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About the smallest, cheapest real project on the site: a little open crate built from two 1x4 end pieces with wood lath — the thin, rough strips sold in bundles for next to nothing — nailed across to form the shelf and sides. Stack a few, hang them, or set them on a counter for spices or small plants.
There's almost nothing to it, but two things make it look intentional rather than thrown together. Space the lath evenly, because uneven gaps are the only thing the eye can catch on a piece this simple. And paint it — a couple of coats of satin turns rough lath from a scrap look into a finished one. A brad nailer helps, but glue and a hammer with 1-1/4" nails do the job fine at this scale.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1x4, 2 ftThe two crate ends. | 2 foot |
| Wood lath sticks, 48"Thin lath, roughly 1/4" x 1-1/2". | 3 each |
| Finish nails, 1-1/4" | 30 each |
| Wood glue | 2 oz |
| PaintSatin finish; two coats. | 1 each |
Overall cost: $. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Crate ends1x4 | 2 | 3/4" × 3 1/2" × 12" |
| Lath slatsWood lath | 10 | 1/4" × 1 1/2" × 13 1/2" |
Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
This is the trickiest part if you don't have a nailer: glue and nail the lath across the back of the two 1x4 end pieces, spacing the slats evenly. Even spacing is the whole game on a piece this plain — an uneven gap is the only flaw the eye will find.
Add the lath across the ends to close the crate, and it's built. Sand off any splinters and paint — two coats of a satin color make cheap lath look deliberate. These stack and hang nicely once dry.
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