Repurpose Wood Pallets into Your Own Signature Furniture

Let your children dig into loads of fun with a sandbox in the backyard. Wood pallets let you design a self-contained sandbox that doesn’t require digging. You can even build a lid to keep out debris and form two seating areas when folded up. Convert the sandbox into a little lounge deck with an umbrella.

Upcycle wooden pallets into a stylish and durable picnic table. Cut out the center of a pallet to create the two benches. Form and place the tabletop with the pallets you removed and some pressure treated boards for legs. Put a contemporary spin on your picnic table with a thin, smooth glass covering.

With a few pallets, you can construct a playhouse for a lifetime of backyard memories. Select five pallets as close in size as possible, a few boards for support, a plywood sheet, and a waterproof canvas. The plywood will form the floor, and the canvas will become the roof covering. Use a saw to cut out as many windows as you desire.

Salvage some pallet wood to build your own porch swing. All you need is a pallet, some lumber, a weather-resistant rope, a mattress or pillows, and tools. You can build a simple swing without a back support. However, it is easy to construct a back at any angle you wish to sit comfortably.

Pallets are a prime bedding ground for a flower or edible garden. Build it to rest against a wall or create a modified garden with feet. In this case, avoid pressure-treated wood as it may leach potentially toxic chemicals into your plants. It’s important to consider the weight of a full, watered pallet when choosing location and hardware that can support the vertical garden.

A homemade bed frame of pallet wood can be a healthy addition to bedroom decor: research suggests that sleeping low to the ground is beneficial for circulation. A pallet frame also fits perfectly in a minimalist scheme. Build a simple platform for a mattress with two or more pallets side by side and stacked atop each other. Secure them with zip ties or brackets.

Wood pallets can make beautiful, rustic furniture for inside spaces such as dining areas, too. Start with an old door of the desired size and strip it. Fit planks from a few pallets along the width of the door and sand them. Fasten the planks on the door from behind, then finish. Another industrial, chic option is to sand and stain one large pallet and attach metal legs on wheels to it.

A custom coffee table could be just what your living room needs, and wood pallets can make light work of building one. Select two small pallets or cut a large pallet into two equal sections. Stack the pallets or sections and screw together with 3-inch screws. Make it mobile with caster wheels on the bottom.

Turn oak or pressure-treated wood pallets into a bench that complements your porch or patio. One large, 48-inch x 42-inch pallet can make the back and seat, and a slat can form the armrests. Attach 2 x 4s for legs or attach caster wheels to effortlessly move around your backyard. It’s also easy to construct a simple bench without backrests or arms.

Sit back and relax with pride in saving money and building your own patio lounge chair. One large pallet, some self-tapping screws, and a little effort provide sturdy seating for indoor or outdoor use. Cut the pallet into two sections, one slightly larger than the other to form the back and seat. Make short legs from any leftovers from separating the sections. If desired, attach wheels with brakes.