When mom and crafter Tara of Tara Michelle Interiors was in the market for a new bookshelf, she opted to go the DIY route.
Not only was she working with a smaller space, she also didn’t want to spend a ton, and was after something more unique than boring, big-box options.
What she did next with a bunch of cheap wooden crates might inspire you to follow in her crafty footsteps. The beautiful results of just a few hours of work look positively professional!
First, you’ll need some crates. If you’re lucky, you can find these outside of grocery stores, in junkyards, or if you’re not into hunting, at your local hardware store or Home Depot.
Tara recommends these additional tools and materials…
- 8 unfinished wood crates
- a sander or just a few grades of sandpaper
- 6-8 sponge brushes (she found they broke after one or two crates)
- rags
- a plastic tablecloth
- Minwax stain — 946ml can (choose whichever color you’d like)
- Minwax paste (optional)
- drill or screwdriver
- 1″ screws
- l-bracket to connect the case to the wall
The crafter recommends testing out a few layout variations. The fit wasn’t right here, so she adjusted accordingly.
Then, using a sander or sandpaper, smooth all the surfaces of the crates. Dust everything off and then stain the crates. You should wipe them down shortly after.
After she allowed everything to dry for at least eight hours, she covered the crates with wax and wiped it off after ten minutes. While Tara says this isn’t necessary, it does help protect the wood from wear.
Here’s the rustic result she achieved.
Finally, starting with the bottom two crates, begin screwing them together one by one.
Making sure everything is aligned will be a little tedious process, but recognize that it doesn’t have to look perfect. That’s half the appeal of this vintage look!
When all was said and done, this was the beautiful result.
If that layout doesn’t strike your fancy, though, you can always opt for this version.
This is also a beautiful option.
Check out more inspired design ideas on Tara’s blog. You can also follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram!
Read more: http://www.viralnova.com/crate-bookshelf/
