Thanks to Crates and Pallet for sponsoring today’s outdoor table post & giveaway. All opinions are my own.
Friends, I have been having a blast this summer sprucing up our outdoor space with projects like our rose garden, patio makeover, wooden planter stand, and more. The most recent thing I created for our deck is this useful DIY Outdoor Table made from crates! It is seriously SO easy to do…even if you’ve never built anything before, this is a great beginner level project to try. All you need are two crates and some plywood, and you can build it in less than an hour! Here’s how to create your own.
Materials:
2 Large Unfinished Crates
Plywood
RYOBI ONE+ 18V Corner Cat Sander
RYOBI ONE+ 18V AirStrike Brad Nailer
RYOBI JigSaw
Preparing your wood
First, measure and cut your plywood.
For the top of the table, you’ll need a piece that is roughly 12.75″ x 19.5.”
Each of the two shelves should measure approximately 11.75″ x 9.25.”
If you’re new to DIY projects like this one and don’t have the tools or confidence to cut it yourself, you can get it cut in your local Home Depot store.
Next, sand all wooden surfaces.
You can do this by hand, of course, but I love to use the RYOBI ONE+ 18V Corner Cat Sander. It’s cordless, light, and easy to use on any kind of project.
Assembling your table
Start by standing your crates up vertically and placing them back to back with the open sides facing out. Then, nail them together.
Make sure you sit your crates on a flat surface for this step. I used my AirStrike Brad Nailer for this, but you can also use a traditional hammer and nails.
Next, place your large piece of plywood on top and nail it in place.
You should have just the slightest bit of overhang on all four sides. Once again, I used my AirStrike, which is quick and convenient.
This is how the table will look when the base and top are assembled. If you like, you can keep it this way for storing large or tall items, like a bag of charcoal. Or, if you prefer to have a closed in table, just face the crates the other way so that the open parts are facing the inside.
Finally, place your shelves wherever you’d like them to go and nail them in place from the sides.
I placed mine about 8″ from the top of the table, but you can put them as high or low as you like depending on how you plan to use them. You can also vary the height of the shelf on each side or add additional shelves…it’s totally up to you! That’s one of the best things about building your own furniture; you get to create it exactly the way you want it!
Once your shelves are in place, your table is ready to paint, stain, and/or seal!
I sealed mine with Thompson’s® WaterSeal® Penetrating Timber Oil, which stains and waterproofs it at the same time. I’ll be sharing all about that process in part two of this post tomorrow! Once you’ve applied the stain or paint of your choice, your table is ready to use.
Using your table
Hubby likes to use ours as a prep station when he’s grilling dinner. The shelves are great for holding rolls, condiments, paper towels, and more, while the top is perfect for plates and grill tools.
Personally, I like using it for entertaining, like when my neighbor Lisa and I get together for some girl time on summer evenings while our kiddos play outside.
During Home Depot’s Summer Storage event July 7th – August 24th, the Crates and Pallet large crates I used for this project will be available as a special buy in ALL stores as well as online! Additionally, all multi-pack crate items on the Home Depot website will be on sale. Take advantage of the discount and grab your supplies so you can make a table too!
Plus, if you’re feeling lucky, enter to win a $50 Gift Card to Home Depot! The Rafflecopter widget below will walk you through the process; good luck!
For more Summer Storage inspiration featuring crates, check out these blogs!
- House of Wood
- That’s My Letter
- Sawdust 2 Stitches
- Damask Love
- At Home with Natalie
Pat F. says
Love the cute Wooden crate shelf, Amy! Thanks for the opportunity to win the gift card. I would use it to get more plants to do some curb appeal in the front of the house. Can never have too many colorful flowers!
Sheena says
That is so cute!! I love using pallets to make stuff. I will have to keep an eye out for some crates!!
Angie Foster says
I would use it to add something to my front porch!
Heather S says
I would spend it on plants for my porch and deck 🙂
Roxana says
Such a cute idea and simple too! Love it! 😉
dancers4life says
Thank you!!
