Decorating DIY Home Decor DIY Home Accents Create This DIY Shelving Unit Using Wood Crates Build your own vertical storage for grab-and-go items like pet gear, books, sunglasses, and hats. By Nicole Shapiro Nicole Shapiro Website As a seasoned copywriter, Nicole Shapiro has more than 20 years of experience. She's written for a number of national magazines, including DIY magazine. She also writes for a number of local and regional clients. Before working as a freelance writer, she worked as an Editor at FamilyFun magazine for almost 10 years.Nicole Shapiro graduated with a degree in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 8, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Helen Norman Project Overview Working Time: 1 day Skill Level: Beginner Katie Alberter of Little House of Four blog is all about thrifty decorating and DIYs. When she couldn't find the storage lockers she wanted, Katie built them herself for less than $60. Customize the DIY storage unit with your favorite paint or stain color and house numbers or letters that hold meaning to your family. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools 1 Paintbrush 1 Foam stain brush 1 Drill/driver Materials 3 Wood crates 3 1/4-inch plywood cut to fit for doors 3 1/4-inch plywood cut to fit for shelves 12 1/4-inch square dowel, cut into 1-inch lengths, for shelf supports 1 White paint 4 2x10 cut to fit for bases 1 Wood stain 30 1 1/4-inch wood screws 3 Cabinet knobs 6 Aluminum house numbers 1 Fast-curing clear wood glue 12 Brads 6 Cabinet hinges 3 Magnetic door latches 1 Furniture anchor Instructions Paint and Stain Nathan Schroder Paint crates, doors, and shelf supports. Stain bases and shelves. Allow to dry. To change up the look, paint the wood black for a sleek finish or a different fun color for each child. Attach Bases and Crates Nathan Schroder Screws bases and crates together. Katie used leftover shelving with a decorative routed edge for her stained bases, but plain wood planks will work. Add Knobs and Numbers Drill holes for knobs on doors. Screw on knobs, and glue on numbers (to avoid screws poking through the 1/4-inch-thick doors). Fake the look of screws for the numbers by drilling shallow holes for decorative brads, then glue the brads in place. Install Hinges and Latches Nathan Schroder Measure and mark locations for hinges, then screw one side of hinge in place on the crate. Because the plywood doors are thin, use the fast-curing glue to attach the other side of the hinge to the door. Clamp until glue dries. Repeat for remaining hinges. Glue magnetic latches to the doors and crates. Attach Supports Nathan Schroder Glue four supports inside each crate, 5 inches from the top. Allow to dry, then set shelves on the top. Mount to Wall For safety, mount the unit to the wall with a furniture anchor.