Decoupage is just a delightfully fancy term for simple glue and paper decoration! To give new life to old wooden crates (and to cover up any splinters or staples to protect little hands) all we did here was a little decoupage.
You just mix up some wallpaper paste per the instructions (or use non toxic glue watered down 2:1 with water if kids are involved in the craft), chop up some colourful magazine pages or wrapping paper into equal size squares and glue them onto the crate.
Just be careful to ensure you cover up any staples and jagged splinters from the wood with the glued on paper layers so kids wont injure themselves.
I sealed the decoration with some clear varnish so it’d be waterproof against kiddie spills.
Our colorful crates now sit pretty in the play room and keep toys and books tidy!