Wooden Crates – Decorating Ideas You Can Copy

Whether you want to add a touch of farmhouse charm to your kitchen, create an eye-catching display for your flowers, or find practical storage solutions for various items, wooden crates can be your go-to decorating tool.

Their simple yet timeless design makes them an ideal addition to any interior style, especially if you like vintage-inspired accents!

bottles and storage crates display

Crates are one of my secret weapons for many household needs from entertaining to storage and carting things around. I have probably far too many crates and should downsize at some point (maybe in the future!) but hardly a week goes by where I don’t use a crate and you should too! Here are some of my favorite ways to use them.

With these ideas, you’ll be able to incorporate the rustic charm of wooden crates into your space, while adding extra storage options with a unique look. Let’s get inspired with these wooden crates to copy!

Wooden Crates Decorating Ideas To Copy

If you don’t already have crates in your home, go out and explore flea markets and thrift stores! There isn’t a flea market or vintage store around that doesn’t have a selection of vintage crates, as they were commonplace back in the day of home-delivered milk and seltzer. I’m sure that you’ve seen the Coke crates that have compartmental dividers and there are reproductions on the market today too.

Wooden Crates as Flower Displays

Elevate your floral arrangements with the rustic charm of wooden crates. These versatile crates make for delightful flower displays, adding a rustic touch of natural beauty to any space.

Simply place a selection of your favorite flowers or greenery on vases or mason jars and then place them inside the wooden crate for an instant rustic centerpiece or table decoration. It creates such a lovely and unique effect! 

Wooden Crates as Drink Caddy and Bottles Display

Wooden crates offer a stylish and versatile solution for organizing and displaying your favorite drinks.

vintage crate with bottles


With a little creativity, you can transform a simple wooden crate into a functional drink caddy and an eye-catching bottle display. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home, the charm and functionality of wooden crates will make your drink setup stand out.

old wooden aqua crate

Fresh Food Storage with Wooden Crates

Looking for a charming and handy solution for storing and organizing fresh food in your kitchen? Put your vintage wood crates to use. Vintage wood crates will give your kitchen a lovely farmhouse-inspired vibe! When selecting wooden crates for fresh food storage, opt for crates with slatted sides or bottoms to allow for proper air circulation.

vintage blueberry crate

Along with fresh produce, you can use wooden crates to store pantry items too. Potatoes, onions, garlic, and even homemade preserves can all be stored in your crates. This will allow you to free up cabinet space while adding a charming and functional element to your kitchen decor.

Similarly, you can use vintage wooden crates and wooden boxes to store things around the kitchen. It’s super helpful to store things around that adds to the charm of the room.

You can use a couple small ones or pile them on creating faux-shelves.

Storage Solution for Plates and Glassware

Wooden crates are a stylish option to display your tableware and keep everything within easy reach! Get ready to impress your guests with this practical and stylish storage solution that adds a dash of rustic elegance to your dining area.

These are actually two fruit crates stacked on top of each other. When I want to have plates handy or just to have them out for display they work well.

Bathroom Storage with Wooden Crates

Wood crates are a versatile storage solution for small spaces like bathrooms. Plus, it’s a creative way to keep your bathroom essentials organized and easily accessible while adding that country-chic flair.

Hang a wooden crate on the wall as a unique shelf to store towels, toiletries, and other bathroom supplies. Alternatively, place a crate on the floor to house extra towels or neatly store rolled-up toilet paper.

Wooden Crate Ideas for Your Garden

Watch as your garden comes alive with vintage allure! Another fantastic way to repurpose vintage wooden crates is to use them in your garden as planters to showcase your flowers and herbs. 

Consider stacking the crates to create multi-level displays and give your garden a nostalgic and interesting touch. You can place them strategically along pathways, on a patio, or even against a wall to create a vertical garden. Endless possibilities!

Seasonal Display


No matter the season, wooden crates provide a versatile and charming foundation for your seasonal displays and mantels.

Crates add texture and contrast to mantels and seasonal displays that have softer and luxe finishings, like the velvet pumpkins in my fall decor.

velvet pumpkin display

You can also use your crates vertically, which adds height to your seasonal composition. The rustic nature of raw wood crates such a refined style that calls to my vintage-loving heart!

Image with a title that reads "Wooden Crates, decorating ideas you can copy" with the image of a crate with glassware inside of it

Do you have any other uses for crates? Let me know in the comments. I love reading your opinions!

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9 Comments

  1. Cecilia from Georgia says:

    Crates! I haven’t thought about using them for so many different purposes. Would you paint them when they’re ugly or maybe a white wash? Thanks for the ideas.

    1. I definitely would not hesitate to paint or whitewash crates when they are grungy…yes!

  2. Deborah Bell says:

    Love the vignettes using crates, your imagination has no boundaries!! Please enter me in the drawing this week.

  3. Gosh, what a lovely set of ideas Janet! Thank you.
    I’ve just started using crates and have a few as flowerboxes in the garden for the summer. I love that little touch of ‘old’.

    1. Good morning Annie and crates do add such a sweet touch of vintage charm!

  4. What a cool idea to use them for plants outside and stack them…hmmmm
    I bet a Flea Market would have these? Yes?
    I’ll check out your Amazon page….awaiting my hummingbird feeder you had posted…old glass bottles!! So pretty!

    1. Yes, a flea market would almost certainly have crates Lori!

  5. Crates are a wonderful idea. Thanks for the inspiration Janet!

    1. Glad you liked it DaleAnn!