Fantastic Milk Crate Ideas with Endless Possibilities, You Won’t Believe It

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By themselves, milk crates aren’t all that special. But with a bit of DIY magic and ample creativity, you can turn these unassuming objects into versatile pieces of furniture, stylish storage solutions, and unique decor items!

In this article, I’ll share some clever milk create ideas that’ll completely change the way you use these containers. You don’t need special tools to make these projects, so anyone can do them no matter the skill level.  

Milk Crate Ideas Video

Milk Crate Ideas Materials

• Large stacking plastic Milk Crates
• Mini plastic Crates
• Wood Milk Crates

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Milk Crate Makeovers: 6 Functional and Stylish Home Projects

Here are some creative milk crate furniture ideas to try:

1. Storage Shelf

You can build functional storage for just about any space in your home simply by stacking crates in any direction you want, like what I did right here.

I stacked four crates on top of each other and used the built-in locking mechanism to prevent them from toppling over. You can also secure them with zip ties or brackets. 

Crates come in multiple colors, but you’ll usually find them in black, blue, and red. Should the color not align with your room’s aesthetic, use spray paint to customize it accordingly.

If you want to hide the items on a shelf, you can place baskets inside the crates.

Here you’ll see I built a little storage shelf that can hold books and other knick-knacks.

I placed a couple of inexpensive serving trays on top to make it appear more organized and visually appealing. If you want to do the same but don’t have serving trays, have a local hardware store cut a piece of plywood to match the crate’s size.

For tighter spaces, use mini crates. Here you’ll see I stacked three mini crates together.

In this example, I’m using mini crates to create an extra storage organization for the bottom of a school locker. 

This space is often underutilized and by adding some crates, I not only gain extra storage but also keep things tidy. 

I’ve added charging cords to the bottom, post-it notes and pencils to the middle, and a pencil pouch, scissors, glasses, and snacks on top.

Use this storage in any of the following areas of your home

• Family Room
• Bedroom
• Closet
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Office
• Dorm Room
• Apartment

2. Easy Wall Storage

Ever wondered how to introduce convenient storage in areas lacking shelving or cabinets? You’ve guessed it: mini crates! 

As you can see, I hung this one on a wall in a bathroom using a command hook. My bathroom barely has any storage space, so this easy wall storage solution is a great way to keep my essentials within reach. It also adds a decorative touch to an otherwise empty wall.

I added washcloths and hand towels to the crate, but you can add shampoo bottles, toothbrush holders, and others in it. You can use any shape or size and place as many as you need on the wall you have space for.

3. Cleaning Caddy

I like to place items in small crates for easy cleaning. Here you’ll see I placed the backup toilet paper and room spray in a little crate. This way I can pick the whole thing up easily and clean under it. 

I like to do this in my showers as well with all of the shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc., in one basket. Pick it up, wipe under it, and keep going. Easy cleaning!

4. Milk Crate Seat and Table

Whether you don’t have a budget for seating outdoors, need several more, or don’t have the space, this idea is for you to create some upcycled furniture.

Making a DIY crate seat and table takes no effort at all. As you can see, I simply positioned a crate upside down and placed an inexpensive seat cushion for extra comfort.

You can stack several crates upside down side by side in a row, place the cushions on top, and create a bench for seating on a porch, patio, or small apartment or condo deck.

Stack as many as you like and when you’re done, you can stack them away.

For a side table, you can either place another crate upside down or stack two together to make a small table.

I used a large cutting board on top of the crates. For a customized alternative, consider having a piece of wood cut at your local hardware store to fit perfectly on top.

This is a super easy set of tables and chairs I created. 

Whenever there’s an event, I add as many of these as I need. I can easily stack them up and put them away when I’m done.

5. Cargo Crate

I fit two of these crates nicely in the back of our Jeep. I use them for carrying groceries or other shopping items. I’ve used them to stop things from flying around in the back of my car. 

I’ve also used them to carry things we need for the day, whether it’s sporting or dance gear, or items we need for an outing for the day like bug spray, water bottles, food, etc.

6. Easy File Storage

If you didn’t know already, crates were made for carrying file folders or storing them. Plus they stack nicely.

Creative Wooden Milk Crate Ideas
 

Easy DIY Wood Crate Bookshelf

How do you make a bookshelf out of wooden crates? With a limited amount of storage space and some wooden crates from Walmart, I found just what I needed to create an easy DIY wood crate bookshelf. 

What I love about this is that I was able to create a corner bookshelf and use space that was not being used efficiently. 

You can find the full tutorial at Easy DIY Wood Crate Bookshelf

Easy Rolling Crate Storage

We have limited storage in our place and I needed to find a way to store our blankets. I found just how to do it using wooden crates and some caster wheels! You can find the full tutorial at Easy Rolling Crate Storage

DIY Crate Red Pickup Truck

I was messing around with the wooden crates at Walmart and inspiration struck! I wanted to make a vintage DIY red truck that I could use around my home. Check out my red truck made from crates and the best part – you can use this all year for all seasons! 

You can find the full tutorial at How To Make A Super Cute DIY Crate Red Pickup Truck

Easy and Inexpensive Small Laundry Room Hacks

Are you looking for small laundry room hacks? I have several easy and inexpensive ideas that you can start creating today. You can find this tutorial at Easy and Inexpensive Small Laundry Room Hacks with Video

Easy DIY Dollar Tree Plastic Crate Shelves

Are you looking for some easy shelves? I am always looking for various ways to add storage and I love to get creative. I ran to Dollar Store, grabbed some bins, and made easy plastic crate shelves on a budget. You can find similar plastic crates at Walmart or your favorite local stores that sell crafting or storage supplies. They come in different sizes and a variety of colors. For this one, I used my glue gun and added hot glue to the crates plus a foam pool noodle! You could use a zip-tie if you’d rather.

You can find this full tutorial at Easy DIY Dollar Tree Plastic Crate Shelves with Video

This is an easy way to create cool things and awesome home decor. It’s a great way to build things to the perfect height for what you need in your home.

More DIY Milk Crate Storage Ideas

Looking for more storage inspiration? Consider the following: 

• Milk crate bookshelf: Arrange milk crates horizontally or vertically to make a unique and practical bookcase. Paint or decorate the crates to match your room’s decor.
• Laundry room sorting bin: Tired of manually separating whites, colors, and delicates? Streamline the sorting princess by using dedicated milk crates for each category. 
• Kid’s room toy storage: Use brightly colored milk crates to organize your children’s toys. Remember to label each crate for specific toy categories! It also works great for a stool for kids. Many teachers love to use these in their classroom!
• Shoe rack: Arrange milk crates to create a bench with cubbies for shoe storage. 
• Storage container: Repurpose old milk crates to store various items in your basement, attic, or garage. 
• Milk crate ottoman: Transform milk crates into a chic storage ottoman by stacking and upholstering them.

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