Upcycled Pallet Ideas – Transform Old Pallets Into Functional Home Pieces
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Upcycling old pallets is both a great way to save money and keep pallets out of landfill. Get inspired with the following upcycled pallet ideas.
We were at the garbage tip a few weeks ago when we came across a HUGE mountain of discarded wood and a big sign, written in angry red paint that said ‘NO SCAVENGING ALLOWED.’
It was a travesty to drive away without bringing home at least as much as what we were leaving behind.
Because, why else do you take a trip to the tip, right?!
In that mound there were old fence palings, hundreds of pallets, old wardrobes, broken tables and all sorts of assorted wood pieces, just waiting to be reclaimed and tended to with a little TLC.
DH is pretty handy with woodworking, he has made a few tables and furniture pieces in the past, and my mind was racing at all the lovely new furniture we could have in our home, knocked up from a few old (and free) bits of scavenged wood.
If you too have the urge to repurpse old wood, I’ve included a selection of ideas below to whet your inspiration.
Some of these links aren’t tutorials, but pictures of what people have built, meant to inspire rather than instruct.
Here are some instructions on how to handle pallet wood, and this is a YouTube video explaining how to work around the nails.
And to be on the safe side, this article provides information about choose pallets that haven’t been treated with chemicals (although I recommend reading the comments for more detailed information).
You might also like: 40 Inspiring Repurposing Ideas for Making Old Things New Again.
Upcycled Pallet Ideas
Get inspired with these gorgeous and ingenious pallet transformations into functional pieces of furniture.
Garden Work Table From Old Pallet
Make a workbench for the garden from scavenged materials. Save money and grow more plants!
Raised Garden Planter
Save money on raised garden bed material by using old pallets. You may need to line the garden if the pallet is treated pine.
Pallet Potting Bench
Potting benches are super useful for the gardener.
Outdoor Pallet Table
Use as a potting bench or for alfresco dining.
Upcycled Pallet Compost Bin
Nothing fancy here - just down-to-earth practicality and frugality.
Pallet-able Patio Table with Planter
A stylish table with a central planter. No one would guess this is recycled pallets - it looks like it comes from a high-end outdoor furniture store!
Pallet Crate on wheels
Do you love the modern farmhouse style? This pallet crate on wheels is not only useful for kid's toys and other storage, it's super rustic chic
How to Build a Pallet Daybed
How gorgeous is this daybed! It's on wheels with pipe sides.
Beautiful hand-painted shipping pallet coffee table
This coffee table is a great size and features a hand-painted top and a magazine rack.
Pallet Chair - Tiny Yellow House | Make:
How to make a relaxed outdoor sun chair.
Wood Pallet Bookshelf
Make a beautiful kid's bookshelf from pallets with the instructions on Me and Madeline.
Pallet Laundry Organiser
If only pallets could also wash, hang and fold laundry as well.
Upcycled Pallet Mini Pantry
Need extra pantry space? This cheap pantry is made from pallets.
DIY Rustic Wine Rack
Store and display wine glasses and wine in this decorative wine rack.
The Pallet Wall
Haven't had enough of pallets? What about this beautiful pallet wall from the talented Mom and Her Drill.
Pallet Nightstand
Love the heart detail in this beautiful pallet nightstand.
DIY Pallet Coffee Table
It's hard to believe this is made from scrap wood that would otherwise have been thrown away!
Wood Pallet Table DIY
Not a mess so much as beautifully rustic. The metal legs really finish this piece off.
Pallet Rocking Chair
Everyone needs a rocking chair. A porch chair is even better. And one made from pallets is perfect!
DIY Pallet Door Dining Table With A Rustic Touch
Another rustic indoor pallet dining table with metal legs.
Pallet Planter Box For Cascading Flowers
This planter box included holes cut for plants to cascade down it.
Vertical Pallet Planter
This vertical planter is simple, making it a great first pallet project.
Brilliant!
I hate that i cant scavenge what they’re going to bury at the tip as well.
Hi Melissa,
Seems a shame to waste good ‘stuff’. Our tip here sells lots of ‘stuff’ through a shop on site run by a local charity. By the way you are very on trend with your ideas on recycling pallets. One of the couples on the television show ‘The Block’ used pallets as a bed base in one of their rooms. :)
So what are your thoughts re the risks??? I’d been planning on doing stuff like this for a while, but now I’m a little freaked! The ecoli etc is no biggy for me, but the formaldehyde et all is a bit freaky!
Hi Sharon, I saw The Block, I think that must be where I got the idea for this round up, although that didn’t occur to me at the time :)
Hi Mel, all imported pallets are required to be treated according to this website, http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/import/timber/ispm-15-faq#treatments, from what I understand, it is best to look for local pallets (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Standard_Pallets). As far as I know, local pallets aren’t treated, the Mom with a Drill link (pallet wall) mentions this is so in the US.
As a side note to your question (not meaning to freak you out or anything), I’ve read that particle board found in most furniture is also treated with formaldehyde (although I read somewhere else that this practice is being phased out) so a lot of new furniture and flat-pack installations potentially have formaldehyde. I have also read that there is also a common ingredient in skin care products (I can’t remember which one, sorry) that turns into formeldehyde one a celular level, once it enters the body via absorbtion in the skin. Why our houses can be more toxic than outside.
It is true that particle board is treated with chemicals as well and I have smelled certain furniture items that is unpleasant. Is that the same thing?
I was all excited about all the ideas I have seen on pallets lately (I am way behind the times) however, now that I see these warnings, which make sense I am not quiet as excited. I am thinking that perhaps they would be okay for yard projects but perhaps not so great for indoor use. I would was already concerned about splinters and nails and pulling the wood apart, and maybe I will find another way to get wood as opposed to pallets. Hmmm….point to ponder. Thanks for the heads up.