How to Make Vintage Wood Crates Look Chic
Published June 4th, 2020
Do you have old wooden crates collecting dust in your basement? It’s time to give new life to them with these easy hacks.
Vintage wood crates are all the rage in the DIY scene right now. And why not? They’re cheap, versatile and can transform a room dramatically. You can turn them into rustic furniture, storage containers, and pretty much whatever you can think of. All you need is a little bit of perseverance and a whole lot of creativity.
But how do you transform an old, dusty (and possibly moldy) wooden crate into a rustic-chic masterpiece?
First, you need to make sure they’re clean and protected from further damage.
How to Clean Vintage Wood Crates
If they’ve been in storage for a long time, they’ve probably collected a fine layer of dust. Just use a damp cloth and wipe it all over the crate. You can use a paintbrush to clean the gaps. Don’t over-wet or soak the wood as it might create problems later on.
Some really old crates also emit some kind of weird, musty odor. If you’re dealing with this, just use water mixed with a little bit of vinegar to wipe the crate inside out. Make sure the crate is well and thoroughly cleaned. Let it dry before treating the wood.
Treating the Crates
After you’ve finished cleaning the crate and it’s completely dried, it’s time to treat the crates. This process protects the wood from further damage and ensures they’ll last for years.
Sand
Before applying anything on the wood, you first need to make sure it’s smooth. Some vintage wood crates also have varnishes in them. This can prevent whatever treatment you apply from sticking into the wood. Sanding gets rid of all of this including the splinters and any rough edges.
There are two ways to sand a wooden pallet: manual or using a power tool. If you don’t have the latter, you can always buy sandpaper from any home depot or your local hardware store. Wrap it in either a woodblock or a sanding sponge, or just use your hand and sand away. When you’re done, remove any debris and sanding dust with a bristle paintbrush.
Beware that manual sanding is very physically-demanding. If you’re working on several crates, an electric sanding tool would be more efficient.
Stain
Vintage wood crates, particularly those that weren’t in use for a long time, tend to lose their natural color. Staining them lets you restore their color while maintaining a natural, aged wood finish. You can also opt for darker wood stains to give it a more weather-beaten kind of vibe.
You can buy wood stains in various shades from online stores and your local home depot. Apply liberal amounts with a staining brush or a simple paintbrush. Wipe off any stain that wasn’t absorbed by the wood. Let dry.
Wax
When the stain has dried, you can then apply wood wax. If you’re aiming for a natural, rustic look, make sure to use a matte finish.
Wax not only protects the wood. It also brings out the color of the stain. Applying it is a pretty direct process. You can even just use an old rag. Apply two to three thin coating. You’ll get better results if you wait an hour between each coating.
Vintage Wood Crates Upcycling Ideas
Now you have a cleaned and well-treated vintage wood crate. What to do next? Here are some brilliant upcycling ideas you can try:
Rustic Wood Crates Bookshelf
If you’ve got several crates at your disposal, you can turn them into a rustic bookshelf. Just pile them up either horizontally, vertically, or any which way you want. You can hang them on your wall or put them on your floor.
Design Inspirations:
Barn Wood Wine Shelf
A vintage wooden wine shelf will perfectly complement your vintage liquor collection. You can make a cabinet-type wine shelf or a wall-attached wine rack.
Design Inspirations:
Vintage Spice and Condiments Rack
Give your kitchen a rustic makeover with a spice rack made of repurposed vintage crates. If you’ve got old wooden cola crates, that would be perfect for this project. But any old wooden crates will do too.
Design Inspirations:
Wood Crates Plants and Succulents Box
Looking to start an indoor plant collection? Save hundreds of dollars on ceramic plant pots by repurposing old crates into plant boxes.
Design Inspirations:
Hire The Timber Experts For Your Next Project
Vintage & Specialty Wood should be your source of the highest quality timbers from around the world. When it comes to fabricating and installing reclaimed wood or specialty wood products in your home, we don’t cut corners. We offer many reclaimed wood and specialty wood products such as Douglas Fir, white oak, and much more. We also offer timber framing and wood flooring services as well. Contact our team today to speak to a timber expert about what Vintage & Specialty Wood can do for you.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the Vintage & Specialty Wood website blog. Her passion for carpentry and wood working coupled with her commitment to fact based blogging has helped her articles help millions of people over the years.