Useful tips
If you have old boxes lying around at your dacha, in your pantry or somewhere else, you shouldn’t get rid of them right away - perhaps you can make something interesting and useful out of them.
Using some tools and paint, crates can be used to make various pieces of furniture that will be useful in the garage, in the country house, and even in your home.
Old boxes are very easy to paint, because... they are made from untreated wood. They are also easy to connect to each other.
Here are a few ideas that can be turned into reality from ordinary old boxes:
Coffee table made from drawers
If you connect 4 drawers in a certain order, you can make a cute coffee table.
Pay attention to how the boxes are connected.
It is also worth noting that it is advisable to treat the drawers and paint them with varnish or brown paint to make them look even more like a coffee table.
You can attach wheels if desired, although this may require attaching some plywood boards (which will better secure the entire structure) to the bottom of the table before attaching the wheels.
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Where does your old furniture go after purchasing new furniture? To the garage? To the dacha? To the “poor relatives”? But, as you know, if the furniture is still quite strong, it deserves to get a chance at a new life - just thanks to your imagination and skillful hands.
Suppose you have an old chest of drawers, a desk or kitchen cabinets that you don’t want to throw away, but there’s no point in leaving them in the same place, because you’ve already bought their new counterparts. What these pieces of furniture have in common is that they have drawers that can be turned into an unusual and practical interior element.
You can make original wall shelves and even racks from the drawers of an old chest of drawers, table or cabinet. On such improvised shelves you can place useful or simply beautiful little things, creating cute islands of decor. Most likely, such creativity will appeal to lovers of vintage solutions, as well as those who want to update their interior with virtually no investment.
Any old drawers will do - made of wood or chipboard, from a chest of drawers, a desk or an old kitchen:
any size and number of drawers can be put to good use, as you will see now. Here is the algorithm for your actions:
remove drawers from old furniture, check them for the integrity of surfaces and joints;
whether to remove the handles or not is a matter of taste, however, many believe that with them the look is more original;
change the appearance of the drawers if you want;
add cross shelves if you want to place small items in several tiers;
screw it to the wall with screws at a convenient height;
small drawers can be made removable - attach 2 fastenings to the back of the frame for hanging light furniture on the wall;
Arrange your little things or decor.
how to use drawers from an old chest of drawers or wardrobe Small drawers are optimal for interior decoration, and medium and large ones can be used to create additional storage space
option number 1: beautiful - displays for decoration:
Beautiful dishes, small plastic items, any collections and even photographs - all this in boxes mounted on the walls looks very unusual.
option No. 2: convenient - shelves for small items:
Books and CDs, bath and table accessories, shoes and jewelry, handicrafts and stationery, garden and household tools - this is not a complete list of small things that can be placed in boxes from old furniture hung on the wall.
how to make shelves from boxes more attractive and practical Change the look of the boxes as your imagination tells you and based on their purpose.
back wall decoration:
In this case, the “back wall” is the bottom of the box. How to make it more interesting? Remnants of wallpaper or fabric (for any surfaces), smooth or textured paint (for wood and plywood), chalkboard paint, sheet music or old maps. In a word, everything that can be found in the house.
internal shelves:
In boxes that will turn into volumetric shelves, it makes sense to make horizontal partitions, i.e. internal shelves. Sometimes they already exist as intended by the manufacturer. If you are going to place small but heavy items, take care to reinforce the bottom (with a wooden plank or bracket).
other ideas for creating shelves from old cabinet drawers If you have a lot of drawers from old furniture, you can create a creative composition. And shelves made of drawers can be horizontal, as if extending from the wall.
how to combine several boxes:
Back-to-back or spaced apart, at different angles and in combination with traditional shelves, adding wall decor or modular compartments.
horizontal mount:
In small drawers, traditionally mounted to the wall (with the handle forward), you can place even more small items. But they must be hung on reliable brackets used for shelves.
floor shelving from the drawers of an old chest of drawers You can also build a shelving unit, and even if it won’t be the most spacious, you won’t spend a penny! In addition to checking the reliability of the boxes and possibly updating their appearance, you will need to correctly compose the composition of the modules so that it is stable, and then firmly connect the boxes to each other, and then additionally attach them to the wall.
modular bookcase made from old drawers:
An equally interesting solution is when old wooden kitchen furniture contains not only drawers, but also frames. By turning the elements in different directions, create the optimal composition, if possible, without gaps. Attach each element to the wall, and add strong brackets below.
https://www.design-remont.info/2013/06/10/shelves-from-recycled-drawers/
Preparation
What to make an additional shelf for a wardrobe from?
If you plan to install an additional shelf for a sliding wardrobe, you should pay attention to what the existing ones are made of. Reference
The most common material for making shelves in cabinet furniture is chipboard.
Reference. The most common material for making shelves in cabinet furniture is chipboard.
