Skip to Content

Upcycling the Milk Crate Table

Sharing is caring!

Upcycle your vintage-looking wire milk crates into a DIY milk crate table. An old crate can be transformed into a beautiful piece of outdoor decor.

The finished wire milk crate table with a drinking cup, lantern and driftwood in a jar placed on top.

I have a big balcony and it takes a lot of furniture to fill it up. So I’m always looking to repurpose things and turn them into outdoor furniture.  Last year I had gone to my trusty basement and found some vintage metal milk crates.  I used the smaller one and made a stool with it.  As for the two bigger ones, I turned them into an outdoor table. 

The wire milk crate table before the upcycle.

This is what the milk crate table originally started out like. You can see the full tutorial here

Wire milk crate with rust.

​My milk crate table was beautiful and I was very happy with it.  But I made the mistake of leaving it outdoors all winter long. The rain and dust did quite a number on it and so I must upcycle this old milk crate table.

Top of the milk crate table made of plywood.

​I removed the twine and gave it a good sanding. 

Sanding the plywood top of the table.

Then I  painted it white using this product I picked up at Lidl. 

Painting the plywood top white.

It’s colored varnish.  How cool is that? It gives me color and protection at the same time. Again I am not being compensated for this product in any way, but I think it is great. If you have a Lidl near you keep your eyes opened.

paint can of white paint with instructions written in Greek.

After three coats of paint/varnish, I put it back on top of the crate and wrapped it with the twine. 

The finished wire milk crate table with a drinking cup, lantern and driftwood in a jar placed on top.
Close up of the white top of the table with a drinking cup, lantern and driftwood in a jar placed on top.
Close up of the white top of the table with a drinking cup, lantern and driftwood in a jar placed on top.

Close up of the twine which binds the two crates together.
Close up of table top items, including a blue lantern, a drinking cup and driftwood in a jar.

This has to be the easiest upcycle I’ve ever done. In fact, the threading of the twine took longer than the actual painting. 

A wire milk crate table.

How was that for upcycling the milk crate table? It’s all ready with a fresh new look and a new lantern to give it some color.  Have you started preparing your outdoor spaces? 

If you’d like to see all my outdoor projects click here and go to Summer.

Picture
The finished wire milk crate table with a drinking cup, lantern and driftwood in a jar placed on top. Overlay says upcycled milk crate outdoor table."

You may also like: 

Revamped Olive Oil Barrels
A milk crate turned stool  

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Michelle

Thursday 4th of July 2019

Totally awesome!

Krista

Thursday 19th of May 2016

Looks good. Did you have to treat the milk crates to keep them from rusting? I like your jar full of driftwood. Last week we took a ferry from the end of Long Island where there is a large beach area facing the Atlantic. While we were waiting in line to board our car, a man was scouring the area for pieces of driftwood. He came back with an arm full and pieces stuck in his pockets. Interesting - we figured he was an artist or something. I was wondering what I would do with small pieces of driftwood, if I bought some back. Now I know, I could have put it in a cute wide mouth jar and displayed it! I didn't pick any up but I will next time. :)

Mary

Friday 20th of May 2016

Krista all I did was spray paint them with a rustoleam type paint. But if you look closer, I didn't treat the center metals because I wanted that aged look to be present. Respect for the rust!! Driftwood has so many decorative uses. I have a bunch of them wrapped in twine and sitting on top of some old books. They give a light airy look to any bookcase. And I too am like that artist lol. When I go for walks at the beach my pockets are stuffed by the time I get home. I also love it out there by Long Island and have spent many summers. I think my comment will never end.

Julia - Vintage with Laces

Thursday 19th of May 2016

Your milk crate table turned out wonderful, Mary! It's perfect for your balcony. Isn't upcycling and repurposing just so much fun?

Mary

Monday 23rd of May 2016

It is Julia. I love to look at old things and try to come up with a purpose for them.

jemma

Thursday 19th of May 2016

Love your creativty and projects! Thanks so very much for sharing this with us at TOHOT! Jemma

Mary

Friday 20th of May 2016

Thank you for your sweet comment Jemma.

Regina L. L. Wells

Thursday 19th of May 2016

Amazing! Mary, you are so phenomenal with these projects.How in the world are you able to look at something and see a beautiful new creation...and then change it?! i love your projects and so appreciate you sharing with #UpsyDaisyLinkup!

Mary

Friday 20th of May 2016

I'll tell you a secret, I did not have this ability to see potential in junk before starting this blog. It is only because I'm exposed to so much creativity in blogs that I feel my mind and imagination expanding. Am I debunking the myth that says the older we get the more brain cells we lose?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.