Rosie says
I was just online for Home Depot today – actually this time, looking for clocks! So many things you can get at Home Depot!
julie says
i’m doing a lot of outdoor projects and one of them is redoing our fence 🙂
dancers4life says
How fun!
Anna says
I would use the gift card to buy pavers for our back yard. We have a soft hot tub (it was a gift) that I’ve been dying to get set up, but the pavers fall into the splurge category, so we haven’t done anything yet.
Adorable table. One day, I’ll get back to making stuff like this! <3
Bonnie says
I can’t wait to make this! It’ll make me enjoy our deck just a little more
dancers4life says
You definitely should! I want pics!
Angela Kramer says
This table is seriously so cute!!!! We, for the first time ever, have a small deck….plans to make it a larger, more inviting deck…these are the kinds of ideas I need to make it homey! 🙂
dancers4life says
Oh, I am so excited for you and your house!!!
Rachel says
I would put the money towards a sink for my laundry room.
dancers4life says
Good plan!
Ginger says
I would use it to buy paint. I’m painting the bathroom when the kids go back to school
Steve Weber says
We would use it on paint.. we have lots of rooms to paint.
Michelle J. says
My husband would love a new drill!
Sandy says
I need to organize my craft room, so I would buy storage. By the way, I love your table!
Tiffany says
I would use the gift card to help build my milkweed garden Im trying to start. I want to help save the Monarch Butterflies and I also want to try to plant a bee garden to also help save and bring back the bees we need so badly. Thank you for this opportunity to win. Love the crates and pallets!!!
dancers4life says
What a great plan!
julie says
i would spend it on paints
dancers4life says
Great choice!
Laura Bernard says
I would buy some flooring for my new home. I would add it to our home renovations fund!
dancers4life says
New floors make a HUGE difference, don’t they!?
Amy C. says
I would pick up some paint for our kitchen refresh.
Emily Benson says
That is a hard decision, probably spend it on organizing stuff, baskets and tubs. OR maybe some paint to get creative…
dancers4life says
I hear ya…I don’t know what I would choose either!
Gilda McCain says
I would give it to my son who does so much for me all the time. It would be great to be able to give it to him. Thanks for a chance to win.
Suzykazoo says
I love the great ideas for using crates to creating useful items to use around the home. I could really use the gift card because we are sprucing our house up to put on the market and plan to purchase a condo to redo as our retirement. Please choose me!
dancers4life says
Oh, good luck, Suzy!
Shayna Brookman says
I WOULD LIKE TO GET A Easy Wring Spin Mop 🙂
dancers4life says
Oh, those things are fabulous! I have one and LC loves using it.
Laurajj says
Oh I would love to use it to buy materials to make an outside dry erase board to hang on our fence! I heard they have dry erase paint….and think the kids would have so much fun drawing on a board hanging on the fence in the backyard!
Cheryl B says
I would buy wood to create some window boxes.
Melissa Teears says
I would use it towards the purchase of a new lawnmower
Lindsay AFM says
Love it!! I need to build one for myself!
DJ says
I would purchase gardening supplies.
Bridgett Wilbur says
I would buy flowers for my garden.
SheilaG-PlumDoodles says
How cute! I would use HD gift card for mulch, or maybe something more fun. Hmmm.
Tammy says
Work on my workshop!!
Elle says
I will spend the $50 on a new blower. Mine stopped working a few months ago and I definitely need a new one for fall leaves.
Birdiebee says
I would spend it on updating something in the condo I just bough.
Rebecca b says
We to put insulation in our attic, so anything would go to that first instead of anything fun!
Bianca Norman says
Buy supplies to fix the bathroom.. 🙂 thank you!
Sarah Mayer says
I would get some hardware for our drawers and cabinets.
Kim Henrichs says
I would definitely get paint supplies!
Serge B says
I would use it on some gardening supplies
MarciaGoss says
I would get paint for our family room.
Thomas Murphy says
I would buy some tools.
Lynda Fraser says
Just saw this….Its a great idea for outside table. Have one crate going to buy rest of materials….