If you ever had a large piece of furniture or an appliance delivered, then chances are you have wooden pallets lying around. In the spirit of sustainability and recycling, here are 12 amazing do-it-yourself ideas for turning those pallets into something wonderful for your home:
#1 Pallet Wood Christmas Trees
These will look gorgeous as part of your Christmas decorations and the fact that they are handmade makes them totally unique as the design is up to you. You could use red and green paint, assorted buttons, ribbon and position a glittery wooden star at the top. Great for inside décor or planting in the grass out front. Make one for each of your kids and use as a ‘Santa Stop Here’ sign.
#2 Wood Pallet Signs
Customize your interior with these handmade signs with any message of your choosing. You’ll need some reclaimed pallet wood, sandpaper, a drill, saw and clamps. Cut as many plaques as you can from your wood and sand thoroughly. There are loads of ‘how to’ guides online and you’ll also want to get some vinyl lettering or paint for creating your special message.
#3 Pallet Trunk
Storage need never be a problem again with this clever recycling of used pallets into a handy trunk. If you don’t have any pallets lying around then you can always ask at a local construction site. You’ll need to take apart the pallets first using a reciprocating saw or a crowbar to remove the nails. You’ll also need a piece of plywood for creating the base of the trunk. Adapt your trunk measurements to fit whatever your available size requires and for what you want to store inside it.
#4 Pallet Swing Bed
Hanging in your garden or porch, imagine relaxing or reading whilst swinging gently on your own bespoke pallet swing bed. Lazy summer afternoons can be spent lounging on the plush cushions that you place on top or even a mattress and pillow, you’ll be the envy of your neighbors. Find full instructions online.
#5 Pallet Bench
Looks great and easy to make, place your pallet bench out in the yard or on the porch. The raw finish gives it a nice rustic vibe. You’ll need a few tools such as a drill, drill bit, hand or power saw, screws, tape measure and a sander. Easy to follow, step-by-step instructions are available online. Throw on some oversized cushions and you’ve got your very own unique piece of furniture.
#6 Vertical Pallet Garden
Build something beautiful for your plants to be displayed in with this easy construction using an old pallet and some leftover paint. Some additional struts might be required on the back to support the shelves and a staple gun to attach some gardening plastic to line each of the shelves. An option is to stencil a quote of your choice onto the front after you’ve painted it and let it dry. Fill with soil and get busy with your blooms!
#7 Pallet Clock
Create a stylish vintage clock for your summer house or porch using reclaimed pallet wood. You’ll need two extra strips of wood, a jigsaw and some screws. Use a stencil to draw on your numbers and paint with craft paints in any font you like. Once dried, gently sand down the numbers to give it a weathered look. Add a clock mechanism and you’re done!
#8 Pallet Headboard
Revitalise your bedroom with a rustic, country cottage vibe by making a simple headboard out of pallet wood. It will give your room a warm, charming feel with the option to stain and paint any color or design you want. Paint on pretty designs or add decals onto the final varnished item to match the theme of your other décor or leave bare and decorate with fairy lights.
#9 Pallet Coffee Table
If you’d love to emulate the style of the old rail carts, you can do it with reclaimed pallets for a fraction of the cost. A low-level pallet coffee table with wheels is perfect for use on a porch or decking area, providing an attractive vintage piece for placing drinks or fresh flowers. With tons of character and surprising elegance, it’s an easy item to make yourself with a few tools and a spare afternoon.
#10 Pallet Photo Frames
Decorate your walls with these naturally stylish frames from pallet wood. We all have so many images tucked away on digital devices so it’s so nice to see out on display in all their glory. Three boards wide, held in place with pallet wood strips on the back, print off your photos onto regular paper using laser prints. You will need to follow instructions carefully for using a photo transfer medium solution and wait 24 hours for it to dry but it’s super-easy and the results are stunning.
#11 Pallet Bike Rack
For a highly effective, low-tech solution to storing bikes, pallets come in very handy. All you need are two pallets, one to sit on the ground and one to lean vertically above it. The bike tires sit neatly in the bottom and back gaps in the pallet racks, leaving your porch nice and tidy! If the fancy takes you, you can even sand it down and paint it.
#12 Pallet Flag
For 4th July or any other time you’re feeling patriotic, these pallet flags will cheer up any interior or yard. All you need is one pallet, some red, white and blue paint, contact paper and tape. You need to print out the size and style of star you want for your design and trace onto the contact paper for cutting out. You’ll find easy-to-follow tutorials online and it’s a great, fun project to get the whole family involved in.
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