More often seen in warehouses and depots, the humble wooden pallet is an upcycler’s best friend; cheap, readily available and eco-friendly. Turning these simple building blocks into awesome furniture projects has become a huge trend and with some inventive thinking, you can create a unique piece for your home and garden. From a bar to a bedframe, click or scroll through and be inspired by these DIY pallet ideas…
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Brighten up the decking
Generally, pallet projects are left unvarnished to let the blonde wood stand out but this garden coffee table has got the best of both worlds with a two-tone design that jazzes up the look. A splash of dazzling yellow on the top surface creates protection and a sunny contrast to the bare wood underneath – we love its party vibe!
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Carve out candle holders
The blocks that separate pallet board decks can be put to good use, too. These tealight votive cubes are rustic, endearing and super sturdy with indentations bored out to place the candles. Choose blocks that have stamps and markings for added character.
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Put up a pallet pendant light box
What an ingenious idea for hiding an ugly light fitting! This pallet lightbox has been made by @NotingGrace for Remodelaholic using pallet wood scraps from other projects. This not only covers up the electrical ceiling power socket but separates a trio of industrial-style glass pendant lights over a kitchen island.
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Frame a mirror
Accessorise your rustic decorating scheme perfectly with a pallet wood-framed mirror. The texture and grain will stand out as a charming feature if you stain or wax the wood for a more intense finish. Add a storage shelf underneath to make it even more useful if hung in a hallway or bathroom.
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Get crafty with coat hooks
You don’t need to build a complicated creation from an entire pallet to make something useful. This dog lead hook is made with just one plank of pallet wood is super easy to do. Screw two hooks on either end and personalise the centre with stencils or vintage playing cards for added rustic interest; it’s a perfect project for beginner woodworkers.
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Light up a lantern
Turn on some ambient light with a charming table lamp. Made with a rope handle, this nautical-style lantern can be moved around easily and will suit both country and coastal decorating schemes.
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Organise the tool shed
The great thing about pallet wood is the more used and weathered it becomes the better it looks. So, this garage tool bench made by Funky Junk Interiors is perfect for organising tools and hardware that gets well-used and stored in outbuildings.
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Make a serving tray
If sourcing, dismantling and de-nailing a wooden pallet seems too advanced but you think you could take on a beginner’s project, then check out this rustic wood pallet serving tray from Nikkita Palmer.
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Add a feature wall
Bring a twist to a conventional gallery wall by building a large display wall-mounted shelf to exhibit photos and accessories. This huge, geometric feature wall by Nikkita Palmer looks organic and striking set against a whitewashed brick wall.
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Lay a walkway
Dismantle a wooden pallet completely and use the single planks of wood to make an endearing pallet board pathway in the garden. Funky Junk Interiors created this meandering pathway to bridge a large flower bed in just one afternoon.
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Wheel in a coffee table
Create a practical and rustic coffee table that’s large and sturdy but won’t break the bank. Adding castor wheels to the bottom like this one by B&Q is super mobile too. Why not roll it out to the garden to enjoy a relaxed, low-level picnic on a sunny day?
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Set up a garden bar
If you don’t have room on your garden patio for a full tiki bar, then lean a wood pallet sidebar against a shed or exterior wall to offer an extra surface. Streamline the look with a paint colour that’s similar to its backdrop, but choose a vivid tone for the wooden bartop to add an attractive shot of colour and contrast.
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Bring in bunk beds
The natural pale finish of pallet wood works well in Scandi schemes. This funky kids’ bed was created by Urbanology Designs and is bright, playful and bursting with texture. However, remember if using actual pallet wood, it must be professionally treated and sanded when used in a home environment.
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Store garden tools
Need somewhere to store extra garden tools? The slats in wooden pallets create perfect ledges to hang longer equipment as well as shorter hand trowels and forks. We especially love how Our Little Acre has incorporated a colour scheme by matching cute red potted geraniums into the mix. Also, check out the little cupboard for smaller items. What exquisite attention to detail!
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Create statement artwork
Using pallet wood as a canvas for stencil art can add an impressive pop of natural texture and colour to your walls. You can create original DIY artwork with painter’s tape and metallic paint to create a beautiful piece of statement art.
