A DIY pallet project is an inexpensive way to go, and, as long as you are good with your hands and have a basic knowledge of tools, you’ll find building items using pallets is a snap. And for some time now, gardeners and other people who enjoy crafts have been making use of free or low-cost discarded pallets to make appealing and useful objects you can use in and around your home and garden.
You’ll have fun putting them together, too, and you’ll also take pride in the fact that you built it on your own vs. heading out to the store and buying something off the shelf. If you are eco-conscious, you can also rest easy knowing that you made a difference in cutting down on scrap wood that would otherwise be headed to a landfill.
A few things to keep in mind before jumping into your pallet project, though. For one, we suggest you read this beginning article about pallets found here. Another thing is to always select heat-treated pallets and restructure them for any functional uses you have in mind. Lastly, be forewarned: The charming creations resulting from these projects can be addicting.
Here are 55 of the best DIY pallet project ideas that Shareably has gathered together that have a simple design, are functional, budget-friendly and involve recycling all in one.
1. Rustic Serving Tray
This rustic pallet serving tray with wooden handles is one of the simplest pallet projects to put together on this list. Simply place a few of the pallet slats, and put a short boundary around them to get a perfect serving tray. Full directions can be found here.
2. DIY Pallet Project Crafts 1: Love Rope Wooden Sign
A word sign fashioned for your home can make a great talking piece or it can additionally make a great gift for your significant other if the word you attach to the sign is “love.” The full tutorial for this easy-to-do DIY pallet project can be found here.
Who knew those throwaway pallets could make such a cool bed and fashionable frame to go under your mattress? You’ll also want to add some glowing lights on the bottom to really top off the look. Instructions and helpful videos for this project can be found here.
If you ever get tired of the offsetting price of headboards, you can use a little ingenuity and elbow grease to put together a pallet headboard, one of the easiest pallet DIY projects on this list. Complete instructions for making the DIY Headboard from pallets can be found here.
A patio is often a quiet retreat that gives you a place to relax in the cool breeze or the sun, while also giving you an unobstructed view of your yard or garden. Here is the link to the straightforward article that describes how to put it together. (The one pictured below is obviously not pallets, but you get the idea!)
This pretty asymmetrical shelf you can build from pallets for displaying knick-knacks, candles and the like can be made from off-cuts from your other pallet projects. This video shows you how.
You’ll love catching some z’s in a swinging bed made of pallets that make your yard outside as comfy as the interior of your house. This DIY pallet project article shows you how.
Who said your drying rack has to be ugly. Not us, and here is a tutorial for a pretty star-shaped one fashioned out of pallets that only costs a pithy $18 to make.
This easy-to-do project provides a nifty place to hang and organize your garden tools. The finished product even features a drawer. Learn how to create one here.
[/caption]This easy-to-do project provides a nifty place to hang and organize your garden tools. The finished product even features a drawer. Learn how to create one here.
10. Charming Sliding Barn Door
Barn doors aren’t only for barns anymore, and they make a stylish addition to your home. This DIY instruction describes how to make a gorgeous one on the cheap with pallets and barn door hardware for yours.
11. DIY Pallet Project for Baby: Cresent Moon Cradle
The detailed design found here for the Crescent Moon Cradle is a little more ambitious than some DIY pallet designs out there, but you’ll fall in love with the magical results once you’re finished.
This next project will help with home improvements to your windows, making them pop. Instructions for making these distinctive shutters can be found here.
13. Outside DIY Pallet Project: Plant or Herb Garden Holder
This planter shelf design made from pallets creates just the right accent for displaying pretty plants or an herb garden. You can find the tutorial here.
Tired of going in and out of the house for drinks for your guests at get-togethers? You won’t have to if you keep them cool outside with this pallet-based cooler. This how-to shows how to easily put it together.
Your kids will be delighted at this amazing playhouse made from pallets that can be used inside or outside. It’s a fairly big project, but imagine how much you would have paid for it at a big box store. Here are the detailed instructions for building it.
Beds made out of pallets aren’t just for humans, and this cozy and a creative dog bed is perfect for your fur baby, too. You can watch and learn how to make a DIY pallet project your dog will appreciate in this video.
This video will show you how to create this cool and funky-looking asymmetrical bookshelf that serves as both a focal point for your room and an interesting talking piece. Definitely one of the more stylish DIY pallet projects on the list.
