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Holiday Crate x10

Modified: Jul 16, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

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Welcome to a special DIY tutorial! Today I'm teaming up with 9 other DIY bloggers to bring you an inspiring selection of Holiday Crate Makeovers. What's a crate makeover, you ask? It's where decorating meets organization, two of my favorite topics! We've each taken on the challenge to transform a plain wooden crate into something beautiful and useful.Holiday Crate x10

When I think of the holidays, I think of decorating, baking, shopping for gifts, and making memories. What I don't usually think about is organizing. And since I don't think about it, my house ends up in a bit of a mess. This year, I've come up with a better plan, thanks to this Holiday Crate x10 Project.Holiday-Crate-Blankets

One of my favorite activities this time of year is to curl up on the couch with my girls and a fluffy blanket, and read our Christmas books by the light from the tree. We have several beautiful story books, and I pack them away every year with our decorations, so they keep their special magic when we pull them out again. The problem is I need a place to display them, so they don't get scattered and lost when we're not reading them. This crate proved to be just the thing I needed to keep books and blankets handy by the couch.

Here's a look at how it started. Not very cozy, as my daughter would say.Holiday-Crate-Before

But I knew all it needed was a little TLC, in the form of chalk paint, and we'd be good to go. (You can find crates like these at several home and craft stores. I got mine at Home Depot.)

First up, a little sanding. Chalk paint doesn't need much prep, but I did want to remove the extra chunks of wood so no one would get a splinter picking this thing up.Holiday-Crate-Sanding

Next, a quick coat of DecoArt's Chalky Finish paint in "Primitive." I love this stuff because it covers anything, usually in one coat.Holiday-Crate-Chalk-Paint

Now for a little decoration. I'm loving grain sack stripes right now, so I decided to add some in a cheery Christmas red. I started by taping off the stripes.Holiday-Crate-Grain-Sack-Pattern

Hint: Once you get your stripes laid out the way you want, add a strip of tape to both ends. This will hold them together in their pattern when you peel off the tape after painting, so you don't have to measure out the pattern again on the other side.

It took a couple of coats of craft paint to get a nice dark red.Holiday-Crate-Painting-Stripes

Once the craft paint was dry, I peeled off the tape, being careful to keep the pattern in one piece.Holiday-Crate-Removing-Stencil

The handle looked a little lost, so I painted the inside red as well, and now it blends in nicely with the stripes.Holiday-Crate-Paint-Handles

I repeated this process on the other end of the crate.Holiday-Crate-Reusing-Stencil

Something was still missing, so I painted the tops of all the wooden slats, and the top edges of the crate.Holiday-Crate-Paint-Edges

Finally, I covered the whole thing with a good coat of dark finishing wax to age it a bit, and give it a nice soft sheen.Holiday-Crate-Apply-Dark-Wax

Now it's ready for blankets and books.Holiday-Crate-After

It fits nicely right next to the couch, but I hate to tuck it away in the corner. I may have to bring it out and set it next to the Christmas tree.Blanket-Crate-Makeover

Time to make hot chocolate and curl up with a good book!Holiday-Crate-in-Use

This is just one idea of how to style a crate like this. Check out these other talented bloggers' crates for more inspiration:

Patti @ Garden Matter

Bon Bon @ Farmhouse 40

Nici @ Posed Perfection

Jami @ An Oregon Cottage

Val @ Love My DIY Home

You're next! what will you do with your holiday crate?

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Comments

  1. pestep81 says

    December 01, 2015 at 5:26 am

    Meredith,
    Your crate makeover is so lovely. The colors are so warm and inviting and would look good any time of year but I do like it with blankets. So clever and functional!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 01, 2015 at 11:33 am

      Thank you Patti! I never thought of using it year-round, but that's a great idea!

      Reply
  2. Carole West @ Garden Up Green says

    December 01, 2015 at 5:40 am

    Meredith, I love this, reading Christmas stories when the kids were little was a favorite in our home too. Such a great memory and I have to say I miss that. I love this crate and the added red on the panel sides is perfect. Thank you so much for participating, it been fun working with you. Love your energy!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 01, 2015 at 11:35 am

      Thank you Carole! Reading Christmas books together is one of those things that I know I'll miss someday. I just hope the kids have happy memories of it too. It's been a blast working with you. Hope we get to do it again!

      Reply
  3. rachel621 says

    December 01, 2015 at 6:26 am

    Oh, this is beautiful! I need to make one like this for next to the fireplace. I agree that painting the top edges makes it even better.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 01, 2015 at 11:36 am

      Thank you Rachel! I'd been wanting to do a crate for a while, just needed a good excuse. 🙂 One of these would be perfect next to the fireplace!

      Reply
  4. C.D. Loken says

    December 01, 2015 at 6:32 am

    Oh I LOVE this idea, Meredith! I just had my grandson home for Thanksgiving, and we read Christmas books by the fire! (No tree up yet!) A wonderful family tradition!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 01, 2015 at 11:37 am

      That's so sweet, and even better by the fire! I hope to do the same with my grandkids someday too...

      Reply
  5. Karen says

    December 01, 2015 at 6:38 am

    I love your crate, Meredith. It looks perfect sitting beside your couch packed with cozy blankets. I love the idea of curling up with great Christmas books and a snuggly blanket. What sweet memories and a fun crate to stow them in!

    It's been so much fun working with you on this project. I'd love to do it again!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 01, 2015 at 11:38 am

      Thank you Karen, and I agree! I was so inspired by everyone in this challenge, and it would be fun to work together again.

