Funky Junk Interiors

I gave myself a deadline on Saturday.

Self, the livingroom MUST be complete, and clean for a photo shoot on Sunday!

Boy, did I have my work cut out for me. I was stalling because while I had this vision of a Christmas tree forest in the livingroom, I wasn’t sure what to use for a tree skirt.

I used a cool Antiques crate last year HERE, and another faux tree in a rustic crate HERE, however I wanted something new to chime in with this year’s real tree! (story HERE)

Then I thought… well, not everyone has crates, so why not come up with an easy way everyone could just make one?

There is a special beauty in not having the right gear, friends…

And this is what I came up with… it’s easy, cute, and super easy to build. Plus there’s no need to store it because you can just take it apart!

So let me walk you through the easy crate build, then a few photos of this year’s tree theme.

You’ll need:

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reclaimed wood planks

miter saw

cordless drill and screws

palm sander

How to build this reclaimed wood DIY tree skirt

1. Determine how large you’d like your crate, then cut 4 (or 8 if you wish to double up like I did) planks to size.

2. Attach two planks in one corner x 2.

Or double up if you wish for two layers like I did.

You will be finishing the build around the tree base.

3. Fit two corners around the tree base to create a square, then screw them together.

4. If you’d like it another level high, stack them on top. Attach one support bracket or plank of wood between the two layers to hold them intact.

I used a wood scrap as a support board however you may not even need to.

5. For a decorative finish, cut 4 corner planks with 45 degree angles, then attach them to the corners of the tree crate. 

Cute, huh?! I was debating on making the crate one layer taller, however I decided to leave it as-is.

I then stuffed a fluffy white faux rug inside the crate to resemble snow, however a white sheet could also do the trick if desired.

Tadaaaa!

I decided on the crate skirt because the rest of the trees in the forest had other crates and bases, so I felt the theme married well.

Plus, the white chippy wood resembles snow…

This is the same chippy white wood I added to my kitchen island HERE, and Christmas Trees sign HERE, so it all marries well with the rest of the upstairs too.

Welcome to my little tree forest in the snow!

The tall, quirky real tree is a diamond! Goodness how I wish I could keep it forever for each Christmas. It reaches the ceiling yet it’s compact enough. It’s perfect.

HERE is the tree farm story. Isn’t it so stinkin’ cute?!

This year’s real Christmas tree has such a quirky, natural vibe to it and to me it totally spelled forest trail, with a smattering of rustic cabins along the way.

I just so happened to have the right size Cabins sign I made for inside an old window HERE.

And once again, snowshoes show up from my buddy Sandy, that you saw in the Christmas kitchen windows HERE.

Tell me this doesn’t scream snow trail! I flipping ADORE them. They were attached to the bench so they don’t flop over.

Complete with a dash of vibrant buffalo check through a scarf, and a cute little vintage red cross medicine cabinet that sorda spelled ski patrol to me.

The twiggy tree was picked up during one of my roadside rampages while picking up evergreen branches for this year’s Christmas mantel. Someone had just done a massive pruning and they were all too happy to watch me stuff the back of my truck silly!

It was quite the sight. But isn’t it a cool vibe?!

Various smaller faux Christmas trees helped carry out the forest theme.

The tree with the crossed wood plank base is the top of a large $10 faux Christmas tree from a thrift store.

Tip: Any tree can be lightened up with a dusting of white spray paint. It really helps mimic snow and helps the tree show up more-so in little dark corners as well.

HERE is another tree top tree that turned out pretty cute!

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Just for fun, click above to watch a short video of the ‘building’ of the tree forest’ theme!

I am loving this year’s tree forest! It’s so natural, rustic, and it really gives the illusion like you are outdoors. So bring on the Netflix movies with all the lights aglow and let’s do this season!

However, I have a few more surprises in this room… and they do involve more trees… yup, they do! Plus.

They will be included in my full Christmas home tour 2018 tomorrow, so hope to see you again then!

What do you think of the little scrap wood crate build idea? Now I want to experiment and make other ones! Maybe next year…