If you’re a woodworker passionate about home improvement, it’s impossible not to love the idea of making furniture for your space. Although some consider it costly, many enthusiasts found their holy grail with great and low-cost DIY pallet projects.
In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite pallet ideas with you. Drawing from my experience, I’ll help you craft those funky junk interiors and patio furniture you’ve always imagined in your space.
What are Pallet Projects?
These are often made from various types of woods. This DIY pallet design is an excellent woodwork plan that can range from high-density and low-density hardwoods like oak and willow, to softwoods like pine and cypress.
While a high-density wood pallet would last longer under adverse conditions which is perfect for patio furniture like wood pallet swing, soft pallet wood is the one I’ll recommend if you prefer a lighter material.
Wooden pallet is a readily available, cheap, and extremely eco-friendly type boards of material popular among woodworkers who love to build a creative DIY pallet design and idea for home renovations and garden as well as patio furniture.
Through these simple yet creative building blocks, one can create simple DIY projects like a kitchen rack, coffee table, kitchen dish rack, chair or bench, bed frame, kitchen cabinet, pallet porch swing or even garden planter with a rustic look.
Tools and Materials
When creating any beginner’s wood projects for your home, first step is you’ll need specific materials and device depending on the home and garden, patio furniture or decorations you want to make.
Working with wooden pallets has always been cost-effective, and I often find them for free. From my expertise, I’d recommend using what you already have, like pallets, instead of spending on unnecessary items when decorating your home’s wall space.
If you only aim to do one or two projects and don’t have these tools and materials in your woodworking shop, you could always try renting them in local stores or fellow DIY enthusiasts. However, if you want to make a living out of this, investing in tools is a great idea.
To put together pieces of pallet wood, first step one would need a hammer and some nails. Although it doesn’t matter what kind of hammer you use, it’s handy if it has an attached nail puller. You also can’t forget to include screwdrivers and wood screws, which are essential in any wood projects.
Admit it or not, working with power tools can make the construction process of high-consuming tasks more accurate and faster than traditional hand tools [1].
In making easy projects, you’ll need a handful of them like drills, orbital sander, jigsaw, or circular saw, depending on your woodwork requirements.
But if you don’t find these available in your storage, then a great handsaw would be handy enough to use despite its labor intensiveness. It’s also good to use things that will protect you from unnecessary injuries and splinters, like safety gloves and glasses.
And last but not least, two of the most important things you should have are a tape measure/ruler that will help you get accurate measurements and a pry bar to pull materials apart.
Where to Get Pallets
There are many sources where you can look for free boards or wood pallets, some of them are more accessible than you thought it was. Nowadays, people would often put the boards up for grabs on social media platforms and listing sites.
You can also find a lot of free pallets in one or two local store in your neighborhood, like Hardware shops, Craft shops, and Motorcycle shops. However, you would need to ask them first if they’re giving away pallets for free.
And if you spot new establishments in your area, you’re in luck because most of them would love to give away a lot of excess wood pallets for free from their storage.
In case you can’t find one, you can always buy your pallet from local store for a cheap price depending on the size and type of pallet you want to use.
Pallet Project Ideas
Pallet Sofa with Storage
Building a sofa out of a wood pallet might sound difficult to you, but it’s actually an easy DIY project to help you create a funky junk interiors you’ve always dream of having. Aside from its inexpensive materials like pallet, its small storage space at the back makes it easy for homeowners to keep living room items that are not in use. It is also a great woodworking project to build and sell for profit.
To make a creative DIY pallet chair furniture suited for your home, you’ll need a shipping pallet, square beam wood, paint and two planks of wood. Using a handsaw, divide the wood pallet to form the sofa’s frame and back storage.
After that, turn the frame around. Build the chair’s legs using the square beam wood pallet and put them together by screwing angle irons and joint plates for the back structure. Put the right wood fillers and sand the surface of the pallet wood to make it look rustic.
Dab on wood sealer on necessary space before brushing paint or using HVLP spray guns for woodworking. The color can be anything you want just as long as it complements the feel of your home. Lastly, find yourself a combination of cushions to match your newly made sofa chair.
Pallet Bar
Whether you need something to liven up your hardwood-floored basement space or you’re looking for an easy way to turn your home into a great entertainment hangout, a DIY pallet bar is one of the coolest things you can create using free materials like pallets.
Cut the recycled wood pallet board with any saw you have available, whether it’s a hand tool or a power tool. Frame up the bar upright like the walls in your house. You can cover the frame with pieces of plywood.
And because you’re using a wood pallet, the board are bound to be different in size and thickness, which is why I suggested putting a belt sander in your device list to get your desired smooth output in your pallet.
You can also get creative style with the top surface of the pallet bar and build easy shapes out of pieces of wood. After screwing them all, you need to stain or paint your wooden structure to give it a rustic look.
Finally, choose a rustic paint color that speaks to you for the wood. In my own DIY trials, I found that brushing paint on the side frames was enough, especially when the earlier stain or paint already gave it a fantastic look. And if you’re feeling ambitious, consider crafting a high chair to complement your new pallet bar.
