DIY Wine Crate Window Boxes

Repurpose empty wine crates for one-of-a-kind window boxes. With just a few materials and a couple of hours you can transform your windows.

By: Sam Henderson

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Shop This Look

Photo By: Photo by Sam Henderson

Window Dressing

Wake up your windows with these simple window boxes.

Gather Materials

You will need: tape measure/ wine crates (visit your local wine shop)/ razor blade (for scraping labels)/ clamps/ drill and drill bit/ 1 1/4" bolts and nuts (quantity determined by size of window box)/ washers/ screwdriver/ pliers/ L-brackets (optional for hanging on a sill)/ plastic liner (optional for more permanent applications)/ soil/ plants/ stain and/or sealant or paint as desired.

Clean Up Crates

Remove any labels from the outside of the crate. Use pliers to remove any leftover nails from the top of the crate. Note: The number of crates will be determined by the width of your window box. They come in a variety of lengths, but the majority of them are around 18" long. Measure your window first and be sure to take the tape measure to the wine shop. Your boxes should be as wide as your window and up to a 6 inches wider allowing for a 3 inch overhang on each side.

Drill Holes for Attaching Crates

Clamp the ends of the crates together. This is a good time to hide any printing directly on the box if you wish. Just press printed end to printed end. Drill a hole at the top center, bottom center, and each side (about halfway down) through the ends of both crates.

Attach Crates With Nuts and Bolts

Insert a washer and bolt through one side of the joined ends and add a nut to the opposite side. Repeat for all drilled holes and tighten with screwdriver and pliers.

Preparing Outside of Crates

Whether you are staining and/or varnishing or painting your boxes, be sure to give them a light sanding first. Take a little extra time to sand away any remaining printing, if desired.

Prepare to Hang Window Box

The method for hanging the window box will vary depending on the type of windows. If your windows are flush to the home, you can drill a screw right through the box and into the exterior wall or trim. If the exterior is stone or masonry, you may need to first drill a hole with a masonry bit. If your window has a sill, you can attach the boxes with L-brackets. Attach the bracket to the inside of the window box first by drilling holes and adding bolts and nuts. Tighten with screwdriver and pliers. Attach the top part of the bracket to the sill with screws (pre-drill with masonry bit as needed for brick or stone).

Finish Outside of Crates

Apply stain and/or varnish or paint as desired. At minimum, weather resistant varnish is recommended. Allow to dry as directed by finish manufacturer.

Add Plants and Finishing Touches

If you will be changing out the plant life seasonally, add them to the box in their existing containers. If you are planning a more permanent solution, line the box first with plastic liner. Add two inches of gravel for drainage and then soil. Add plants to soil and fill in where needed.

Bring Your Windows to Life

Add some fresh, fun color to your windows with this simple DIY project.

DIY Wine Crate Window Boxes

Related To:

Shop This Look

Window Dressing

Gather Materials

Clean Up Crates

Drill Holes for Attaching Crates

Attach Crates With Nuts and Bolts

Preparing Outside of Crates

Prepare to Hang Window Box

Finish Outside of Crates

Add Plants and Finishing Touches

Bring Your Windows to Life

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