Milk crate furniture

The trend of the moment is to reuse!

In addition to pallets or wood cases furniture, plastic crates can also adapt to different purposes in an alternative decoration, with the advantage of being more resistant and much easier to acquire.

Originally manufactured for transporting goods to shops and department stores, there are many different types of plastic crates manufactured in standard formats that can be found all over the world.

We selected some inspiring examples of creative designers who reuse plastic crates to create dressers, shelves, bookcases, benches and other very unique pieces of furniture.

A perfect example of design and creativity is the Milk crate bench designed by Canadian MADE. Although plastic crates are the heart of this piece, elegant legs in painted wood create an intriguing contrast and cushions can be upholstered in various tissue types, adapting to any type of decor.

The same designers also created this very unique piece of lighting which combines plastic crates with a classic chandelier.

For those who appreciate versatility, Combocolab launched a campaign on  Kickstarter to produce the Xtool, a stackable bench that allows a relaxed use while maintaining the crate’s storage qualities. Adding a wooden top and legs, this stool is durable, versatile, fun and it can be used in various types of environments, indoors or outdoors.

Lofi-Studio has developed the storage system One for All that reinterprets the plastic crates where versatility of shapes and colours are make the most of this functional piece, as drawers integrated into a lightweight iron structure, to keep clothes, toys or kitchenware.

The designer Naty Moskovich developed the BOX project taking advantage of the crates versatility by combining them with various accessories to define a modular system with objects of various sizes and different kinds of use.

The Madrilenians Merry created the PANRICO / ONE OFF by using wooden tops and legs to turn common crates into multifunctional furniture, combining simplicity and functionality.

The designer Segev Moisa created the Crate Stool inspired in traditional stools from Middle East, simply by weaving one side with natural fibers.

Celebrating 60 years of publishing, the magazine Casa e Jardim has launched a video which shows how simple it is to make a table inspired by the '50s, with a plastic crate, wooden top and legs, which can also be used as pet bed.

In addition to being affordable and ecological furniture alternatives, these pieces present several advantages such as mobility, as they are lightweight and easy to handle, and versatility, as modules which allow adapting their size, shape and height to the placement and type of use you wish.