Alternatively, if you want a smoother finish, you can apply a sanding sealer or polyurethane before painting the pallet.
Pallet Planter Rack
When it comes to making your outdoor space bright and lively style, the number one go-to solution is building an herb garden. Although some homes aren’t big enough to accommodate many herb garden, garden flowerpot and raised wooden garden boxes, there are several projects like staggered planter racks or shelf to solve your dilemma. You can use pallets to start out.
DIY pallet garden planters can be made out of regular low-density pallet wood with basic device such as a hammer, best clamps for woodworking, drill, handsaw, orbital sander, and paintbrush.
First, plan the look you want for your garden pallet planter based on the materials you already have. If you got pallet wood for free, then lucky for you. Break the board apart using any type of saw and remove the nails using crowbars.
Once you have marked the pallets, assemble the v-frames for your outdoor pallet plant rack. These wooden pieces will act as the legs for the entire structure. The measurements of the v-frames will depend on the number of planters you intend to accommodate in the rack.
Cut the pallet wood planks in half to make the shelves and use an orbital sander to smoothen the surface. It’s essential to note that the upper must be heavier than the lower shelf to keep the weight focused on the center of the v-frame.
Next, tightly clamp your wood pallet rails into the v-frame. After drilling your screws, pour a fencing stain on the surface to weatherproof the pallet wood. If you love a colorful vibe for your outdoor area, you can opt to paint your planter to look more beautiful instead of going for a stained rustic exterior. You can also build a pallet swing near your planters to have a relaxing view.
Pallet Coffee Table
If you’re venturing into pallet projects and want something easy and affordable, I’d personally recommend starting with an outdoor pallet coffee table. From my experience, it’s an ideal introduction to working with wood pallet materials.
Coffee tables are one of beautiful versatile pieces of outdoor furniture great for indoor and outdoor scenes. And if you’re one of those people who love organized tabletops, I’m sure you’ll be delighted with its hidden reading nook feature where you can place magazines and books or an accent table for a cozy reading nook.
To get this easy DIY pallet table, you have to break down the wood into individual pieces. Cut the wood pallet board with a circular saw depending on the size you prefer for the tabletop. Sand it carefully if you want it to look less rustic.
Add a custom design by cutting the individual pieces of pallets in patterned shapes and glue them using high-quality glue for wood.
After nailing it down, use the excess pallets to get the table framed on the edges. Drill holes using Kreg K5 or Kreg K4 and attached the legs to the wood pallet table.
Like other wood pallet furniture on this list, it’s your choice if you’ll stain or paint this newly built table.
Pallet Bed
When you find yourself needing a new bed amid the tight-budget season, a pallet bed is a project that will definitely save your wallet. You don’t need to spend a lot, because this project can be done out of a few base lumber and four individual pieces of wood pallets.
After little trimming and sanding your board and pallet wood based on your desired bed dimensions, you can drill down the pallets on the framework with nails and screws to complete the project. It’s as easy as that.
For the pallet bed project I’m suggesting, there’s really no need to paint it. Once you place the mattress and sheets, they’ll cover most of the construction. And if you’re aiming for a more rustic feel, consider crafting a headboard from pallets to mount against your room’s wall. I’ve even seen some tastefully designed rooms with walls covered in pallets for an added touch of elegance. From my experience, oak or pine pallets work best.
(Looking for a powerful tool for your projects? Well, I reviewed the Porter Cable PCE345 for you. A reliable to use for your next design ideas)
FAQ
Where can I buy pallets for DIY projects?
You can buy pallets for DIY projects from any local hardware store at a low price, but most of them are up for grabs on certain listing websites and social media platforms. You can also get the boards free from nearby newly built establishments like wine store, motorcycle shops and home improvement shops.
How do you prepare wood pallets for projects?
You can prepare wood pallets for projects by cutting them into unique and beautiful individual boards. Sand the wood pallet thoroughly for a smooth surface, and ensure all nails and screws intact are pulled out from the wood so that you can use and recycle wood pallets into a new project.
What can kids make with pallets?
Kids can make simple yet creative crafts like signboards with pallets which can hang into the wall of their room. You could also build a pallet porch swing which they will enjoy. This project can develop a child’s creativity by customizing the signboards with paint and decorations. Since dealing with device and wood pallet materials can be a little risky, an adult must do the wood preparation before allowing them to brush paint on the board.
Conclusion
With the trend of pallet projects already prevailing in the woodworking industry, many homeowners found an affordable and easier option to build the furnishings of their dreams.
You can create a wide range of quality fixtures, from straightforward pallet wall decorations to more complex pallet bars, using these basic wooden blocks. While it might be tempting to pick up pallets readily available in the market, I’d recommend that you take a moment to carefully assess the type and quality of wood pallets, depending on the specific project you’re undertaking. It can make a significant difference in the end result.
For more project ideas, you can check our list below:
Robert Johnson is a passionate furniture maker & carpenter, sought after for his knowledge on the craft.
You’ve probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
