The Bucket Brigade

by Catherine Doherty

Our cottage entryway is a magnet for stuff that doesn’t have a permanent home. Hats, sunglasses, flashlights, sunscreen, keys, and other items always end up somewhere near the door, usually underfoot. After years of staring at the rusty old buckets languishing at the side of our shed, I had an inspiration. Why not use them to create a decorative storage area? The buckets work perfectly to contain that entrance clutter, and could be installed anywhere.

Step 1: Salvage

Look for buckets in your shed and at the dump, re-use centres, garage sales, or antique shops.  

Step 2: Paint 

Scrape off any rust before you paint. Choose the colours and begin by roughly painting the inside of the bucket. For a distressed finish, while the paint is still wet, wipe some off with a rag to expose areas of the metal. Repeat the procedure for the outside of the bucket.

Step 3: Arrange

Once the buckets are dry, lay them out on the floor for a rough idea of how you want them arranged on your wall.

Step 4: Mount

Drill mounting holes in the buckets. Hold the bucket in place and screw through its base into the wall.

Tips

• If you plan on storing heavy items, or mounting the buckets on drywall, use toggle bolts to secure the buckets, or make sure that you screw them into a stud.
• Wooden buckets add a vintage feel to the bucket wall, if you can find them.
• Old kitchen canisters and food tins also work well for smaller items.

Published in the June 2005 issue of Cottage Life magazine.

Copyright © 2005 by Cottage Life. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork, for other than personal use, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden.