DIY Seed Tray Made From Furring Strips
Have you ever admired something from afar? You know — one of those pieces you see in someone else’s home and think, “One day, I’ll find one of those, I'll scoop it right up, and life will be grand.”
For me, that piece was an antique seed tray. A blogger friend had one, and every season she styled it so beautifully that I found myself swooning over it from a distance. But no matter how many antiquing adventures my husband and I went on, I never stumbled across one.
So what do we do when we can’t find the piece we’ve been longing for?
We make it.
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with furring strips, this is one of my favorite unexpected answers…
How Furring Strips Became The Perfect DIY
During the stay‑at‑home days of 2020, I ordered a bundle of furring strips from our local Lowes for a completely different project. They were inexpensive, and I thought they’d be perfect.
Well… when I picked them up, they were crooked, knotty, and not the charming kind of knotty I usually fall for. Total letdown. So into the garage they went — tucked away waiting for their purpose.
Months passed. Then years. Until one day, while rummaging around, I spotted them again.
I literally said out loud, “What on earth will you ever become?” And the next morning — BINGO. An antique‑inspired seed tray came to mind. That was it.
Of course, I enlisted my shy guy (who gets dragged into all my shenanigans) and Bentley, who always supervises with great enthusiasm to help me bring my vision to life.
Do It Over Designers Blog Hop
This furring strip project is part of the Do It Over Designers Blog Hop where Ann, our host, gets us together every other month to share our creations. This month’s theme is “In the Garden.”
Since most of you know I have two black thumbs, I thought a furring strip seed tray would be the perfect way to gather hydrangeas and garden cuttings from our front flower beds. Out back? I only have a rock garden.
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| Our furry supervisor is always providing his two cents, especially where shade can be found |
Materials You’ll Need for This DIY Seed Tray
Pack of furring strips
Miter saw (or your saw of choice)
Measuring tape
Chip brush
Throw‑away towel
How I Built a DIY Seed Tray From Furring Strips
1. Prep Your Wood
Lay out your furring strips and decide on your tray size. We chose 30 inches long and 13 inches wide (about nine strips deep).
2. Cut Your Pieces
Cut the long boards to 30 inches.
Cut two shorter boards to 13 inches — these will hold the base together.
3. Build the Tray Base
Lay the 30‑inch strips side by side.
Place two 13‑inch boards perpendicular across them.
Clamp everything so it stays aligned.
Staple until secure.
4. Create the Tray Sides
Cut four more 30 1/2‑inch pieces and four more 13 1/2‑inch pieces.
Cut eight 3‑inch pieces to reinforce the sides.
Attach the 3‑inch pieces to the two 13 1/2‑inch boards to form the short sides.
Attach two more 3‑inch pieces to the 30 1/2‑inch boards to form the long sides.
Staple all sides onto the base one at a time to create a tray.
Note: We cut the side pieces an extra ½ inch longer so they could wrap around the bottom panel and form a true rectangular box. Furring strips aren’t thick, so that little overlap makes everything fit together nicely.
5. Add the Finish
Brush on antiquing wax and wipe it back for that soft, aged look.
6. Style Your New Seed Tray
Hydrangeas, greenery, candles, seasonal décor — this tray can do it all.
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| This was our first attempt at securing the base of the furring strip seed tray |
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| The furring strips were not tight |
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| We pulled out clamps to hold the furring strips together while we stapled the supports |
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| The clamps worked great keeping the base tight while we added the support pieces |
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| The sides required adding half inch to the lengths to create a rectangular box |
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| Measuring out supports for the furring strip seed tray |
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| We are getting there! |
A Quick Note About Furring Strips
One thing I learned while making this tray is that furring strips are best for decorative projects. They're lightweight and inexpensive, but not something I'd trust for heavy lifting. I've always enjoyed finding creative ways to use budget-friendly materials. In our kitchen remodel, I even turned ordinary paint sticks into chevron cabinet panels that still make me smile every time I walk into the room.
What do Do With Furring Strips: Lightweight DIY Project Ideas
Once I started looking at those forgotten boards differently, I realized there are quite a few decorative projects that would work well with furring strips.
Here are some realistic and safe ideas:
- Seasonal display trays for dried flowers, greenery, or candles
- Rustic picture frames
- Garden harvest trays
- Seasonal display boxes
- Lightweight wall décor
- Small organizers
The tray reminded me a little of the old cookie tin I turned into storage a while back. I seem to have a habit of turning ordinary things into vintage-inspired organizers around here.
