Are you as tired as I am of having so much ‘stuff’ piling up around you house with no place for it to go? If so, you are going to LOVE this DIY project. These storage crates are the perfect place to hold just about anything. From shoes to clothing, craft supplies to children’s toys, they are the perfect solution to tidy up your space. Best of all, they have wheels! You can roll them out to use and roll them back in when your done. Fashionable and functional – the perfect fit! We want to help you DIY, so some of the materials in this post are linked to sellers. Just so you know, Hometalk may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.
SUPPLIES: – Wooden Crate – 2-inch Everbilt Caster Wheels x 4 – Small wood screws x 16– Paint (color of your choice) – Screwdriver – Paintbrush – Sandpaper
Step 1: Mix your Paint. You can paint your wooden crate any way you’d like. Paint it purple, use chalk paint for a more rustic look or even stain it. Personally, I wanted to create a simple type of wash to keep the integrity of the wood showing through. Using a simple method of items I had on-hand: water and acrylic paint, I created an inexpensive wash. Yes, you can buy professional stains and washes, but I like this method because it dries quickly and doesn’t make my house smell like paint fumes. Mix a few dollops of paint with water until you reach your desired color.
Step 2: Sand & Prep your Crate. Using sandpaper, file away any rough edges, sharp pieces or uneven surfaces on your crate. Using a brush or a cloth, you can brush away dust particles and debris that find their way into the creases of the crate.
Step 3: Paint Away! Begin painting or staining your crate with whatever medium you choose. I like working with a sponge brush as opposed to a bristle brush for this project to avoid unsightly brush strokes. Let dry completely.
Step 4: Add a second coat Once your paint has dried completely, apply your second coat.
Step 5: Add the Wheels. Grab your first caster wheel and get ready to roll. These wheels are so easy to apply. All you need are four wood screws that fit securely through the holes of the wheel mount. Remember that the wood boards of the crate are not very thick, ensure your screws aren’t too long, as you don’t want them coming out the other side of the crate base.
Step 6: Secure one wheel on each corner of the crate. You should have four in total.
I used these crates in my messy entryway. Clearly, I needed a place for my shoes and winter accessories to ‘live’. I was tired of walking through the front door and seeing this disaster!
What a difference these storage crates have made! After adding my shoes to one crate and my winter accessories to another, I wrote the contents with white chalk on the outside of the crate. If I decide to use them for another item in my home, I simple wipe away the chalk and write again. I can’t wait to start making more! They are SO versatile.
