10 Good-looking Ways to Repurpose a Pallet
If you love the upcycled look, check out some of these stylish ideas for transforming a humble pallet
Pallets can be used in a surprising number of different ways around the house and garden. There are the really simple ideas, starting with laying them on the floor and placing a mattress on top for a very basic bed, and the popular, industrial-style coffee-table-on-castors – but there is much, much more you can fashion from these simple, slatted-wood structures. Save these photos to show your designer or carpenter, for upcycling inspiration.
Settle into a sofa
On the other hand, if your foam is thick enough, and you smother your pallet lounger with soft, comfy cushions, you can ask a carpenter to make something extremely cosy, as seen here. Lacking the wheels shown on the previous example, this one is even easier to put together.
Choose your covering with care to avoid anything that looks too studenty. Here, some beautiful, pale linen does the job, and colour-coordinated cushions add to the soft, Scandi feel of this large living space.
See a Scandi-style children’s bedroom with bunk beds made in the style of pallets
On the other hand, if your foam is thick enough, and you smother your pallet lounger with soft, comfy cushions, you can ask a carpenter to make something extremely cosy, as seen here. Lacking the wheels shown on the previous example, this one is even easier to put together.
Choose your covering with care to avoid anything that looks too studenty. Here, some beautiful, pale linen does the job, and colour-coordinated cushions add to the soft, Scandi feel of this large living space.
See a Scandi-style children’s bedroom with bunk beds made in the style of pallets
Pimp it into a planter
Pallets lend themselves brilliantly to doubling up as planters. There are various ways to do this, and this one, pictured, gives a living-wall effect.
A planter like this seems (maybe!) like a simple project –but there is a bit of ingenuity to building a lining for it (to hold the compost). Talk to a local garden designer to get a quote for having something similar created.
When planting, consider the shapes your plants will grow into, and position your choices to ensure the arrangement works well together before committing them to the soil. Here, for example, the top row has small, vertical flowers, which allows space for those plants in the row below to burst out of their linear confines. Elsewhere, splodgy mosses contrast with spiky fronds and danglers. Stick to a limited colour palette, too. Here, greens dominate, with just a dash of purple and creamy white.
Find a garden designer in your area
Pallets lend themselves brilliantly to doubling up as planters. There are various ways to do this, and this one, pictured, gives a living-wall effect.
A planter like this seems (maybe!) like a simple project –but there is a bit of ingenuity to building a lining for it (to hold the compost). Talk to a local garden designer to get a quote for having something similar created.
When planting, consider the shapes your plants will grow into, and position your choices to ensure the arrangement works well together before committing them to the soil. Here, for example, the top row has small, vertical flowers, which allows space for those plants in the row below to burst out of their linear confines. Elsewhere, splodgy mosses contrast with spiky fronds and danglers. Stick to a limited colour palette, too. Here, greens dominate, with just a dash of purple and creamy white.
Find a garden designer in your area
Here the pallets have been fashioned into trios of hanging boxes, instead. You could ask a carpenter to make something similar to suit your interior space.
Painting pallets is one good way to make them more indoor-friendly. Unless using a paint/stain designed for sheds or outdoor wood (meaning it’ll colour the pallet but the grain will still show through) then be sure to use a primer, or you’ll be fighting an uphill battle with your paint.
A note on safety: choose pallets whose origin you can trace. If they’ve been carrying food, for example, there could have been spillages, which might lead to mould. Equally if the wood is splitting or flaking this indicates rot, and the pallets should not be used. Most important of all, check the pallets for a stamp that is required by law to confirm they have been heat-treated (rather than treated with toxic chemicals). If there’s no stamp, don’t use them.
Painting pallets is one good way to make them more indoor-friendly. Unless using a paint/stain designed for sheds or outdoor wood (meaning it’ll colour the pallet but the grain will still show through) then be sure to use a primer, or you’ll be fighting an uphill battle with your paint.
A note on safety: choose pallets whose origin you can trace. If they’ve been carrying food, for example, there could have been spillages, which might lead to mould. Equally if the wood is splitting or flaking this indicates rot, and the pallets should not be used. Most important of all, check the pallets for a stamp that is required by law to confirm they have been heat-treated (rather than treated with toxic chemicals). If there’s no stamp, don’t use them.
Top it off
Making a low table by stacking up three or four pallets could not be simpler. But a slatted surface isn’t the best for using as a table. You have a couple of options – you may find that a couple of attractive trays suit your needs perfectly. Or you could ask a carpenter to get a piece of chipboard or MDF and have it painted (the chipboard will be best sanded, but will still have an interesting surface texture, and it’s lighter than MDF). Or, go sleek and classy as the owners of this minimalist garden have done, and get some toughened glass cut to size.
Feeling inspired? Show this photo to your garden designer and ask for their advice.