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Double up on desks
As if this stylish pallet desk created by Hester’s Handmade Home isn’t chic enough with pastel green hairpin legs, but with a ‘mini-me’ toddler table set beside it, this could just be the most utterly adorable home-schooling setup we’ve ever seen!
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Try out a trellis fence
Mount pallet fencing horizontally to lengthen the look of a garden and allow light to stream through. Kezzabeth has created a pretty trellis-style fence above an existing waist-height brick wall to create a two-tone contrast. Painted in a neutral tone the finish is clean, streamlined and bright.
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Craft a corner patio sofa
Take classic pallet garden furniture a step further by turning a pallet sofa into an intimate corner that will accommodate the whole family. Create three snuggle chairs by stacking two pallets and adding a pallet to create a backrest, then group them together. You’ll need to add one more pallet to fill in the gap. There are lots more ideas at Homebase.
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Do up a divan bed
Beds made from pallets are popular but this storage version by Hester’s Handmade Home is genius. Divan beds are very practical but these days not so desirable. So Hester covered the frame with reclaimed wood to convert what she describes as an “ugly duckling bed” into a stylish and rustic storage bed!
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Grow a privacy screen
Need privacy in your garden? Living Gardens Landscape Design transformed this plain and overlooked entryway with a painted pallet-style frame and filled it with lush, easy-care succulents and grasses. The contrasting finish is a contemporary and striking feature.
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Marvel at a mini planter
You don’t need to get upcycling a whole pallet to create something spectacular. With succulents being a popular trend, this mini pallet planter will look contemporary and charming mounted inside or out. Choose a contrasting wood shade like charcoal or slate to make the greenery pop.
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Erect an entire shed
Looking for a bigger pallet project to work on, how about creating a whole building? This eco-friendly allotment shed was designed and built by Andrius Simaska for just £100 ($121) and was shortlisted for the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2019.
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Kick back with a TV tray
Here’s another fantastic crafty idea for reusing wooden pallets; add bean-filled fabric to dismantled and cut wood and screw two iron handles to each side. The finished article is an industrial-style lap tray to enjoy a TV dinner! Nikkita Palmer advises treating the wood with oil to protect the timber.
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Relax on a pallet swing bed
Create the ultimate hangout spot with a boho pallet swing bed. It needs extra reinforced lumber wood to support suspended body weight, strong rope that won’t rot and a waterproof mattress or vinyl mattress cover. Follow the tutorial at The Merrythought and then lay back and relax in your new garden feature.
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Frame a bed with a pallet headboard
A headboard pallet project is a great introduction to upcycling for novice woodworkers, as it makes an effective decorating feature and there’s very little skill involved. Simply sand and treat the wood and then place it between a wall and divan bed. The depth of the crate creates an ideal bed shelf and left unpainted the finish is rustic but elegant, especially when teamed with a grey and white colour palette as in this room by Stylizimo.
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Style a wall with picture frames
Don’t be tempted to pick up a pallet from anywhere as some may have been chemically treated or used to transport poisonous materials. Use pallets that have stamps identifying clear sources. Once you have your pallet, this makes an affordable and stylish project. The frames are designed so the artwork can be swapped out to update the look. See how it’s done at Kaleidoscope Living.
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Serve on a pallet dining table
Create a chic Scandi-style dining room with a bright white dining table. You’ll need to top your pallet with planks to get an even surface but once painted with white gloss, you’ll find your table is easy to wipe free of watermarks and food spills. The trestle bases are from IKEA, so this whole look is a very affordable IKEA hack. Follow the full table tutorial at ScrapHacker.com.
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Pretty up a picnic table
A low-level pallet picnic table can create extra surface space if you are eating alfresco. This easy project is super versatile as the pallets are simply stacked on top of one another – no nails or glue is needed. Sand down and clean two pallets with methylated spirits for a smooth finish and paint with an all-purpose wood stain in the direction of the grain. Then, add floor cushions and a vintage table setting.