Getting a patio deck installed and refinished can cost quite a bit. However, it doesn’t have to if you build one yourself one made out of pallets. Follow the video instructions for this DIY pallet project here in order to build your own.
Are you having trouble making your footwear toe the line? You won’t with this cute shoe rack made of pallets that helps keep them all organized in one place. You can learn how to make it by watching this video.
Here is another handy and inexpensive pallet project for you: Turning a pallet into a bike rack. This pallet bike rack is also one of the easiest projects on this list, too. Just watch the video, and you’ll know just how to do it.
The design for this gorgeous television stand uses one pallet cut in half. You then stack the pallet pieces that result. Follow the directions in this article, and you’ll never have a cooler surface to place your TV.
These rustic pallet pumpkins are a fun and inexpensive decoration to make for home or outside around Fall or Halloween. You can learn how to make these artsy items here. Also, if orange isn’t your thing, keep in mind pumpkins come in all kinds of colors when picking out your paint colors.
It doesn’t get much easier than making this DIY pallet sofa. Simply take four out of five pallets, cut the side panels, and then sand the wood smooth. Then use wood screws or nails to attach the side and back panels to the stacked seats. Throw in a few colorful pillows, and voila, you’re done!
24. Easy DIY Pallet Project: Shoe Storage with Stones
Buying a shoe storage area that’s as nice and unique as this one could set you back quite a bit monetarily if you bought it outright. This video shows how to make it inexpensively using pallet wood and some river stones.
If you can believe it, these one-of-a-kind and elegant boat-shaped bookshelves are made from pallets. Here’s the video that shows you how to make one in only a few hours.
Here is an article that describes how to make a rolling coffee table. If you want it to be a little taller, simply nail another pallet to the top of it. The most expensive part of this DIY pallet project is the wheels, but the price of them is nothing compared to buying a coffee table at a furniture store.
This fancy sofa on wheels made of pallets is kind of an advanced DIY pallet project, and you’ll have to use Google translate to use the tutorial for putting it together. However, the results are worth it, and assembling and finishing it will take you about three hours, more or less.
Your children can learn to be just as crafty as you are with DIY pallet projects when they use this child’s workbench. Read this article to find out how it can be done.
Speaking of your backyard fun, here’s an outdoor fire pit project that won’t break your bank. This article shows you how to build the elegant outdoor fire pit on a table.
Did you know you could use a DIY pallet project to make an above-ground swimming pool? And this backyard swimming pool fashioned from pallets and a few bits of structural planks will save you money and make you the envy of your neighbors to boot. Watch the video on how to make it here.
This DIY pallet project that uses pallets and old windows is somewhat advanced, but it’s tailored especially for you if you are someone that dreams of owning a greenhouse. Watch the video that’ll teach you how to make it here.
This unique DIY pallet cat scratch pad is easy to make and you only need a few pallet scraps to put it together. Read this article to see how to make it, and breathe a sigh of relief at seeing that kitty is no longer shredding your furniture once you hang it in place.
This tutorial promises an easy-to-make and beautifully-crafted mailbox for under $13. The hardest part about making the mailbox from pallets is digging the hole to put it in. Due to its ease, you’ll maybe want to make this one of your starter projects.
Room dividers give the illusion of having two separate rooms, and you can hang decorations and reminders on it just like a wall. You can find directions to make it here.
38. Garden Loungers
It’s easy to make garden lounge chairs out of pallets. Here are the instructions for easily making them on your own. Make the lounge chairs pop by painting them in bold colors.
This varnished and ruggedly-built computer desk can be made with minimal tools and expense. Follow this tutorial to find out how to make your own DIY pallet masterpiece.
Rounding out the pallet project list at #40 are these quirky vertical blinds that are as stylish and budget-friendly as the rest of the ones on this list. The instruction for making them can be found here.
41. Pallet photo frame
All you’ll really need for this adorable project is a pallet and some Mod Podge. If you don’t know what Mod Podge is, you need to Google it right now–your craft and DIY game will never be the same. Find the full tutorial here.
If ‘beach’ or ‘farmhouse’ or even ‘beachy farmhouse’ are themes that you love, this project is a total dream. You’ll just need to use the boards from some pallets, some paints, and a bit of elbow grease. Here’s the tutorial.
