DIY Crate Shelf in Redbook
I know I’ve said this before but this one may REALLY be the easiest DIY we’ve done. You just stack crates, clip them together and if you like to go a little bit beyond that (we did) you can paint the insides of them. CRAZY easy, very customizable and super affordable. I mean, it pretty much made itself.
1. Decorate your Crates:
I bought ours at JoAnn’s and they were $12.99 a piece when we purchased (now on sale for $9.99), but they often have sales and discount codes which could be applied. We then painted the insides of some of the crates in a fun color palate which I put together. I also thought about possibly wallpapering the back and sides of the crates, doing some sort of contact paper treatment or even using fabric to cover the crates. The options are really endless and vary depending on where you intend to use them and how much ware and tear they might take. For example wallpapering your crates and then using them to store dirty shoes, garden supplies and hoses might not be the best idea where as paint will hold up well over time.
Ginny decided it was best to put on her painting knickers whilst Brady just opted for his blue leopard smock.
We used regular latex house paint and didn’t prime.
2. Spraypaint your Binder Clips:
I purchased large generic binder clips from staples and spray painted them gold. I also spray painted a version in white but later decided that the gold popped off of the crates and colors we used better so I used them.
3. Clip it Together:
This is where the fun begins. I tried quite a few different layouts before I decided to stick with tis more organic layout. Play around with the crates stacking and restocking them until you find your perfect configuration. You could arrange them horizontally and then use it as a TV console or behind a sofa or more vertically to fit in a small corner. Once you are happy with a layout then you can start clipping together the crates with your binder clips.
4. Fill with Items:
You know me and you know how much I like my “stuff” so creating something to actually store it all and keep it off the floor in an attractive way was a win-win situation.
Also Brady you are fired for posting that photo. Please collect your things and leave the office. Don’t worry, i’ll give you a good recommendation!!
To say that things were a bit crowded that day was an understatement. We had quite a few people crammed into one room and were photographing two projects for Redbook during the same day. That involved two separate room scenarios that we had to set up, and two totally different sets of props.
I had what I like to call ‘clutter body’ where your entire body is so encased in clutter that you want to cut off all your limbs and set them outside in hopes that they’ll feel some air and space.
Scott styled the shoot (while I art directed in my clutter body pose) and Brady and Ginny assisted. Look at them go!
It ended up feeling like a mud room which was the intention, obviously.
Sources: Crates: JoAnn’s Fabric and Crafts | Binder Clips: Office Supply Store (spraypainted gold) | Bird Feeder | Gray stools | Folded Pink Rug
The after shots are photographed by always amazing David Tsay, and styling was done by none other than Scott Horne. And yes, they changed the wall color in post! We think it looks better dark gray, too.
You can check out our other DIY projects we did for Redbook by clicking through these links: Side Table Ikea Hack, DIY Towel Ladder , Embossed Velvet Heart Pillow, Office Wall Pockets, DIY Tree Slab Table, DIY Basket Pendant, Table Runner