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Slot in an occasional chair
Get in sync with the surroundings by adding upcycled furniture to an industrial-look space. This simple chair is made from repurposed wooden pallets so you do need fairly advanced carpentry skills to pull this off but it looks chic set in front of a grey feature wall.
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Go rustic with a radiator cover
You don’t need to be a woodwork wizard to add the pallet furniture trend to your home. Very little has been done to this wooden pallet to transform it into a textured radiator cover. The weathered surface and natural colouring adds a raw and organic look to this rustic-style hallway.
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Style up your home office
Turning a pallet on its side works well in this practical organiser for a home office. Simply wall-mount or secure to a large desk; the wooden structure has ready-made compartments to store stationery and display inspirational objects. Team with a metal desk lamp to continue the industrial look.
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Start with a vegetable planter
You don’t need to be a professional tradesman to make use of a wooden pallet. There are plenty of tutorials and online projects for a beginner to create a practical addition to your home. This strawberry planter by Lovely Greens has easy-to-follow instructions and we think, the more unpolished the finished item the better.
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Wrap up pallet bookshelves
Add texture and interest to your upcycling project with a bookshelf that is ‘wrapped’ in reclaimed pallet wood parts, like this one by Jen Woodhouse. Build the skeleton shelf from timber wood and then use wood glue and a nailer tool to randomly stagger pallet wood to the outside. Crate storage completes the country-style vibe perfectly.
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Make a modular pallet sofa
Two layers of pallets stacked on top of one another make an effective extra-large corner sofa in a social space. This project tops them with made-to-measure cushions, which are designed to fit the pallet dimensions perfectly. A single upcycled pallet coffee table on hairpin legs finishes this laid-back look.
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Wall-mount a pallet bar
If you have a small garden or balcony that is too small for a bar, a pull-down pallet bureau is a great space-saving option. You need to be handy with a drill for this pallet project; follow the Cassie Fairy how-to guide at My Thrifty Life. Painted black with light-up graphics you can serve cocktails into the evening without losing any precious floor space.
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Fashion a herringbone headboard
While we are on the subject of headboards, perhaps something with a little more pattern is preferred. This eye-catching herringbone design makes a beautiful bedroom feature. It’s been made by placing reclaimed wood pieces at a 90-degree angle onto a backing board and then painted contrasting shades to highlight the chevron effect. The finished article is stunning. I Spy DIY runs through this upcycling project with reclaimed wood or check out The Carpenter’s Daughter’s YouTube video for the authentic pallet version.
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Create a spice rack
If you need extra storage in a small kitchen a wall-mounted pallet pantry could be just the ticket. This fun retro-look storage cupboard made from pallets by Cassie Fairy of My Thrifty Life has a blackboard and pinboard doors and colourful shelf space for tins and spices.
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Spoil your pet with a pallet bed
The surface area of a standard pallet is practically made for a pet bed project. Add sides and a headboard as well as a cosy mattress and voila you have created a pet palace for your furry friends. Maker Rachel Metz added castors to hers to make it practical for moving about. We love how the gaps between pallet layers make handy cubby holes for pet supplies like play toys or a lead.
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Go geometric with triangle shelves
Made into geometric triangles these pallet shelves arranged to point in opposite directions look super stylish and turn storage into an eye-catching feature. To recreate the look make sure to lightly sand the wood and apply a rich teak stain.
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Commission a coffee table
If you prefer a more polished look, a professionally finished pallet table should be appealing. It still has a rustic touch but extensive sanding means it’s smooth to touch. It also has perfect hollowed-out storage for a laptop and books, and the wheels even have brakes to stop it rolling away when you lean on it.
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Build a bespoke bed
Want to take the pallet headboard idea to the next level? A whole bed made from pallets looks strong and industrial – plus it’s cheaper than buying a new frame. This design stacks a signature headboard and storage boxes in an extra-wide frame that surrounds the mattress, creating a useful bedside ledge for your morning coffee.
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Relax with a bath caddy
Looking for affordable luxury bathroom inspo? A homemade pallet bath caddy means you can personalise it with extra features like a handy wine glass holder and tealight slots. What more could you want in a bathroom? See how DIYer Warren Nash makes this pallet project in less than a day so you can create one at home.
