What to do with pallets? Wooden pallets have become very trendy lately, and they invite themselves into our interiors and exteriors to make our space more comfortable and modern. A low-cost solution, pallets are ideal for making furniture without investing too much time and money. If you like DIY and found yourself with pallets in your home and still have no idea how to use them, we invite you to discover our special selection of more than 38 original creations made with wooden pallets.
What to do with pallets? A new sofa for the living room!
The shape of the pallets makes them easy to handle, and therefore several projects can be realized with them. Furniture for the garden and the terrace or to furnish the living room, the dining room, the bedroom, and even the bathroom: everything is possible. In this dossier, we have selected the best DIY ideas with the famous wooden pallets.
A side table for the entrance or a bar: it’s up to you to choose
You have pallets, and you don’t know what to do with them? DIY projects with pallets can be classified into two categories: without or with disassembly. Making a chair on a pallet also requires the use of a screwdriver. While a sofa or coffee table does not even require any special tools, it depends on the model chosen.
Making a living room coffee table from one pallet
For a small coffee table, a wooden pallet is more than enough. To make a living room table on a pallet you will need :
- a wooden pallet
- four swivel casters (optional)
- a screwdriver drill
- fixing screws.
- a brush
- paint.
Any DIY project with a pallet starts with cleaning. The pallet is sanded with coarse-grit and repeated with a fine grit to obtain a smooth surface—some people clean pallets with a brush and soap. If you wish to clean it this way, let it dry in the sun. Be careful, never disassemble a wet pallet!
A table without or with wheels, it depends on your desires. If you want to move your coffee table easily, then install casters. To fix them, get a screwdriver and fixing screws. Watch the video below to see how to make a coffee table with a simple pallet:
Wooden pallet bookcase with asymmetrical shelves
You have already made a table or a sofa in pallets, and you want to realize another interesting DIY project? Then try to create a wooden pallet bookcase. For its realization, you will need :
- two pallets
- one meter
- carpenter’s gap
- a pencil
- a saw
- a sander
- sandpaper
- a hammer
- nails
- a screwdriver
- wood screws
Start by cleaning and sanding the pallets. Then disassemble them. There are several methods of disassembly, the simplest of which is tool-free. Watch the video to see how to do this without damaging the pallet. Once your pallet is dismantled, cut the slats into about 24 pieces of about 20 cm. Pallets vary in size. You are free to determine the shelves’ size in your library according to the pallet at your disposal and where you want to install it. Below, you can watch the realization of an original wooden bookcase step by step. You can vary the size, dimension, and the number of shelves according to your needs. It is also possible to paint it if you want.
Easy pallet bookcase, without disassembling and tools
Making a small bookcase for the living room without tools and dismantling is quite possible. The library model below is straightforward to make. To make it, you will only need :
- six small pallets
- paint
- wood glue
The first step is to paint the pallets in a color of your choice. In the case of this library, the handymen used three shades of blue. Once your pallets are painted, let them dry. The last step is to assemble them with wood glue. And voilà, your little pallet library is ready to use! Put away your books and magazines and find it a dignified place in your home.
What to do with pallets for outdoor projects
Wooden pallets are most often seen in the form of garden furniture. Lacquered and treated with an adapted product, it will not fear rain or strong sunshine. To realize garden furniture in pallets is one of the simplest projects to realize. There is no need for disassembly or sawing. For a low sofa, only a wooden pallet is installed, and for a high sofa, two pallets are placed one on top of the other that can be fixed with wood glue.
If you have enough space in your garden, it is even possible to make a sofa bed. For small spaces, it is advisable to make furniture with multiple functions.
A coffee table can easily be transformed into a stool with a cushion, a sofa – into a dining table. Be creative and think of practical solutions.
The pallet coffee table is one of the most frequent illustrations of the art of recovery.
Fitting out and personalizing your bar or outside with modern stools made of pallets :
Use pallets to make a swing or suspended bed
It is also possible to make a bench or a suspended sofa. The children will love it because it will play the role of a swing, but a more secure idea.
Pallet wood – ideal for creating a vertical garden
Tips for beginning handymen
Beginners start by making a simple piece of furniture: a small coffee table, stool, shelf, and others. Disassembly is not a difficult process in itself, but the use of a saw most often follows it. If you are not used to cutting wood, it is best to ask a handyman friend to show you how to do it.
These two stools are easy to make and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Making a sofa/bed is quite easy. The number of pallets you will need depends on the size and space available in your living room.
Making a sofa out of wooden pallets is practical because it is always possible to use it outside and inside. One piece of furniture, two solutions! To move it with ease, use casters.
Fitting out the children’s room with pallets
If the children’s room needs new furniture, pallets are ideal for this. For a personalized decorative effect, consider coloring them in different shades.
Pallets are not difficult to find. Used for transporting goods, department stores often leave them next to the garbage cans.
Ideas for the dressing room
Take a tour of the shops near you, and be sure you’ll find free pallets!
The pallets are ideal for dressing room layouts. We can make: a wardrobe, a checkroom, a coat rack, a screen and others.
The pallet invites itself in the kitchen
Lack of space? Here are two solutions to tidy up your stuff:
The palletized kitchen island is very practical
If you, too, want to participate in this important recycling process, you don’t have to be a great handyman to make a simple sofa or table.
Sometimes it is sufficient to treat the pallets with a suitable product, to remove the dirt, and put them on top of each other.
Looking for a new and original lighting fixture? Take a wooden pallet and realize one of these ideas:
Useless at first glance, the pallets can be transformed into design and modern furniture or into a beautiful original wall decoration. Moreover, they are susceptible to different types of transformation: coloring, decoration, engraving.
Do-it-yourself furniture is the ideal solution for those who can never find the furniture they want in stores. With creativity and enough imagination, it is possible to achieve remarkable and very satisfying results. It is also an act that affirms our respect for the environment. Respecting nature is important.
Lack of inspiration or do-it-yourself ideas is no longer a problem. Many Internet sources can guide you in the do-it-yourself of your furniture or decoration with wooden pallets.
In USA, for the past 20 years, holders of packaging waste have had to ensure the recycling of pallets. However, only 10% of the pallets are recycled each year.
Fortunately, in the last few years, some private individuals are participating in the recycling of pallets by dismantling them to make original furniture.
Sometimes it is sufficient to treat the pallets with a suitable product to remove the dirt and place them on top of each other. It is then possible to color or decorate them to match your interior style.
Setting up a home office with pallets
Do you have a home office? The furniture for its arrangement is often expensive and you need to count at least 200 euros. With wooden pallets, you can furnish it free of charge or at a minimum price.
In addition, it is possible to opt for an unusual shape that will ideally fit the size and dimensions of your room.
The pallet adapts easily to small spaces
Wooden pallets are ideal for small apartments as they can have different functions depending on their needs. Below is an example of DIY with classic pallets. This large sofa can be transformed into a bed at any time. An ideal solution if you have unexpected guests!
Hoping that our large folder of more than 38 ideas to realize with pallets was useful, we wish you a nice … DIY adventure!
Originally, wooden pallets are an object intended for the transport of goods and storage. Recovering and tinkering have become very fashionable for several reasons. Being the creator of your own furniture – that’s modern.
Read What to Do with Wood Pallets? More than 38 Original Creations! by Neokentin on 1001 Pallets!