Brilliant Ways to Decorate with Divided Crates

Have you spotted divided crates and drawers when you’re thrifting? There are so many ways to decorate with divided crates and drawers. Here are a bunch of decor ideas to get your Creativity going!

Do you own any old wooden divided crates or drawers? They hold so many decorating possibilities! Hopefully after seeing today’s ideas, you’ll be on the treasure hunt to find them yourself. Enjoy Brilliant Ways to Decorate with Divided Drawers.

Today’s post is part of our monthly Thrifting with the Gals series, where some friends and I share our love of thrifty finds, and how we use them in our homes. This month we’re happy to have Anna, from Sky Lark House join us as a guest! I’ll have links to all the posts at the end; enjoy them all!

Brilliant Ways to Decorate with Divided Drawers

For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission. There is no additional cost to you. “As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.” My full privacy policy is here. 

Where to Find Divided Crates and Drawers

Old divided crates and drawers can be tricky to find. Flea markets, vintage shops, and estate sales are the best places to hunt. Your normal thrift store probably won’t have them. You could also check FB marketplace, or of course Etsy.

Shop vintage crates HERE.

How to Refresh Old Divided Crates

I have a hand full I’ve found through the years, and use them for decorating often. When I’ve found them, they’re often in basements or garages or barns and are very dirty and greasy. I start by scrubbing them up with a degreaser, like THIS. After rinsing with hot water, I dry them in the sun thoroughly. Then I seal with a brushed on coat or two of THIS, so it’s nice and clean for decorating.

Find all my favorite Vintage Reviver’s Favorites HERE (& follow me while you’re there;)

This old tool caddy divided crate is a recent find. I picked it right off the kitchen wall where the owner had enjoyed it. Once it was refreshed, it made the perfect Spring centerpiece with blue ball jars.

Different Kinds of Divided Crates

These old divided crates and drawers all have a different history. Many were sturdy shipping containers for products in glass bottles or jars. If you’re lucky, you’ll find one with original graphics. Milk, soda, medicines, food products were all packaged in glass and needed sturdy packages with dividers.

Some of my divided wood crates were actually store displays for products. Seed companies displayed their packages in divided crates and often had beautiful graphics in a flip top style box. Hardware stores also displayed their parts in divided wooden drawers, so customers could scoop them up and put them in a brown paper bag.

I’ve never been able to make out the words on this old divided crate. It must have been a store display, maybe for notions?

The last type of divided crate you may find will be homemade. Handy homeowners would build dividers into drawers to make them more organized. Way before you could buy drawer organizers like you can now. I have two drawers that came out of an old workbench that have DIY dividers in them. I updated the hardware with fresh knobs and metal trike pedals. This one’s my favorite to use when I’m decorating.

Wooden cheese boxes were another favorite repurpose for handy organizers. Some day I’m hoping to find a cheese box organizer that’s at least 12 together with different handles. #vintagegoals

How to Decorate with Divided Crates Vertically

You can use these old divided crates vertically or horizontally. When you stand them up, they are a wonderful way to feature a small collection or display of items. Set the crate or drawer on a shelf, on the mantel, or inside a larger hutch or cupboard.

Here are some ideas:

• vintage spice jars
• small bottles
• pretty teacups
• planters
• miniature figures, animals
• old dollhouse furniture
• fake fruit, flowers, succulents
• blocks with letters
• creamers
• vases or bottles
• clock faces

Add a Sign or Seasonal Greeting

Tap a small nail into the crate at the top and hang a seasonal greeting as an extra layer. Perfect for small space decorating.

How to Decorate with Divided Crates Horizontally

Divided crates or drawers also make a unique centerpiece. Add seasonal decor and foliage, filling up all those little cubbies. Perfect for a coffee table, dining table, or entry. You could even set a lamp on top for an interesting layered effect.

Mixed Collage Display

Old printers drawers are another fun way to create a collage of small items as art. Years ago I created this fun junk-themed display with bits and bobs I had laying around.

Are you motivated to find a divided crate or drawer for your own decorating? Or maybe a printer’s drawer? I spotted some awesome versions on Etsy, if you can’t find them in real life near you.

You may also enjoy:

“17 Easy and Fun Ways to Decorate with Vintage Wooden Crates”

“21 Creative Old Tool Caddy Decor Ideas”

Yes, all those cubbies and dividers are a fun way to style your treasures. And a great way to highlight small items that otherwise would get lost.

Enjoy more of our Thrifting with the Gals series HERE.

Thanks for reading Brilliant Ways to Decorate with Divided Crates. If you enjoyed your visit, be sure to Become an Insider so I can send the ideas right to you! You can Sign Up HERE.

Follow Me: LTK | Amazon | Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook

Enjoy the rest of the inspiration from my Thrifting With The Gals friends, and be sure to Pin and Save below!

Anna, SkyLark House, “Collecting Vintage French Cafe Au Lait Bowls”

Robyn, Robyn’s French Nest, “15 Easy Ways to Get Out Of a Home Decorating Rut”

Ann, Dabbling and Decorating, “9 Thrift Store Finds I Always Buy for Vintage Styling”

Rachel, The Ponds Farmhouse, “Trash to Treasure: Free Decor Finds, Dumpster Diving for Chic Style”

pin and save

Sharing at these lovely parties:

Farmhouse Friday