Wine Crate Storage

Psst! I have a secret to tell you. If you are super-duper sweet to the nice manager at your local wholesale warehouse or wine store, and you ask with a sincere smile, they will happily give you their wine crates… for FREE! Ok, it might help if you first buy a few bottles, but it’s not mandatory. Those gorgeous crates are headed for the dumpster unless you save them from their future demise!

 

 

Don’t you just love the beauty of wine crates? I find each one so interesting, imported from all over the world and marked with different fonts and graphics. Using wine crates for simple storage is a great alternative to baskets. What is nice about wine crates is that they are quite sturdy. Think about it, they are made to hold 12-15 bottles of wine! Today I want to show you how to take your brand new wine crate and transform it into a vintage looking, wine crate storage box with handles for easy transporting.

 

 

 

How to Make a Wine Crate Storage Box

 

The first thing you need to do is get yourself a wine crate. Flash those pearly whites! The wine crates are very fresh and new looking and we need to age them up a bit. So let’s gather our supplies and get DIY-ing!

 

 

To make your wine crate storage box, you will need the following: stain, gloves, foam brush, wood glue, 4 paint sticks, box cutter, sand paper, a rag, and 2 cabinet handles.

 

 

I recommend working outside since you’ll be sanding and staining. The edges of your crate are most likely quite sharp and rough. Take sand paper (I used 100 grit) and sand every edge, inside and out, until they are slightly rounded and smooth.

 

 

Next, you apply the stain. Chose any color of stain you like. Be sure to stir your stain well. I chose a new stain by Minwax called Weathered Oak. It has a nice gray tone and will surely help your crate look aged. I applied the stain with a disposable foam brush.

 

 

Allow the stain to sit for several minutes. The longer the stain sits, the deeper the color will be. I wanted just a subtle tone difference to blend with my décor.

 

 

With a soft rag, wipe off the stain.

 

 

Now your hardware comes with screws which will most likely be longer than you need. You need to fill the gap, so we’re going to use paint sticks. This box required using 2 sticks for each end of the crate. Measure the interior width of your crate and mark that on your 4 paint sticks. They can be easily cut with a box cutter. Just score each side and then snap the end off.

 

 

Place wood glue on 2 of your sticks and then place the remaining sticks on top.

 

 

Here is a trick on how to mark where your hardware go. Generously rub chalk on the holes where the screws will fit and then press it on to your crate. (Yes, I’m holding the hardware between my knees. It’s hard to take a picture when you need both of your hands!)

 

 

See the small white chalk marks? That is where you will drill your holes. You can mark it with a pen now incase your chalk blows away in the wind. Go ahead and drill your holes now. Use a drill bit that is the same size as your hardware screws.

 

 

Apply another bead of glue on to your double sticks and press against the crate where your screw holes are. Now drill through those same holes again, this time going all the way through your sticks. Screw in your hardware and voila! You’re finished!

 

 

 

You can now use it to store blankets or toss pillows next to your sofa, or perhaps fill it with magazines.

 

 

Mine is being used to hold rolls of fluffy towels next to my soaking tub in my master bathroom. I might decide to store my bubble bath and bath salts in there to create a bath spa storage crate.

 

 

Go get a wine crate for free and create your own Wine Crate Storage Box today!

Check out the DIY Gallery & Décor Crafts tabs up top for more ideas.

 

Kim

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