I’ve got two months left before I have this baby and already the nesting bug has set in. I’m going through cupboards and drawers in every section of the house – we’ve only lived here for two years, how did we accumulate so much junk? With every closet I go through my project list seems to multiply, adding to an already long project list – all of which I want done before the baby comes. Reality, of course, settles in and I know time is not in my favor to get everything done. So I’m picking a few projects and hope they get done. Steve likes me to finish one project before starting another (evidently, I have a history of starting several projects at once and taking forever to finish them) so before tackling the nursery I had a project (or two because I’m rebellious) to work on. My dining table is nearly complete and to most it looks complete. The finish is curing for a bit before I readdress the final step of the finish, so I’ve mentally crossed off that one in my book. My pantry crates were not nearly as finished so I brought them in from the garage to vacuum off the cobwebs and finally make them functional.
A year ago, my pantry looked like this: 
Amazingly disorganized and messy, I know. And no matter what I did I couldn’t keep that small space organized. At the beginning of this year I bought some can consolidators, matching bins and it started to take shape. For over a year, I had intentions of building crates on rollers to fit perfectly underneath the bottom shelf but somehow the mess didn’t bother me enough to take action as soon as I had hoped. In May I had some money left in my home budget so I bought the wood and started building.
May is quite warm in Arizona and I found myself outside after the kids had gone to bed to avoid the heat, building five custom sized crates.
The base of the crate is mdf that is encased with 1×6 pine boards. I used 2×2 boards in each corner to give something to nail the corners to. The base of the crate was a 1×6 but to add some interest, I used 1×4 boards to complete the crate, nailing into the 2×2 of each corner.
I finished building them just two days before our summer vacation to Idaho so I stacked them in the garage before leaving. By the time I got home it was too blasted hot to work on them. Yet each time I got in my car they mocked me in their unfinished state. Like I said before, I’m dying to start working on the nursery but I knew I had to finish the crates regardless of the heat. So last week I pulled them out and finished them up with several coats of spray paint (Rustoleum paint and primer in one) and utility wheels screwed to the bottom. Saturday’s project required me to clean out the bottom section of the pantry just to make room for them and by the time I rolled the last one in its place I kicked myself for taking so long on such an easy project. 
And in true Kara fashion, although they look finished, they’re not quite there; I’ve still got to figure out a handle. Yes, they’re easily pulled by grabbing the top but they would work better with a handle. I don’t want to spend a fortune because it’s just not worth it to me on a rustic crate that no one really sees but I do want it to be functional. I’m thinking of one of these from Lowes or Home Depot: 
I feel like a little kid running to their parents, “I cleaned my room can I play with my friends now??” or “I finished my crates will you please not roll your eyes when I tell you I’m ripping off the chair rail and painting the nursery??”
It’s going to be a good week!
Rope handles, possibly?
Dang, girl. Great job.
Yep. Love them. I like the rope handle idea. That would be fun and rustic looking! And inexpensive, eh?!
Good thing that I know "to compare" is WRONG (and a joy suck), otherwise I would compare your pantry and building ability to mine and I would be the loser. Great job!! You are an inspiration to all.
I need these! Did you draw up a plan you can send me or did you just wing it?
If only I HAD a pantry, lol! Nice job! (Saw your project in today's "Daily dose of DIY" email newsletter.)
Thanks!
Are there instructions somewhere?
This was one of those projects that I didn't have a formal plan and I just came up with it as I went along. I did add another picture and a little more description to the post in hopes of a little further instruction. Hope this helps!
I need to do this! My pantry looks terrible…thanks for the inspiration. 🙂
Couldn’t you cut pallets in half n put floor in do you think that would work, is there wheels on them?
You could probably do that. I did put wheels on the bottom so they could easily roll in and out.
I put handles on my pantry crates. I purchased a staple gun and rope. This is what I used for the pantry handles. I also used cedar to make crates to store my wools that I use for knitting. I also did the storage crate using rope for the handles.
Thats a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE THIS ,GOING TO TRY THIS.THANKS FOR SHARING.
LOVE THIS IDEA -& WITH WHEELS -THANK YOU
I am also building my pantry. I live in a mobile home and all the walls are covered in paneling. Unfortunately I had a black mold issue from a leak behind a built-in and the whole room plus a half bath had to be gutted. I put up wall board and it’s so much nicer and brighter that I want to do all my walls little by little. That being said, I’m cutting into the wall in my mudroom and putting shelves between the studs. I thought I might make these crates for each shelf level. I’m so excited to start. Thanks for the great idea!
Sounds like you have quite the project ahead of you – my kind of fun! Good luck!
You did a great job and I plan to try this project good job lady and good job for finishing the project that you said you had a hard time finishing projects good job on this one
If you have old leather belts you could cut them into handles and, if not, they are really cheap at second hand stores.
That’s a great idea! Thanks!
Absolutely love it! To the pantry i go. Would you know how to make each board pull out separate? Maybe like 2 drawers in one, 1 drawer in another etc,?
I would like it all the way up andlabeled with chalkboard. You did a fantastic job. Wish they even sold something like this!
Adding drawers would significantly complicate the process. These are a quick and simple build as they are.
How would these work I a pantry the size of mine? It’s about 26″ wide, & about 30″ from floor to just below the bottom shelf. Precious little in the way of space. I can’t make over the pantry; I live in an apartment. Can you help? Thanks!
The great thing about the crates is you can make them exactly the size you need for your pantry. Mine were sized for my specific pantry to maximize the space. I you have a narrow space you could make one tall crate that rolls in and out to hide everything unsightly. Hope that helps. 🙂
The rope handles is a great idea. You could paint the ropes different colors to say what is in each crate by catagory.
Love this idea! I have been trying to figure out what to use for the floor area under the shelves in our walk through pantry. Now I know. Tfs
I was going to say that I would use some leather or suede for the handles. But I like the old belts idea better.