Homemade Wooden Crates

My two year old's room used to be a death trap.

There were toys scattered all over her floor 24/7, mostly because I didn't have enough baskets or whatever to store them in.

So after stubbing my toe in her room a few too many times, the wheels in my head starting moving when I saw this picture from Pottery Barn Kids...

{image:  Pottery Barn Kids}

and this picture from Sausha's Show and Tell blog.

I was going to get those toys organized by making my own wooden crates!!!

I could hardly wait to get started!

{image:  Show & Tell}

I started by making a drawing.

I know it looks like a little kid drew it but I promise it was me.

I came up with some measurements {and then changed them a little}

and got to work.

These crates are made out of 1/2" plywood and 1x1's.

The first thing I did was make all my cuts for the crates.

Base:  {16"x19"}

4 posts (this is what the 1x1's are for):  {12"}

6 long slats:  {3 3/4" x 19"}

6 short slats:  {3 3/4" x 17 1/16"}

{I did this times three because I wanted to make three crates.}

After I my husband and I made all the cuts, I laid the base piece down, then used liquid nails and a screw to secure a post in each corner.

Then, I began nailing the first row of slats around the base and the four posts.

I used LOTS of nails.  

I wanted this thing made to LAST cause kids are rough. 

To start making the next row of slats {and I apologize for not getting a picture of this}, we used some scraps of wood {measuring about 1/2" thick} and laid it on top of the first slat as a spacer and then nailed the slats in place.

{I hope that makes sense!!!  I could never be one of those people who writes out directions to put things together for a living!  I'm terrible at explaining things unless I show someone in person!}

The spacing is what makes this wooden box look like a crate.

Repeat this for the last row of slats.

The last row is going to be about 1/2 inch higher than the posts and that is exactly what you want!

This is what they look like when they are all nailed together.

My husband used some sandable putty on the middle slat because that is where I wanted to use the inspiration I got from the Pottery Barn  picture to make chalkboard labels.

Sanding this spot a little makes it smoother for writing with chalk.

It's probably not a completely necessary step but it's what we decided to do.

Anyway, after that I spray painted each crate with some white primer.

After the primer dried a bit, I painted the outside of each crate with two coats of regular white paint and the inside with only one coat of regular white paint. 

The reason I only gave the inside one coat is because it's likely to get all banged up from the toys that will soon be in it, so I was fine making it look more weathered on purpose.

When all the paint was dry, I taped off a section on the front middle slat and painted inside that section with chalkboard paint.

My husband ripped some extra wood we had laying around for the molding around the chalkboard paint.

You could easily just buy some tiny molding too.

I applied the molding to the crate using liquid nails.

***Tip:  Squeeze some liquid nails onto some newspaper and then dip a screw into the liquid nails and wipe it onto the molding.  This way you're in more control over how much liquid nails gets onto the molding and it won't squeeze out the sides when you put it around the chalkboard section and make a big mess.

I'm so happy with how these wooden crates turned out!

I labeled each one with chalk...

{Never mind the really old carpet...

replacing it is at the top of our list of things to do at this old fixer upper house of ours.}

and now...

no more messy bedroom floor.

In the words of my mother, "A place for everything, and everything in it's place."

The storage possibilities are endless with these cute crates!

They could be used for toy storage in a bedroom or a play room,

for mittens and scarves in a closet,

sports equipment in the garage,

pantry storage, etc., etc...

and the best part is that they are simple and inexpensive to make.

Linked to:  Under the Table and Dreaming, C.R.A.F.T., Keeping it Simple, Creating my way to success, Making the World Cuter, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, Skip to my Lou, Sugar Bee Craft Edition, Today's Creative Blog, Lucky Star Lane, Paisley Passions, The Shabby Nest, Tatertots & Jello