It is popular due to its affordable cost and versatility. Particle boards are easy to mark and saw. Thanks to this, workpieces of any configuration and size are obtained.
Other materials are also used to make shelves in cabinets:
- wood. It is characterized by strength and durability. Cons: heavy weight of the product and high cost;
- wood slab. Suitable for heavy items;
- varnished array. Consists of pieces of wood glued together. Costs less than wood.
MDF and laminated chipboard are also suitable options for making shelves due to their dense structure and low price.
Fastenings
There are two options for arranging shelves: along one axis and along different axes.
The first method is quite complicated, since you need to achieve reliable fastening at the junction of two shelves with a common partition.
The second option is simpler: you need to maintain parallelism of the planes and select good fasteners.
Based on what will be stored in the closet and what load the shelves will be subjected to, it is important to choose the optimal screed method. Corner screed
Corner screed
Furniture corners are made of plastic or wood. Their installation does not require special skills. The elements are installed between the side wall and the shelf itself using self-tapping screws.
Screw tie
The screw fastener reliably fastens one panel to the plane of another thanks to the screw and barrel.
Important. This fastening mechanism is quite complex, and an inexperienced carpenter may have difficulties during installation. The problems lie in the difficulty of aligning the barrel hole with the mating part
But the screw tie guarantees reliable connections and long service life of the shelf
The problems lie in the difficulty of aligning the barrel hole with the mating part. But the screw tie guarantees reliable connections and long service life of the shelf.
Dowel
A dowel is an affordable type of fittings made from hardwood.
Reference. The dowel is practically not used as an independent fastener. It does not fully ensure the reliability of the design. Therefore, it is used in conjunction with other types of fastenings.
Euroscrew
The fasteners are screwed into the end of the shelf with the finished hole. Typically, products 7 mm in diameter and 50-70 mm in length are used. The disadvantages of the Euroscrew are that furniture with such fastening cannot be disassembled and reassembled more than 3 times. The fastener will collapse.
Conical coupler
A conical tie is used to connect chipboard sheets and other heavy elements, the thickness of which is 25-38 mm. Mounting components:
- barrel-shaped body;
- stock;
- screw.
This type of connection is characterized by a small stroke of the tie and requires increased precision in the additive. Shelves in the closet, fastened with a conical tie, should not be subjected to heavy loads.
Eccentric coupler
Most furniture manufacturers use eccentrics with a coupler. They are practically invisible and very reliable. Cabinets with such fastenings can be disassembled and reassembled many times.
The cam clamp includes three parts:
- rack;
- screw;
- eccentric.
This fastening determines the position of the parts to be connected with high precision.
Variety of options
Old unnecessary boxes usually accumulate in huge quantities at the dacha or on the balcony. It’s a shame to throw them away, but there’s no point in storing them either. Such material can be used to great advantage if you come up with pieces of furniture that will add convenience and decorate any room.
Tables, cabinets, and shelves fit best into a rustic style. With minimal cost you can make a functional room. To work, you only need the boxes themselves, self-tapping screws, as well as furniture fittings and the desire to create.
Unique furniture by no means has to be expensive. Any person who has imagination and can do something with his own hands can easily create the interior of his dreams literally from scrap materials.
= Methods for attaching shelves:
On belts Example: | On brackets Example: Upside Down Bookshelf | On hinges (hidden shelves) or hinged pins Example: Secret door - wardrobe and book shelf |
On strings | On the ropes | On pins |
On clamps Example: Rack of 3 pipes from floor to ceiling. | On perforated guides |
= What types of shelves are there:
Corner Example: DIY corner shelf 230 photos | Wall mounted Example: Wooden bathroom shelf | Mounted Example: Shelves in Art Nouveau style 180 do-it-yourself photos |
Hanging | Floor-standing Example: DIY floor shelf in 45 minutes | Under the ceiling Example: Making a shelf for books under the ceiling |
Shelving Example: DIY pipe shelving: 180 photos, instructions, diagrams | Whatnot | Shelf - Invisible Example: Invisible bookshelf |
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Entertainment complex for cats
An entertainment complex for cats is created from boxes and metal pipes. As you know, tailed animals get bored in apartments. To prevent the animal from damaging furniture and wallpaper, you can occupy it with your own miniature cottage, where cats sleep, play and sharpen their claws. Some boxes are covered with plywood lids with round entry holes, others are left with only the bottoms, which are covered with soft foam rubber and upholstered with fabric, and on others, scratching posts are attached. The modules are connected to each other in any order. Additionally, the “house” is equipped with a ladder system to make it more convenient for the animal to move around the “floors”. Instead of a purchased bed for a cat or dog, cribs are created from a box. The box is thoroughly sanded. It is better not to coat it with varnish, as your pet may not like its smell. Then a pair of upper slats are cut off from one of the sidewalls, which will be the front one. The inside of the box is filled with foam rubber or other soft material and covered with a blanket on top. Additionally, the sleeping place is decorated with miniature hand-sewn pillows. Of course, the size of the box and the future crib is selected according to the dimensions of the pet. To make a feeder, you will need a stainless steel bowl, a wooden container and plywood. The top cover is cut out from the last sheet. Make a round hole in the center for the bowl. The plywood is then secured to the box. All that remains is to insert the bowl. You need to choose one with protruding sides, which will hold the container by the lid. The bowl can be easily removed to wash or replace with another. A double feeder is made from a large box using the same technology with paired containers for food and water.
