Stained and aged this barrel for the living room.$20 bucks for the Barrel and I already had plenty of stain. It was an easy project and my wife loves this as a side table in our living room.
Home Depot has unfinished crates for $9.99 or you can get them at Michael's or Hobby Lobby as well with a 40% coupon.I like the ones at HD better myself...they are a bit more sturdy.