Making a low table by stacking up three or four pallets could not be simpler. But a slatted surface isn’t the best for using as a table. You have a couple of options – you may find that a couple of attractive trays suit your needs perfectly. Or you could ask a carpenter to get a piece of chipboard or MDF and have it painted (the chipboard will be best sanded, but will still have an interesting surface texture, and it’s lighter than MDF). Or, go sleek and classy as the owners of this minimalist garden have done, and get some toughened glass cut to size.
Feeling inspired? Show this photo to your garden designer and ask for their advice.
Clad with it
This wall may not have been made with pallets but the idea is transferrable – ask your decorator or carpenter if they can create something similar.
To make a clad wall like this, a professional will need to attach battens to the wall behind first, in order to create a surface to nail the strips to.
Part of the joy of this feature wall is that it has an uneven surface and a very patchwork effect. But while that gives you some freedom in terms of neatness, you won’t want to risk splinters whenever you touch it, so ensure the surface is thoroughly sanded.
This wall may not have been made with pallets but the idea is transferrable – ask your decorator or carpenter if they can create something similar.
To make a clad wall like this, a professional will need to attach battens to the wall behind first, in order to create a surface to nail the strips to.
Part of the joy of this feature wall is that it has an uneven surface and a very patchwork effect. But while that gives you some freedom in terms of neatness, you won’t want to risk splinters whenever you touch it, so ensure the surface is thoroughly sanded.
Put up a pinboard
This tiny pallet piece has been used in a beautifully simple way. First, it shields the desk from a sunny window, taking the edge off the glare. Second, it works as a noticeboard for slotting cards through or pinning or sticking notes or drawings to.
This tiny pallet piece has been used in a beautifully simple way. First, it shields the desk from a sunny window, taking the edge off the glare. Second, it works as a noticeboard for slotting cards through or pinning or sticking notes or drawings to.
Frame it
Again, this is one for an experienced woodworker, as it will require specialist tools to cut the angles of the frames. The little row of hooks, below, however is a quicker job. Ask your designer or carpenter to cut a piece of pallet to the length you require, sand and treat it to your taste, and attach nice-looking drawer knobs (or simple coat hooks if you prefer) in a row. Choose the kind of wall fixing you want (these ones are visible above the wood, but you can also get fixings that hide behind it). Et voilà!
Again, this is one for an experienced woodworker, as it will require specialist tools to cut the angles of the frames. The little row of hooks, below, however is a quicker job. Ask your designer or carpenter to cut a piece of pallet to the length you require, sand and treat it to your taste, and attach nice-looking drawer knobs (or simple coat hooks if you prefer) in a row. Choose the kind of wall fixing you want (these ones are visible above the wood, but you can also get fixings that hide behind it). Et voilà!
Make it sleek
Pallet coffee tables are often seen in industrial-style rooms, with big, chunky wheels attached. It’s become a bit of a classic look, but you can easily move the trend on a little by choosing slimline, hairpin legs instead. These are widely available online and come in all sorts of colours, as well as natural metal and result in a far more delicate take on the idea.
Pallet coffee tables are often seen in industrial-style rooms, with big, chunky wheels attached. It’s become a bit of a classic look, but you can easily move the trend on a little by choosing slimline, hairpin legs instead. These are widely available online and come in all sorts of colours, as well as natural metal and result in a far more delicate take on the idea.
Embrace island life
The pallets in this fun room have been used without much modification, except to stain them and fix them together into a solid box shape. Here, the purpose is a home bar, but if you’re doing a kitchen with a reclaimed feel, or on a limited budget, ask your designer if a pallet island could be an option. Add S-hooks and you’ve got a spot to hang a few tea-towels, pans or utensils, too.
Have you turned a pallet into something for your home or garden? Give us your tips or share your photos in the Comments below.
The pallets in this fun room have been used without much modification, except to stain them and fix them together into a solid box shape. Here, the purpose is a home bar, but if you’re doing a kitchen with a reclaimed feel, or on a limited budget, ask your designer if a pallet island could be an option. Add S-hooks and you’ve got a spot to hang a few tea-towels, pans or utensils, too.
Have you turned a pallet into something for your home or garden? Give us your tips or share your photos in the Comments below.
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You might not want your main sofa to be such a DIY affair, but for an occasional reading spot, a pallet daybed could work perfectly. And a dinky little seat like this is a quick project for a carpenter or decorator. To get the best from the wood, ensure it’s sanded first so it is smooth and won’t give you splinters or scuff the fabric, and then ask your carpenter to give it a few coats of the finish of your choice – be it a matt varnish, stain or furniture oil. Ask your professional to choose the best finish to achieve the look you’re after. Also be aware that not all pallet wood will be porous, and it may repel certain types of finishing product.
You can get foam cut to size, and if you’re not handy with the sewing machine to make a cover, it’s a simple job for a tailer or interior decorator.