcycled wine box.
Another bathroom cabinet is made out of an old wooden wine box. This is one for Beatles fans with the cute song pun.
Vintage Soda Crate to Washi Tape Storage
This is a clever way to use a crate. Not only is this a really handy storage for washi tape, but I love the way they are displayed in a rainbow.
Crate Coffee Table
Four crates can be used to make a large coffee table. These large coffee tables are very popular, my local coffee shop has them.
Locker Cubbies with Crates
The little crates make handy drawers with the DIY locker cubbies. The post has a great tutorial.
DIY Valentine Decor
Repurpose the crate into some pretty Valentine's decor by decoupaging it with paper napkins.
DIY Rustic Mini Crate Table Tutorial
The tapered leg on this crate table gives it a mid-century modern vibe.
DIY: Display boxes made with wine cases
Another fun way to use wine boxes is to just hang them on the wall to make little display boxes.
How to Build and Stain a Wooden Crate Bookshelf
A comprehensive tutorial to build this tall bookcase on wheels.
Make Stenciled Crates for Beautiful Organization
A fun way to organize your pantry with stenciled wooden crates.
DIY Wooden Crate Shoe Rack
This crate idea is a fantastic idea for a shoe storage solution in the hallway but also has two other features I love. That is, it's on casters so can easily be moved around and it has handy hooks on this side for your keys and face masks.
Coke Crate Repurposed into a Spice Rack
I think I would use this soda crate idea for my craft paint storage rather than a spice rack.
Super Easy DIY Crate Bookshelf for $100
These wooden crates would make an affordable and useful room divider.
IKEA Inspired Shelves
Crate upcycles can be as simple as just adding paint to make some fun simple storage.
DIY Mason Jar Herb Planter
The paint and label holders are a stylish way to repurpose a small old crate into a tabletop herb garden.
The Great Crate Challenge – Wood Crate Wine Rack
I know most wooden crates started off life as wine storage, but this is still a good flip.
DIY Rolling Plant Stand from a Wood Crate
With the trend for house plants in interiors at the moment, this is a really clever use of an old wooden crate.
Make a Crate Footstool
Add an upholstered cushion to make a useful footstool.
Upcycled Comic Book Clementine Crate
We always have these clementine crates after Christmas and a stack of comics. Another great decoupage idea for crates.
DIY Crate Bookshelf With Rope + Create With Me Challenge
This would make handy magazine storage in a study and den. The ropes complement the rustic look of the crates.
DIY Rolling Crate For Easy Book Storage – Practically Functional
This is a great idea to keep the kid's books in one place.
How to make a DIY pet bed
To make a cute pet bed, add some legs to a wooden crate, then add a pillow.
Wine Crates Up Cycle & Recycle with Wheels
I love the addition of handles to these wine crates.
Crate Wall Storage
Use some brackets to create extra storage in the bathroom.
DIY Crate Red Pickup Truck
This is a very creative use of wooden crates, turning them into a fun red pick up truck. Toddlers would love to play in this little truck.
DIY Hanging Crate Wall Shelf
I think these handy little old wooden crate shelves would look great in the kitchen as a spice rack.
Wood crate project: rolling cart in half an hour
Simple and very stylish upcycle with this rolling cart table.
Ammunition Crate Table
Add hairpin legs to an old ammunition crate, you end up with a good-looking table and a great talking point.
How to Upcycle a Cutie Crate into Vintage Trunk and Stop Your Entryway Clutter
This is an unusual and clever upcycle, transforming a basic fruit crate so that it looks like a mini trunk
End Table - Stacked Crates with Storage and Lamp
I love the useful hinged lid and lamp on this wooden side table. The tutorial is very comprehensive and easy to follow.
How To Add a Crate to Your Winter Decor - my wee abode
Old crates can even become part of your winter decor.
How to Make Your Own Vintage Style Laundry Cart
I love this idea, but I think I'd use my cart as a vegetable cart.
DIY Outdoor Planter Boxes Tutorial- Great Patio Decor
Wooden crates in different sizes and painted for some lovely patio decor. These doily painted cushions would go well with these crates.
Holiday Crate x10
This holiday crate upcycle is similar to this wicker basket upcycle.
Check out these vintage suitcase ideas.
These crate ideas were featured under the letter c in my alphabet of clever upcycle ideas.
HVAC contractors
Monday 1st of February 2021
Thanks for sharing your wonderful photos and ideas for reusing boxes. I have a strong feeling that you can find a use for absolutely anything and at the same time, this thing will look as if it was just bought from some famous interior designer. I even find it hard to believe that all this can be done with your own hands without the help of professionals and even at home. It's just amazing. You gave me so many new ideas. Although I have always believed that you need to get rid of the old trash and not really do anything out of it. Now, looking at your work, I understand that I was wrong.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
Thursday 21st of January 2021
I too love the versatility of crates! Thanks for sharing so many great ideas. I have pinned this post and also selected it as one of my features for this week. Great job! #HomeMattersParty
Claire Armstrong
Friday 22nd of January 2021
Thank you so much I look forward to seeing the feature.
Jennifer Dynys
Wednesday 20th of January 2021
Wow! That's a lot of inspiration! Thank you for sharing with us at Embracing Home and Family Link party!
Claire Armstrong
Thursday 21st of January 2021
Thank you so much, there are lots of fun things to make with crates.
Tai East
Monday 18th of January 2021
I love them all, but I think 6, 12, 14, 22, 23, 25, and 33 are my favorites! Thanks so much for sharing such awesome and creative ideas!
Claire Armstrong
Tuesday 19th of January 2021
Thank you, they are all great but I agree with you about lots of your choices. Especially the large coffee table no.12, they have that same table in my local coffee shop.
Karen Mary
Friday 15th of January 2021
Wow! That's a lot of creative ideas! I especially like the pet bed and the rolling book storage! Thanks for the inspiration!
Claire Armstrong
Saturday 16th of January 2021
Thank you, there are so many things you can make from old crates.