Night Light in the Entryway

4 Materials
$15
20 Minutes
Easy

When I took down the garland, I realized how much I was going to miss that light at night without flipping a switch. My husband brought home this antique milk crate and I decided I wanted it in our entryway, but I was unsure what I was going to do with it.

He knows how much I love using items for different uses and thought I could do something with it. I was stumped for a few days and thought about it.

I knew it definitely needed a good cleaning.

I cleaned it with a microfiber towel and a little bit of Murphy's oil soap. Then I rubbed in cutting board oil I purchased from Amazon to get some oil back into the wood. As you can see it was pretty dried out.

The wood grain started to look a little brighter and I felt like the life was starting to come back to it.

Since I missed the lights from the garland in the entry, I decided to put the strand of lights inside the crate. I plugged it in and loved the light, but it needed something else so I went through my stash...

I found another garland not quite as large as the one that was down our steps I purchased last year after Christmas for $5.00 from Walmart. I wound it into a tight circle.

Then placed it down inside the crate on top of the string of lights. I knew it still needed something though. I tried a few different things (a flower arrangement I had previously made in a flower bucket, but it looked awkward.) I kept working with it and trying different things. Don't be afraid of trying something new. I keep working with items and sometimes I think on it for a few days. I am not afraid of making mistakes, I have gotten some really good ideas making mistakes! LOL

I had this tree I purchased last year from Target for $5.00. Since covid hit, I never made it out this year to see the after Christmas sales which makes me so sad, but I just keep working with what I have around the house.

I am not a designer (lol, I wish!), I have a day job I work everyday. I started a blog in November because covid kind of had me down like so many others. I have been a member of Hometalk for a while... and I had a friend who suggested I get out there and share some of my ideas with others because according to her, I can stretch a dollar... so here I am. Hoping to lift some spirits and stay inspired to continue to work on our home.

What do you think? It will hold me through for the winter I think. I will have to come up with something else for spring. I enjoy decorating, it is my way to decompress after my day job. If I can help just one person get inspired then I think it has been a pretty good day.

Suggested materials:
  • Milk crate   (Antique)
  • String Lights   (Big Lots)
  • Garland   (Walmart)
See all materials
Vintage Style Gal
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3 of 7 comments
  • Mary Davis Patterson Mary Davis Patterson on Jan 11, 2021

    I will definitely try this. Actually use a shorter one underneath for shoe exchange storage.

  • Maria Maria on Jan 17, 2021

    Remove the small Christmas tree and lay it on its’ side inside the crate. Then decorate tree with another string of tiny white lights.

    voila: a crate full of light and pine branches!

    For fun poke in some bunches of red berries, birds and hearts!

    • Vintage Style Gal Vintage Style Gal on Jan 18, 2021

      Thank you for this suggestion, I love birds! I will have to see what I can find. Thank you for you comment.

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