Folding crates are a storage solution made from hard plastic that fold flat when not in use. They suit pretty much any room — from the nursery to the kitchen and utility room — and can be stacked once unfolded. The Aykasa model comes in a wide spectrum of colours and is dishwasher-safe. Choose the size and colour to suit the room and your needs, and you'll get order without sacrificing style.
There's a certain satisfaction in storage that both works and looks good. Folding crates strike that balance: they solve a real problem — too much clutter, too little space — without your home ending up looking like a storeroom. When the crate isn't in use, it folds flat in a matter of seconds. When you need it again, it snaps into place. It's the kind of practical detail that makes a difference in everyday life, especially if you live in a flat with limited storage space.
What exactly are folding crates?
A folding crate is a hard plastic box with side walls that can be folded down so the crate takes up minimal space when not in active use. The concept is well known from logistics and industry, but in recent years it's made its way into private homes — not least because manufacturers have realised that people are happy to pay a little extra for a crate in a colour they actually want to look at.
The basic principle is simple: the sides are hinged to the base and can be folded up and locked in a vertical position, or folded down to lie flat. The mechanism needs no tools and no instructions — it's intuitive the first time you try it.
What sets a folding crate apart from an ordinary box?
A rigid plastic box takes up the same space whether it's full or empty. A folding crate, on the other hand, can be collapsed down to 5-6 cm in height when folded. This means you can have ten crates ready to go in a cupboard or under a bed without them actually taking up any space. When you need extra storage — for a house move, a change of season, or just a temporary project — you fold them up and put them to use.
Tip: Buy a couple of extra folding crates in the same colour as your existing ones — they can be used for seasonal storage (Christmas decorations, summer clothes) and take up almost no space in the cupboard the rest of the year, since they simply fold flat.
Materials, dimensions and practical details
Aykasa folding crates, among the most widely used in the category, are made from polypropylene (PP) — a thermoplastic that's chemical-resistant, impact-resistant and food-safe. It's the same type of plastic found in many kitchen utensils and food packaging. The material is BPA-free and withstands temperatures of up to around 100°C, which is why the crates can go in the dishwasher.
Sizes
Aykasa is mainly available in two sizes:
| Model | External dimensions (L × W × H) | Internal depth (folded down) | Load capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | approx. 37 × 27 × 17 cm | approx. 5 cm | Up to 15 kg |
| Standard | approx. 57 × 37 × 22 cm | approx. 6 cm | Up to 30 kg |
The sides are perforated with a grid pattern — this reduces weight and allows air circulation, which is handy in a kitchen or utility room context, but it means the crate isn't watertight. They work well in damp environments or for cleaning tasks, but they're not suitable for storing liquid directly.
The colour range spans from neutral white and black to bold shades like ochre, terracotta, cobalt blue and olive green. It's the kind of palette that lets you use the crates as a deliberate design choice rather than a necessary aesthetic compromise. You can see the full range of Aykasa folding crates and finding the colour that suits your room.
For the nursery
The children's room is probably the room in the home with the greatest storage needs relative to its size. Toys, books, drawing supplies, clothes waiting to be folded — it piles up at a rate proportional to the child's enthusiasm for having it all out at once.
Folding crates work well here for several reasons. Firstly, they're sturdy enough to cope with everyday handling, which isn't always the most delicate. Secondly, they're light enough that a child from around 3-4 years old can move and use them themselves. Thirdly, the colours are an argument in themselves — it's easier to motivate a child to tidy up when the crate is in a colour the child has chosen themselves.
Practical organising in the children's room
A simple strategy is to assign one crate colour per category: green for cars and trains, yellow for LEGO, red for books. This creates a system that's visually intuitive enough for even younger children to figure out without a verbal instruction every time. The crates can be stacked two high once filled — making use of vertical space without requiring a special shelving system.
If you want to combine the storage with more decorative styling in the children's room, decorative elements in the same colour palette can tie the room's look together.
For the kitchen
The kitchen is another obvious spot for folding crates, but here the choice is more about function than aesthetics. The first argument is the dishwasher-safety mentioned earlier — polypropylene withstands most dishwasher programmes without warping or leaching colour. This makes it easy to keep the crates clean, even when they're used for fruit and veg, loose spices or other foodstuffs.
Practical uses
- Fruit and veg: The perforated grid pattern ensures air circulation, so the fruit stays fresher than in a closed bowl or bag.
- Pantry organising: The standard size fits most kitchen cupboards and can be pulled out like a drawer, giving access to the contents from behind.
- Delivery: For markets, allotments or just shopping, a foldable crate is handy — it takes up no space in your bag until you need it.
- Kitchen utensils: Pot lids, spare plates and rarely used equipment can be gathered in a crate under a bench or on a shelf.
If you combine the folding crates with other kitchen equipment in consistent colours, even a functional room can get a cohesive look. See, for example, kitchen products that match a colour-conscious line.
Elsewhere in the home
The office, the bathroom, the hallway and the utility room — folding crates are essentially room-agnostic. That's one of their strengths: the same solution can be used everywhere, and because they come in both neutral and bold colours, you can adapt them to the character of the room.
The home office
Cables, batteries, spare paper, paper clips — the home office accumulates odds and ends that would otherwise end up in a messy pile. The mini size is ideal here: small enough to sit on a desk or shelf, big enough to hold the loose bits.
The hallway
A folding crate in the hallway can gather gloves, hats and scarves in winter and be swapped for a crate for sandals and beach bags in summer. Because the crates take up minimal space when folded down, you can have both on hand without them taking up room. Combine with hallway hooks for a room that handles the everyday coming and going.
Utility room and storage room
This is the standard size that usually makes the most sense. Cleaning products, extra toilet roll, seasonal gear — it can all be organised in boxes that stack and can be labelled. Because the boxes aren't waterproof, you'll want to use them for dry contents, but that covers the vast majority of utility room needs.
If you'd like a cohesive look in your storage room, you can complement it with further storage solutions in the same colour tone.
How to choose the right folding crate
The choice between mini and standard mainly comes down to what needs to go in the box and how much space you have available on the shelf or floor. But there are a few other things worth considering:
Colour as a system vs. colour as decoration
You can use colour purely for decoration — pick one colour that suits the room's palette and stick with it consistently. Or you can use colour as an organisational system: one colour per category, room or user. Both approaches work; it's about what suits the way you think.
Number of boxes
It's tempting to start with one or two and see if the concept works. In practice, folding boxes are the kind of product that works best as a system — three to five boxes in the same size that can be stacked and moved around as a unit. Individually, they're handy; together, they're a storage structure.
Combine with other storage
Folding boxes aren't a solution to everything. They don't replace cupboard space, shelves or specialised storage solutions. But they're a great complement — particularly for categories of items that don't have a natural home, or for temporary storage that requires flexibility. If you'd like to complement your home with other colourful decor in the same spirit, colourful rugs and candlesticks are obvious ways to carry a cohesive palette through your rooms.
Frequently asked questions
Are folding boxes dishwasher safe?
Yes — the boxes are made from polypropylene (PP), which is dishwasher safe on normal cycles. Avoid the hottest drying programmes above 70°C, as high drying heat could theoretically affect the plastic over time. Handwashing with warm water works fine too, of course, and is gentle on the colour.
Can the folding boxes be stacked on top of each other?
Yes, they're designed for stacking. In the folded-out position, the base and top edge sit stably, so you can stack two to three filled boxes without any problems. The standard model holds up to 30 kg, but in practice, stacking stability is the limiting factor rather than load capacity alone.
How thin are the boxes when folded down?
The mini model is approx. 5 cm tall when folded down; the standard model approx. 6 cm. That's roughly the thickness of a thick book. This means you can store around ten folded boxes in a stack no taller than approx. 60 cm — under a bed, on a shelf, or in a cupboard lid.
Is the plastic material food safe?
Polypropylene is approved for food contact and is BPA-free. The boxes can happily be used for fruit, vegetables, bread and other dry or semi-moist foods. They're not intended for direct storage of liquid contents, as the sides have a perforated grid pattern.
What's the difference between the mini and standard size?
Mini (approx. 37 × 27 × 17 cm) is ideal for desks, the bathroom and corners with limited space. Standard (approx. 57 × 37 × 22 cm) suits larger categories such as toys, kitchen equipment and seasonal clothing. Both sizes can be stacked, and they don't nest directly inside each other, as the dimensions don't scale proportionally.
Can folding boxes be used outdoors?
Polypropylene is UV-stable to a limited degree, but prolonged direct sunlight will fade the colour over time. For temporary outdoor use — on the terrace in summer, for transport — they work fine. For permanent outdoor storage, they're not ideal, as UV degradation will alter the plastic's properties over time.
Summary
Folding boxes are one of the few storage products that actually solve two problems at once: they organise what you have too much of, and they take up no space at all when you're not using them. The polypropylene construction makes them durable, dishwasher safe and food safe. The choice of colour — from neutral to bold — means you can use them as a deliberate design choice rather than an emergency fix. Whether it's the chaos of toys in the kids' room, loose fruit in the kitchen, or cleaning products in the utility room, the solution is the same: fold out, fill up, and get organised.
Explore our range of Aykasa folding crates in all sizes and colours — or see our whole range of storage solutionsfor the home.
