Micro Makeovers : Painted Garden Crates

Tidying up the garden for summer? Treat your planters to an easy and stylish makeover.

Spring is officially underway and as the days are getting brighter, it means we’re all ready for the barbecues, dining al fresco and generally taking advantage of the warm weather and our outdoor space. And for green thumbs, it’s a great time to give the garden a fresh new look.

When it comes to potting plants and herbs, vintage-looking wooden crates and boxes are having a moment and are creeping their way onto every DIYers to-do list. An upcycling project that’s both easy and pocket-friendly, it’s not hard to see why we’ve fallen for their rustic charm.

So, follow suit and try this quick update to give your crates a personalised touch. If you need to buy some crates you can find these at Ikea. All it takes is just a lick of paint.

Follow these simple steps to create some different styles yourself.

Painted Stripes

Difficulty rating: Not too tricky

Time: 1-2 hours

What you’ll need: + Plain crate + Masking tape + Cuprinol Garden Shade in Pale Jasmine (or your chosen colour) + Sandpaper

Step-by-step guide:

Step 1: First, make sure the crate (or box) is clean.

Step 2: Then mark out the sections you’ll be painting with your masking tape. For neat stripes, use a ruler to mark out the width for each stripe.

Step 3: Sand the masked off areas you want to paint with a fine sandpaper, then wipe away dust.

Step 4: Paint over those areas with your chosen colour, allow to dry, then paint with a second coat.

Step 5: Once the paint has dried, remove all masking tape. Ta-dah! Fill with your favourite plants and herbs for a movable flowerbed.

For an even easier DIY, add one bold pop of colour to your crate.

Pop of Colour

Difficulty rating: Easy peasy

Time: 1 hour

What you’ll need: + Plain crate + Cuprinol Garden Shade in your chosen colour + Sandpaper

Step 1: First, make sure the crate (or box) is clean.

Step 2: Then sand the masked off areas you want to paint with a fine sandpaper, then wipe away dust.

Step 3: Paint all over the area with your chosen colour, allow to dry, then paint with a second coat.

Step 4: Once the paint has dried, you're ready to pop your favourite plants and herbs in your colourful flowerbed.

You could even paint just the inside of the crates for a more subtle splash of colour using some leftover paint.

There are dozens of beautiful colours on offer in Cuprinol’s Garden Shades range, so you can coordinate your woodwork with your planting scheme. Take your pick of the bunch by visiting the Cuprinol Garden Shades page.