      Reply
  6. Nici says

    December 01, 2015 at 7:09 am

    I love what you did with the crate, Meredith! The grain sack motif on the sides is perfect! Such a fun, new, functional accessory for the holidays and beyond! Loved working on this challenge with you and the other ladies! Have a great week!
    Blessings,
    Nici

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 08, 2015 at 9:46 am

      Thanks Nici! This was a great challenge to do together, and I'm already looking forward to the next one!

      Reply
  7. Val @ Love My DIY Home says

    December 01, 2015 at 7:57 am

    Love the red accents - red is my color! The blankets are a nice touch and I like how you will be able to use this all year long. Good job!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 08, 2015 at 9:46 am

      Thanks Val, I never get tired of Christmas red!

      Reply
  8. bon bon @ Farmhouse 40 says

    December 01, 2015 at 12:58 pm

    This is so pretty......I want one! Great idea to store blankets and books for the Holiday's. The grain sack stripes look so nice on the crate. Fabulous job.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 08, 2015 at 9:47 am

      Thank you so much! I love it when organizing is pretty. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Jami @ An Oregon Cottage says

    December 01, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    Your grain sack paint job on this was inspired - I love that look! And it's great that you'll be able to use it year-around, too. 🙂

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 08, 2015 at 9:47 am

      Thank you Jami! I'm kind of obsessed with grain sack stripes right now...

      Reply
  10. jacquiegum says

    December 02, 2015 at 6:37 am

    This is about the coolest thing I have seen in a while...to fun and so pretty!

    Reply
  11. Born To Organize says

    December 02, 2015 at 9:34 am

    Gosh I miss the story and snuggle phase of parenting. My "boys" are now 15 and 18.

    I love this crate! I've seen them at Michael's but never knew what to do with one. You've worked wonders with your stripes. Thanks for the tip for securing the painter's tape at both ends.

    I'm off to check out a few of your links.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 08, 2015 at 9:49 am

      Thank! I hope the tips were helpful. I know we don't have many years left of the little snugglers, so I'm holding on as long as I can!

      Reply
  12. Jeri Walker (@JeriWB) says

    December 03, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    Great idea. These would work great at my family's cabin.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 08, 2015 at 9:50 am

      Thanks Jeri! These really would be great for a cabin. Now I just need a cabin!

      Reply
  13. Susan cooper says

    December 04, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    Hi Meredith, wow, that sure us a big difference in the before and after shots of that crate. Is amazing what a lot of creativity and a little time and paint can do!! Nice.

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 08, 2015 at 9:51 am

      Thanks Susan! I'm always amazed at the power of paint!

      Reply
  14. Erica says

    December 09, 2015 at 10:18 am

    You really are creative, Meredith. I personally love crates. I'm not very organized and I like to just be able to quickly put things away. So, for me, crates are the perfect answer. I can be messy within the crate, but then the rest of my house looks more organized!

    Reply
    • Meredith says

      December 15, 2015 at 5:13 pm

      I totally agree! I love to be able to compartmentalize the projects I have going on into different crates and bins so it's easy to start and stop a project.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. DIY Christmas Word Art Crate says:
    December 1, 2015 at 4:00 am

    […] Carole – Garden Up Green Karen – To Work with my Hands Patti – Garden Matter Bonbon – Farmhouse 40 Val – Love My DIY Home CD – CD Country Living Nici – Posed Perfection Meredith – The Palette Muse […]

    Reply
  2. The Holiday Crate x10 Project - Garden Matter says:
    December 1, 2015 at 4:39 am

    […] Carole – Garden Up Green  Karen – To Work with my Hands Bonbon –Farmhouse 40 Jami –An Oregon Cottage  Val –  Love My DIY Home CD – CD’s Country Living Nici – Posed Perfection Meredith – The Palette Muse […]

    Reply
  3. Christmas DIY Wood Crate Challenge - Love My DIY Home says:
    December 1, 2015 at 10:34 am

    […] Boxes in this challenge:   Carole @ Garden Up Green Patti @ Garden Matter Meredith @ The Palette Muse Bon Bon @ Farmhouse 40 CC @ CD Country Living Nici @ Posed Perfection Jami @ An Oregon […]

    Reply
  4. HOLIDAY CRATE x 10 - FARMHOUSE 40 says:
    December 1, 2015 at 12:29 pm

    […] @ Garden Up Green Patti @ Garden Matter Meredith @ The Palette Muse Bon Bon @ Farmhouse 40 CD @ CD Country Living Nici @ Posed Perfection Jami @ An Oregon Cottage […]

    Reply
  5. Wood Crate Turned Faux Planter: Holiday Crate x 10 - To Work With My Hands says:
    September 20, 2016 at 5:40 pm

    […] Karen, what a perfect use for your crate! It looks beautiful and so festive with the bow and all that greenery. What a great way to welcome guests at the front door! Meredith @ The Palette Muse recently posted…Holiday Crate x10 […]

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  6. Holiday Crate x10 – Garden Up Green says:
    November 3, 2016 at 11:27 am

    […]  It was a treat to work with such a talented group of ladies. Patti @ Garden Matter Meredith @ The Palette Muse Bon Bon @ Farmhouse 40 CD @ Cd Country Living Nici @ Posed Perfection Jami @ An Oregon […]

    Reply

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Welcome!

I'm Meredith, the designer, crafter, and DIY-er behind The Palette Muse. I love all things colorful and creative, and I love sharing them with you. Thanks for visiting today!

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