How to Make Shelves From Wooden Crates

Wooden crates are the ultimate upcycle shortcut — already the perfect shape for shelves, sturdy enough to hold books, and cheap or free from markets and deliveries. Stack them, mount them, or stand them on end, and you've got instant storage with rustic character no flat-pack unit can match.

Here's how to turn plain wooden crates into shelving you'll actually be proud of.

Where to find crates

Ask liquor stores, greengrocers, and market stalls for wine and produce crates, or check for old apple crates at car-boot sales. Give each one a look for rot or woodworm before you take it home.

What you'll need

• Wooden crates (similar sizes stack best)
• Sandpaper and a cloth
• Wood sealer, wax, stain, or paint, and a brush
• Screws, L-brackets, and proper wall anchors
• A drill and a spirit level
• Optional: felt pads or castors

Build it

1. Clean and sand every surface — crates are rough, so smooth away all the splinters.
2. Finish with sealer, wax, stain, or paint, and let it cure.
3. Choose a layout: screw crates together for a freestanding unit, stand them on end for cubbies, or mount them on the wall.
4. Anchor anything tall. A freestanding stack must be secured to the wall so it can't tip — essential with kids or pets.
5. Mount carefully. Find the studs, use proper anchors, level each crate, and screw through the back into the wall.
6. Finish the base with felt pads or castors if it's freestanding.

Styling and uses

A crate unit works as a bookshelf, entryway shoe store, bathroom towel rack, toy bin, plant stand, bedside table, or pantry cubby — often several of those over its life.

Staying sturdy and safe

Anchor tall stacks, don't overload the shelves, check the crate joints hold, and sand any sharp edges. For another furniture-grade rescue, see how to turn an old ladder into a blanket rack.

Built a crate unit? Share your layout in the comments at ecoxee.com — staggered, stacked, or mounted, we want to see it.