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How I Styled My DIY Antique Seed Tray
Once the tray was finished, I was smitten. We originally planned to use it on our dining table, but we weren’t sure what to place inside. When Mom showed up with armloads of dried hydrangeas, I knew exactly where they were going. If you've never dried hydrangeas before, I shared my method here.
Lightweight, botanical, nostalgic — exactly the cottage-meets-rustic look I love.
I’ve considered adding a vintage-style farm name to the side for extra charm, but honestly, I also love it just as it is.
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| Add faux berries to dried flowers for a fuller flower arrangement |
A Little Note Before You Go
Did you think when I mentioned furring strips that we’d end up here — with a vintage‑inspired seed tray? I love a little mystery in my DIYs. It keeps us all on our toes. Funny how a pile of crooked little boards sitting in the garage for years somehow turned into one of my favorite cottage-style projects.
If you decide to make one, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
Now, let's see what my friends have been up to. The links below will take you directly to their projects this month. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
That is lovely, Cara! The finish is perfect and we have tons of those strips around here, my husband is constantly building, so I appreciate the upcycle ideas! Happy Gardening!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kim. I thought I could use them for a finished look on a door, and I quickly found that was not going to be the case. Some of the strips/boards were so crooked I had to just put them aside for another day. I wasn't expecting that, but it all worked out in the end. I know my version of a seed tray is way cheaper than one I would find in an antique store.
DeleteConfession time - I've just had to look up what a furring strip is and what it's normally used for! Every day is a school day.
ReplyDeleteI love your faux vintage seed tray, it's turned out perfectly. I imagine that now you've made one you'll probably find a vintage one on your next outing! That's normally how it works, isn't it? I won't matter if you do though because then you'll just have 2 :-D
You are so right Julie, every day is a school day for me too! I am so glad this idea popped into my mind, I would have been disappointed to never use them and let them collect dust in the garage for more years. I just had to think on it for a bit, some days I do more thinking than others. I still think I am going to add a stenciled farm name to the side for more charm.
DeleteCara, your seed tray has a beautiful rustic charm to it! You are definitely an accomplished craftsman! I know you are very proud of making this!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you Gail. I have a lot of ideas floating around this brain of mine. My husband doesn't turn me totally loose with the power tools just yet. He is always worried what he may come home to, I tend to be accident prone. I do get a kick out of seeing those ideas come to fruition, and enjoy thinking, we made this!
DeleteThose hydrangeas are perfect for your tray; just gorgeous Cara! I have hydrangeas but never thought to dry them - I have to check out your post! Funny that we both have 'shy guys' helping us out. What would we do without them?
ReplyDeleteThank you Sara, I am so glad we made this. Ha! Our shy guys sure do help us a lot with our mind boggling projects, don't they. :)
DeleteWow, I never would have imagined furring strips being so beautiful! I love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you Tania, I am so glad you liked it. I am keeping it out on our dining room table year round - and I think hydrangeas can be out all year too.
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous. And I also love ❤️ your furry supervisor.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Ha! He is always on the scene. Bentley likes to be in the thick of everything that happens here, and keeps a watchful eye on each and every project. You can typically find him right under foot when you go to turn around.
DeleteI admire your carpentry skills! This turned out so cute and what a versatile piece, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you Patti. My husband is teaching me how to do more these days. I love that, but I am not a fan when I mess up that's for sure.
DeleteVery clever, Cara. I'm a gardener and I've never seen a seed tray like this one. It's beautiful and a great way to use those furring strips that were tucked away in the garage!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann. Oh, I have been in love with a seed tray like this one for years. I think the blogger whose seed tray I loved had a name of a farm printed on the side. We thought about adding my husband's family farm to the side of it. It is defunct now, but we do love having those memories around us.
DeleteGreat project, it turned out really great. I had never heard of a furring strip so thanks for the education. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you Anita. Those furring strips... I learned more about them too on this project, I only knew about their use for lattice walls around gardens. Turns out they use them in walls too. I thought for sure they would be perfect for a finish project I had in mind, I had no idea they would be so crooked. I am glad we were able to make the vision come to life with them though.
DeleteGreat idea! This is very cute!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan! It made me happy to get those out of the garage and create something I have been wanting anyway.
DeleteGreat post. I'm glad you pointed out that better wood might be necessary.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanne! Those furring strips are not the strongest in holding heavy items, but for my hydrangea floral arrangement it does just fine. I had to move it the other day, and I can easily pick it up without needing to remove the flowers. I have also used heavier decor in it, you just cannot pick it up with those items inside. I not know furring strips weren't exactly the strongest wood until after the tray was assembled. I thought wood is wood, but not so in this case. :)
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