The ancient art of coopering, often manifested in the form of barrel making, goes back thousands of years. Barrels were used by the Romans and the Gauls to store and ship materials. These wooden staved vessels, with flat ends, and bound together by metal hoops, were important for food and water storage, among other commodities. These days, goods are transported in different ways but there’s still an undeniable charm to the quaint form of a small wooden barrel. Placed in your home or garden, it can be a handsome addition and might even be put to good use. Here are some ideas on just what you can use one for.

Winemaking is a tradition that dates back even further than coopering. There is evidence of wine being made around 6000 BC in parts of modern-day Georgia, Iran, Greece and China. Throughout history, since the innovation of coopering, the juice of crushed grapes has been left in wooden (usually oak) barrels to age and ferment. California Chardonnay varietals in particular have a tendency to be “okay,” or flavored by the barrel in which they were aged. Today, while many wines are now aged in metal barrels, wooden barrels are still widely used. A small wine barrel at home can be the stepping off point for your new winemaking hobby. Just make sure you get one that’s certified watertight. For those motivated enough to learn, there are plenty of at-home winemaking and beer brewing kits and materials available to buy.

In addition to wine, you can use a well-sealed barrel for the storage of other liquids, like molasses, spirits, vinegar and more. Many farmhouses have what is called a rain barrel for the storing of rainwater. In the past, people also kept emergency drinking water in barrels during droughts and water shortages. These can still be useful reserves today for those people in arid climates or with a questionably clean water source.

For those barrels that are not watertight, there are still plenty of things that can be kept inside. Grains, vegetables and fruits are popular choices for dry goods storage, and a small wooden barrel has infinitely more charm placed on a counter than, say, a Tupperware container. You can also store your pet’s food in a small wooden barrel. Of all the woods, cedar is especially good for storing dry food products because of its natural ability to repel insects, like moths and fleas, with the use of its tannins.

A small wooden barrel can also be repurposed with an interior lining and galvanized lid to make a sharp-looking trash can. You can also stack and stick them throughout your home for storing toys, odds and ends and whatever else can be tucked away. The nice thing about barrels is that they’re functional, but sometimes they also simply look nice. Placed in the garden, living room, or front porch, a small wooden barrel is rustic in its beauty, hearkening to whimsical Americana design.

In addition to being decorated, wooden barrels can also be decorative. For example, wood is amenable to dying and staining, so they can match your décor. Or, you can choose to leave your barrel unfinished and allow the natural grain and color of the wood to show. A small wooden barrel can be open on top with a twine or wooden handle. For those with lids, many barrels have a hinged opening with a handle lift. Many of the watertight barrels also come equipped with a faucet tap on the lid for the convenient pouring of whatever liquids are stored inside. If you have multiple barrels, adding engraved nameplates to the outside will help you keep things straight and tell you what’s inside without your having to peek.