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Encourage insects with a bug hotel
Make your garden appealing to bees and insects with a homemade bug hotel by Cuprinol built from pallets. This is a great beginner pallet project as a rough finish adds to the rustic effect. Filled with natural materials and painted the same colour as the garden fence, it should be hard to get this garden feature wrong.
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Add child-friendly storage
DIY pallet bookshelves are perfect for creating incredible children’s rooms as the basic design includes a support lip that’s perfectly suited to holding books and small toys. These shelves can make handy bedside shelves or you could try making a few to create a library wall. DIY blogger Lolly Jane shows us how easy it is to create; you only need to make three cuts!
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Decorate with a heart accessory
Pallet upcycling is perfect for creating crafty accessories as well as larger pieces of furniture. The pallet wood planks can be cut into all sorts of shapes with a jigsaw tool, like this love heart by Lolly Jane. The planks make ideal panels for alternating colour and pattern with different paint techniques. You could try any shape or colour to suit your scheme or to create a piece for a special holiday.
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Two-tone a kitchen island
A narrow pallet kitchen island will bring plenty of rustic charm to a farmhouse-style kitchen. Ensure the pallet is sanitised and sanded down so it’s super smooth then keep the worktop natural for an authentic weathered look. An additional shelf below will give the structure support. One for the more confident DIYers, you can find the tutorial at We Lived Happily Ever After.
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Make a space for potting
No garden room? A pallet potting table or outdoor sideboard will make a practical addition to the garden as you can repot plants without having to bend over or work on the floor. This painted version by Refresh Restyle has staircase spindles and tile-effect stencils on the tabletop for a shabby chic twist.
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Brighten up a pallet planter
When flipped on its side a wooden pallet has grooves that make perfect growing containers for all sorts of greenery. Smaller plants such as herbs, flowering border plants like pansies and even an arrangement of different succulents look eye-catching and can be packed in tight.
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Create balcony seating with built-in storage
Looking to make the most of your balcony? Create a cosy nook by stacking two pallets on top of each other and cover with thick outdoor cushions. This bench has been beautifully colour-coordinated with its surroundings and fits perfectly into a balcony corner. Quaint little drawers have been fitted into pallet holes to perhaps store gardening books and potting tools.
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DIY pallet wall cladding
Reusing pallet wood is a thrifty and effective way of adding cabin chic to a decorating scheme. Keep the wood natural for a weathered and textured look or paint it white for a cleaner and brighter shiplap feel, as in this bedroom by Sawdust and High Heels. Installing the panels one by one can be a lengthy process so this project takes some patience, but as they say, good things come to those who wait!
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Display a wine rack
In need of a larger wine rack? This pallet project is made from one pallet cut in half, sanded and varnished. Holes have been drilled through to store up to 30 bottles of wine horizontally, which is traditionally considered to be the best method. Freestanding or leant against a wall in a rustic kitchen, it is sure to make you look like a wine connoisseur.
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Tidy up with pallet shoe storage
How’s this for a clever storage hack? Organise your porch with a pallet shoe rack; the chunky weathered wood is perfect for outdoor decorating and there are lots of holes to slot in a whole family’s shoes. Personalise the pallet with paint and stencils and then pop pretty succulents on top, as Northern Feeling has done here with this quick 30-minute make.
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Hang a pallet coat rack
This DIY pallet project is not only a practical coat rack but also a seriously stylish structural statement. Suspended from the ceiling with wire, it has become a room divider in an open-plan living space. The pallet’s design allows an element of light to flow through the slats, which creates linear shadows throughout the day. Who’d have thought a simple pallet could look so striking and cool?
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Stick with original pallet garden furniture
Garden pallet furniture has become an urban garden staple. Once you’ve cracked the formula you can go on to build benches, sofas, snuggle seats and more. This one uses an exterior paint to transform the look of the wood, make it more durable and easier to clean.
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Show off a herb garden
Grow your own herb garden that’s sure to turn heads. Painted jet black with blackboard paint, this stylish wall-mounted planter will make a statement out of your greenery. Note the names of planted herbs underneath with white chalk and you’ll have created a striking kitchen garden that’s Instaworthy!
