DIY Rustic Wall Storage Bins
Add storage to your entryway, mudroom, or closet with these rustic wood wall storage bins, built from just 3 boards using a jigsaw, hammer, and nails.
For more small-space storage solutions: build storage between the studs, a tall narrow shoe cubby shelf, or a folding desk with storage.
Speaking of creating storage… for a while now I have been talking to my husband about building a storage bin for the back of our entry closet door. Something that I can organize baby socks, shoes and hats in… not to mention all the other randoms that we need to keep in the front closet.
(I am SO sick of running up stairs to my girls rooms for socks, since neither of them will leave socks on to save their laundry drowning mother’s life.)
So, I decided to keep all their shoes and socks downstairs in the front closet. But I have only had an old Easter shoe basket to put both girls shoes and sock in… needless to say it has been bugging me.
I have seen organizer’s like this, but while it is functional, it is not exactly beautiful, and I can’t help it, I have a thing for function and beauty…
So I started looking for inspiration to check against the ideas that were growing in my brain. I knew I wanted the bins to not just be square, I wanted an angled bin to add some interest… and when I saw this and it totally was what I was thinking of… almost, I knew it was the right way to go.
I also loved this because the cabinet below was a knock of of a chicken coop nests.. and we love chickens! (sorry no sources for the images I found them a while ago, and can’t remember where)
And here is what we came up with:
Okay, so I know I said I was going to put it on the back of the door, and I had planned on it, but then, I loved it to much to not see it more often, so it took the place of my rustic art in the entry.
How to Build Wall Storage Bins
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These steps and measurements are the ones that I used. These may be modified slightly depending on your needs and wants.
Time Required: Half a day
- Prepping stain mixture: 15 min. ( 24 hours before staining)
- Cutting and Sanding: 2 hrs.
- Staining: 20 min.
- Assembly: 30 min.
- Painting Stencil: 20 min.
- Hang in place: 10 min.
Supplies Needed:
- (3) Pine Board @ 1 x 6 x 10, (actual size, 3/4” x 5 1\2” x 10’, $9.57 each
- for (2) sides and (6) fronts
- (2) Pine Board @ 1 x 4 x 10, (actual size, 3/4” x 3 1\2” x 10’, $10.72 each
- for (6) bottom of bins and (1) top
- Jig Saw or hand saw
- Hammer
- (26) Nails 1 1\4” (found in the garage)
- Sanding block or electric sander
- 100 or 120 grit sand paper
- Pencil
- Straight edge (for laying out the pattern to be cut
- Measuring tape
- Framing triangle (optional, but very useful)
- Wood stain recipe (tutorial here)
- Fine steel wool
- Vinegar
- Glass jar
- Black Tea
- Bowl for black tea
- Foam brush
- Rag
Step-by-Step Wall Storage Bins Tutorial
Step 1: Cut Pieces
Cut List:
(Quantity) Length x Width x Thickness
- Top: (1) 14 1\2” x 3 1\2” x 3\4”
- Sides: (2) 66” x 5 1\2” x 3\4”
- Fronts: (6) 16” x 5 1\2” x 3\4”
- Bottoms: (6) 14 1\2” x 3 1\2” x 3\4”
- Back Supports: (2) 14 1\2” x 5 1\2” x 3\4”
Step 2: Layout pattern on (2) sides.
Divide the sides with a mark on the front at 11” all the way up the front of the board.
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- draw a faint line across the board using your triangle.
- mark on the line 3 1\2” from the back of the side on the line just drawn.
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- on the front edge of the side, draw a mark 5 1\8” above the 11” line.
- Draw a line using a straight edge connecting the 3 1\2” mark to the 5 1\8” mark. (This line should be about 5 1\2” long for the front piece to be nailed to.
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- Draw another line from the 5 1\8” mark back to the 3 1\2” mark above on the next line.
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- This completes the pattern to be cut.
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- Do some test cuts to get familiar with cutting with the jig saw. It’s ease to get the angled cuts if you are not careful.
- Cut out pattern with jig saw
- Be sure to keep the blade straight at all times.
- Cut out the little triangular pieces keeping the blade on the cut side of the line.
- Clamp sides together and sand the cut edges flat, for the front pieces to be nailed to and for the exposed edges to look nicer.
- Sand off or erase pence marks and do any last sanding touchups.
- Test how everything fits together
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- Distress the cut pieces of wood
- Apply on layer of tea stain, and allow to dry. You won’t notice much of a difference (maybe you should, but I didn’t)
- Stain the wood using the homemade mixture of vinegar and steel wool (that has been sitting for 24 hours), see the tutorial here, before assembling.
- Assemble the minions cut pieces with nails.
- Nail the sides to the top and bottom pieces with two nails on each side (using your triangle as a guide to keep it square. We used nails with heads to add another detail.
