How to turn worthless junk into home decorating must haves with a crate coffee table and tray
If you’re here from Nesting Place, welcome!
Today you’re in for a real treat! 25 bloggers are grouping together for How to Decorate, a series created by Beth of Home Stories from A to Z.
To visit Beth at #1, click HERE.
I’m Donna, and my passion is creating cool and unusual home decor items for my home out of junk! So I’m going to be sharing my secrets on how I do that today, along with a brand new project!
Now by junk, while I love a good vintage find, I’m actually referring to stuff that doesn’t really have any monetary value. It’s generally the stuff that people throw away. If you were to offer me a heaping pile of weathered wood bound for a burn pile sprinkled with rusty machine parts, vs valuable antiques, I’d speed to the first pile with an empty truck.
I think it’s because I was in struggle mode not all that long ago. When you go through hard times, you just develop a fascination for turning nothing into something with little $ needed. My full story is HERE.
How to turn worthless junk into home decorating must haves with a crate coffee table and tray
Junk Rule #1 / Collect what strikes your fancy
I love crates because they are like little premade boxes I don’t have to build nor pay for. But I can make them into many different things.
Collect affordable things that speak to you. The beauty of this is, only you can determine what that is. If you are tight on space, collect small things. It’s just as valuable.
Ever try to draw without pen and paper? You can’t. You need stock. So… collect from the curb, thrift stores, garage sales, wherever. And tuck your stock away for a rainy day.
Junk Rule #2 / Create out of need
I needed two small tables for the pallet sofas on the deck. Rather than building from scratch, my two finds just may work!
Our houses are only so big. So walk through your home, and determine what you NEED.
If you don’t need it, you may not push your creativity the furthest, and you may not even use it. Unless you sell stuff on a reg basis, do the need thing first.
Junk Rule #3 / inspire YOURSELF
Turning a crate into a table of some sort requires a top. So a basic square frame was created first, that slips inside the crate.
Reclaimed wood planks were cut to size, highlighting any prints or imperfections for added personality.
The wood was sanded down well, but not enough to remove the printing.
My preference is striking new ground. Even if it’s a great idea, I generally will not copycat another’s design, because in my mind, it’s already been figured out, which is 95% of the fun for me. So I strike out on my own.
I also have this hangup. If I can totally vision the finished result right away, I won’t want to build it. So as I build, I change my mind constantly to shake things up, so I don’t get bored. I attempt to surprise myself with every single project.
The frame was centered within the wood planks, then screwed together from the inside of the frame, so the screws wouldn’t show on the top of the table.
I would have preferred a special jig to do this, but… you do what you can do. 🙂
( Push it girl… you visioned this so what else can it become that’s different? Think! )
I added handles so the crate table could become a tray as well. Bingo!
And if I desire the top to be higher, say for a dinner plate, I can lift up the tray and slightly turn.
“You passed!”
“Thanks, me!”
It’s nice to go on Pinterest and other blogs for ideas. But there is nothing like being an inventor of new (to you) things!
Junk Rule #4 / Create with inspiring surroundings
I do my very best work when I have a mess of stuff laying all around me. But I don’t mean a bad mess. I mean junky kinda stock. Whether that’s reclaimed wood in my workshop or a bucket of rusty washers, the extras surrounding me fuel my current project.
I had to laugh when a friend asked how I was going to make something one time. The best answer I could give her was, “I have no idea yet!” If I know what I want, that’s good enough for me to start. Not everything needs a big plan. Just wing it and see what it becomes.
And that’s it!
Here are a few of my other projects, all based on the same rules above….
Worthless sawhorse brackets = sawhorse pipe junk lamps for the kitchen
I needed lamps for the kitchen. ‘Nuff said
Desiring something unique to sit on outdoors, 2 full pallets did it. It was easy too!
Junk styled shed from old fencing
Vintage toolbox side table all signed up
Ladder side table for the bedroom
Horse gate headboard / Reclaimed wood pipe handled bed tray
And on it goes. 🙂
Thanks for visiting my crazy little junk world! It’s my hope that this encourages you to think twice about anything that catches your eye, even if it’s worth absolutely nothing.
For you may end up with something priceless!
Next up…
Visit The Inspired room
Visit them ALL below… links will become active once posts are live.
Day 1:
1. Beth, Home Stories A to Z: How to Find Your Decorating Style
2. Courtney, A Thoughtful Place: 5 Gallery Wall Styles
3. Stacy, Not Just A Housewife: How to Decorate with Plants
4. Myquillyn, Nesting Place: Turning a House into a Home on a Thrift Store Budget
5. Donna, Funky Junk Interiors: How to Turn Worthless Junk into Home Decorating Must Haves
Day 2:
1. Melissa, The Inspired Room: The Secret Ingredient Every Room Needs
2. Jessica, Four Generations One Roof: How to Decorate with Container Plants
3. Traci, Beneath my Heart: How to Style a Coffee Table
4. Cyndy, The Creativity Exchange: Tricks for How to Zone in on the Perfect Paint Color
5. Laura, Finding Home: 5 Ways to Personalize Your Home
3. Kim, Sand & Sisal: How to Decorate Coastal (without lookin’ all Margaritaville!)
4. Diane, In My Own Style: How to Decorate so You Feel at Home
5. Melissa, 320 Sycamore: 3 Decorating Truths in any Home
2. Rhoda, Southern Hospitality: Adding Architectural Interest
3. Lindsay, Makely: How to Decorate With Color and Not Feel Like You Live Under the Big Top
4. Jen, Jennifer Rizzo: Easy table top decorating with the display rules of 1-2-3
5. Heather & Vanessa, At the Picket Fence: Blue Home Decor Ideas …I’ve got the blues!
1. Brittany, Pretty Handy Girl: Color Harmony in Decorating
2. Marianne, Songbird: Decorating Tips from a Lazy Decorator
3. Jen, Tatertots & Jello: How to Decorate with Spray Paint
4. Brooke, All Things Thrifty: The Six Best Things About Decorating
5. Wendy, Shabby Nest: Making a Rental (or any space for that matter) Your Own
I good morning! I just started following this blog and I love it. Second, I went to try to subscribe to the blog The Nesting Place and the subscribe is not working. If you could let her know so that others can sign up as well. Have a beautifully blessed day, Hope
Welcome, Hope! And thanks for subscribing! And oh no to Nesting Place… I’ve let her know!
LOVE LOVE LOVE your pallet sofa’s, and tables.
And the drink coffee lamp!
And the ladder!
Very Nice!
Terri
Seattle, Washington
Thanks Terri! It was hard to contain myself… my entire house chimed in with this topic! 😀
You always make junk decorating look fun and effortless–which speaks to your talent for redeeming the overlooked! I love how so many of your creations have multiple uses in your home. Thanks for sharing your tips and being a part of the How to Decorate series. 🙂
Thanks for having me, Beth! It was fun putting what I love to do into actual words!
You always amaze me with what you come up with. I love seeing your home and all your creations and projects. So fun and fantastic.
Thanks Marty! While my style may not be for everyone (it clearly isn’t!) it’s fun to see how far I can push something. 🙂
Donna, I love your latest little table with removable tray – you are truly brilliant!!! But I have a serious request. In the past, I’ve picked up and used power tools, often with disastrous results. In your picture, I couldn’t help but notice your rotary sander and shivers went up my spine remembering the joy at finding a corner cupboard for $5.00, and misery at the $50.00 I spent on rotary sand paper and the huge gouges/total reshaping of edges I made to my little prize. That tool took off 6 layers of paint but sent pieces of round sandpaper all over the garage and took it upon itself to give a new figure to the curved edges and doors. I really had no idea how to use it properly, couldn’t understand why the self stick sandpaper didn’t stick for more than a few minutes or why it liked to bump itself all around the wood. Couldn’t you do a few tutorials on using these bad boys of the tool world? You seem to have mastered them and life is so much easier if you know how….help, please….?
Ahhh Darlene, I had full intentions of doing a series on how to work with tools and dropped the ball. Totally forgot about it. Thanks! I’m going to put it back on my list!
For what it’s worth, orbital sanders are not my favourites either, as I’ve had all the same issues you have. Keeping the sandpaper fresh is key.
I’d suggest to pick up a clamp on styled palm sander, I have both and use them both for different things. The orbital is easier and quicker, but prefer the motion of the clamp on myself (but don’t like to change the paper in it!)
There’s always something. 🙂
I ♥♥♥ this so much.
You rock and so does your little crate table.
Thank-you my favourite Netherlands friend! I cannot wait to see your own post on Friday!
The other day I posted on my Facebook, and I know you understand:
Whey do the words, “It’s junk, sound like a challenge?” Lol
Working with junk IS very challenging! But I think that’s why I love it the most. Nothing is set in stone. It’s all up to us. Way fun!
You are the QUEEN of Junk! I just love all you do. No one does it better my dear 🙂
A junk crown… I’m on it! 😀
Thanks so much Stacy! It always feels a little risky coordinating with ‘real decorators’, so any kudos like yours brings me relief… LOL
My favorite kind of decor–adore all of it! Off to visit the other sites!
Hi! I just found your blog. I can’t wait to spend some time reading. We’re currently in the middle of a home renovation, so I hope to find lots of great tips and tricks. 🙂
Girl, you are crazy inspiring. I am with you on not always having a plan. Just the spirit to get after it . . the rest follows, right?! That chair you made is amazing.
Doesn’t look like junk to me! Looks like one of a kind treasures!
Debbie
You are so amazing! I love the projects that you come up with. AWESOME!
Thanx for sharing Jo, from Anne’s Attic – Design http://fulcolbaxia.wordpress.com check out what’s going on there. I need you help to be a follower so I can make my goal of 25. Thanx
I love such creativity! I think I may have painted the crate and used an old shutter or gate for the top!! So many ideas can grow!!
Those tables are AWESOME!!! You did it again girlfriend!
Donna, can’t click on the other sites beginning with the 24th.
Hi, Great post today. I really, really would like to know where you got your wood horses as shown for your work surface. I need two exactly like yours yesterday! Thanks in advance.
Just love this table Donna! The offset inset is such a great touch. And I am in love with the pallet lounge. Are those coffee bags?
I am in love with that little crate table! Just another thing to add to my list of things to do with old crates 😉
I think it was genius to add the handles to the top, so it can be used as a tray as well! Lovin’ it!