Ottoman for the hallway
To make an ottoman for the hallway or living room, you will need:
- Box;
- A sheet of durable wood for the top cover;
- Foam rubber;
- Upholstery material;
- Construction stapler;
- Wheels.
The box is sanded and varnished. Wheels are attached to its bottom, and a lid is attached to the top. If you need to use the ottoman also as a storage system, then it is placed on hinges so that the seat can be opened in the future. Then foam rubber is fixed to the lid and covered with fabric using a stapler.
Decorative elements
In order for the apartment to feel cozy and comfortable, it is necessary not only to properly furnish it and make repairs, but also to think through the pleasant, beautiful little things that characterize the owners and create a great mood for them. Examples include decorative shelves, stands, various paintings and figurines.
Do-it-yourself items for interior decoration are often made from wooden boxes. A shelf painted in a bright color or an original box on wheels for children's toys will add zest to any room. Each person can come up with their own design. Perhaps this will be an antique option, coated with natural varnish and preserving the natural color of the wood, sometimes they decide to add bright shades and use colors, and some upholster the drawers with fabric, in which case they look very nice and homely.
The theme of boxes in country design: decorating the garden and yard
Decorating personal property with the help of improvised means and materials is a favorite trick of a real summer resident with experience.
And it is right! After all, doing it beautifully doesn’t mean it’s expensive, and besides, the process of improvement itself brings pleasure and joy from the achieved result.
Wooden boxes, as containers for growing flowers, hanging and floor planters fit perfectly into landscape garden design. No officialdom - complete improvisation!
The summer kitchen on the open terrace will be nicely complemented by an improvised set of furniture made up of drawers painted to match the facade.
A nice detail: a mobile flower garden with bright petunias, located in the carriages of a miniature train. Nothing complicated, but it looks very picturesque against the backdrop of trimmed border greenery!
Boxes of various origins are ideal for vertical gardening of walls, fences and house facades. We create a project, mark up the location and let’s get to work!
You can decorate a cozy relaxation area with benches or a mini-pond displayed on the garden terrace in different ways. Taking the most ordinary box as the main idea, we can get stylish design solutions like this.
What other useful things can be made from boxes in the garden? Put together vertical racks for potted crops from boards, arrange a lush multi-tiered flower bed, or arrange your own workplace, where it will be convenient to prune and plant seedlings throughout the summer season.
As you can see, there are more than enough interesting ideas for using wooden containers in summer cottages. Get involved in the creative process and share your successes with us! Until next time.
Advantages
Making your own furniture from wooden boxes has recently attracted many people. Rustic style is coming back into fashion, and skilled men prefer to create something special with their own hands rather than purchasing standard options in stores. There are several main advantages to this solution:
- Economical. To create it, we use things that almost everyone has in their home and no one needs. They get a second life.
- Creation. There is an opportunity to show your imagination and realize all your wishes.
- Simplicity: to make furniture from wooden boxes you do not need to have special skills and tools; anyone can easily cope with this task.
- Environmentally friendly, wood is a natural material, so there are never any issues of toxicity or other health hazards with it.
If you look around, everyone has material at hand. All that remains is to come up with an idea and start bringing it to life. This process brings pleasure, because it is very pleasant when a unique designer item comes out of your hands. All guests will definitely appreciate such furniture, and the owners themselves will find it extremely convenient to use it.
Everyone should try themselves as a craftsman and create furniture from wooden boxes with their own hands, which will completely suit them.
DIY spice racks
You can easily make spice racks yourself and decorate them using the decoupage technique. This is done quickly and easily. The only tools you need are an electric jigsaw, a drill, a grinder and a screwdriver. You also need to purchase several wooden boards made of pine or spruce, a set of screws and enamel to coat the final product. The thickness of the boards is maximum 3 cm. A shelf measuring 50*50 cm is made of five bars 50 centimeters long. Of these, three are the shelves themselves, and two are the side walls.
Operating procedure:
- Each of the manufactured elements is sanded using a machine or sandpaper.
- Assembly is carried out after all the necessary holes are drilled with a drill.
- The fittings are connected using self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.
- For reliability, you can use metal construction corners between the perpendicular elements of the shelf.
- The final product is treated with varnish.