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- Nail the back supports to the sides. One at the back top of the top bin and one on the back top of the bottom bin.
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- Nail the fronts to the angled 5 1\2” sides. Again we used small nails with heads so that you would see the nails on purpose to add a tiny bit more rustic detail. At first we only had two nails, but decided to add a third…
- We chose to stencil some numbers on (this is optional…) To create a cheap stencil, I printed the numbers I needed in the right size. Then we decided where we wanted breaks, and I made a few tweaks to the lettering.
- Tape the letters in place. Then with a ball point pen, Justin trace the outline of each number onto the wood. Because the wood is soft, the pressure through the paper will leave a small mark or groove to follow when painting but that isn’t really visible once painted.
- Dry brush the letters on (Justin tested it out on the back… no one will ever know! (oh shoot I guess I just told you… and showed you a picture!)
Finally, hang it on the wall (we just drilled it right through the back support boards right into a stud. And fill it up with what ever you want. I like things to be functional, so while the stuff inside might not be beautiful we use it ALL the time… baby sweaters, baby shoes, socks, gloves, scarves and hats. And of course you can change it out for different seasons.
Lydia came over while I was taking pictures. I tried to get her to look through the bins but the front door was open. I asked her to get some shoes… so she bent down to get her shoes… It was cute!
Reader Build: Farmhouse Wall Storage Bins
More DIY storage for your entryway and beyond:
- Entry Table Console with Storage Cubbies
- Cabinet Door Storage Bin Plans
- Tall Narrow Shoe Cubby Shelf
- Mudroom Corner Bench and Shelf
- Wall Coat Rack with Hidden Storage
Published Feb 28 2012 // Updated Jan 28 2021
Cassity Kmetzsch started Remodelaholic after graduating from Utah State University with a degree in Interior Design. Remodelaholic is the place to share her love for knocking out walls, and building everything back up again to not only add function but beauty to her home. Together with her husband Justin, they have remodeled 6 homes and are working on a seventh. She is a mother of four amazing girls. Making a house a home is her favorite hobby.
It looks awesome, I love the innovative design and the blond stain!
Very cool!!! I pinned it!
This is pretty much the coolest thing ever! I’m pinning it so I can force my husband to make one! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Just bounced over from Handy Man, Crafty Woman and this is a great idea! Thanks for the very good instructions!
I could totally use one of these bad boys right now! Thanks for sharing 🙂
LOVE LOVE LOVE this….and thanks for the fabulous tutorial!
These are soooo fabulous Cassity!! I love the organization – but the rustic look with the numbers really looks amazing!! Thanks for the tutorial too! 🙂
Forgot to tell you I featured you this week!! 🙂 https://www.flamingotoes.com/2012/03/crush-of-the-week-think-pink-features-42/
Yea! Thank you what a fun surprise!
That is a fantastic bin idea!!! Would love to have you come link-up at Finished it Friday! Have a fabulous weekend! ~Kimberlee, The Spunky Diva
Fabulous Its so nice to store. Love wood & this is what kind of wood?? Handy man I’ll give you chance to do me one,hahaha
Hey Susan, it is just regular pine! I think the total cost for wood was around $20 Bucks!
What a great idea! And super cute too!
Super cool! what a clever way to organize and look amazing all at the same time! thank you for linking up to Uncommon! Bonnie 🙂
Cassity, this is honestly amazing! I love the natural wood feel and all the storage that is possible with this shelving unit! I featured your projects yesterday on Sew Woodsy!
Looks awesome!
Great project! I really like the way it turned out. Thank you so much for linking up to Fabulous Friday at Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust. You are invited back again next week.
Warmly, Michelle
This is such a brilliant use of space, and what a great tutorial, too! Thanks so much for linking up to my party this week. You’ve been featured in my Saturday 7 Spotlight! https://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/03/saturday-seven-spotlight_17.html
I am not sure if I have done something wrong, but I think you need 6-14 1/2″ x 3 1/2 x 3/4″ for the drawer bottoms??
Yes! I just fixed that typo! Sorry! Thanks for letting me know!
Cassity
I found this on Pinterest. This looks awesome and is perfect for shoe/mittens/hats, etc. by the door. Thanks for the great idea and tutorial.
Super cute!! And I love your wall color. We’re painting my daughter’s room and I’m looking for a really subtle blue/aqua color. What is the name or your paint? Thanks.
Danielle, I got it quite a few years ago (2009) from Walmart, it is called Fortress Grey 95362, it is from the ColorPlace Formula book… Not sure if they still have it… Good Luck!
LOVE this idea so much! I am going to get wood to build one today, I will let you know how it turns out.
Perfect project to calm my nerves about that fact that Fall is fast approaching with all it’s hats and mitten mayhem.
Thanks so much for sharing.
Cheers,
Zoe
I hope you will send me pictures!