Woodworking Projects for Beginners Using Pallets

Free for the taking and fabulously raw and stylish, pallet wood is a trendy building material for adventurous do-it-yourself-ers. This new favorite home decor and building material is a great raw material that’s easy to find and turn into something truly special, even for the beginner woodworker. This unique board doesn’t require much treatment either, as it gains a rich and natural look simply by existing. Pallet wood makes a fun and economical DIY project to create something that will add a lively feel to your home and garden. Refurbished pallet wood pieces are stylishly edgy and give a modern rustic chic look to your home and garden.

While wood pallets generally are safe for use as a building material, it’s important to know what to look for and what to avoid when sourcing your pallets. If you’re sourcing a pallet that needs to be sturdy, like for a bed frame, then be sure to avoid faux pallet wood as it breaks down more easily. You should also avoid pallets that have carried food, have been chemically treated, or are petroleum stained. These pallets can carry contaminants that are dangerous for humans when exposed to them for extended periods of time. Watch out for pallets that carry the stamp MB, which stands for the chemical toxin Methyl Bromide and can be hazardous. Be sure to source your pallets from a reputable source, and make sure they don’t have signs of rot or breakage — and that they don’t have nails or cracked wood that can cause injury. Generally, most wood pallets are untreated and safe for use, but it’s always good to check and confirm when sourcing them just to be certain.

Typically you don’t need much more than some wood pallets, beginner woodworking skills, and some basic tools like a prybar, hammer and nails, drill, and saw. These simple DIY wood pallet projects are quick, easy, and fun to do.

Bookshelf

One of the easiest ways to upcycle pallet wood is to make it into a bookshelf. Give your books, photos, and other mementos a stylish new home with this easy DIY project. There are so many different designs of pallet wood bookshelves that it’s tough to know where to begin! You just need to determine where you want to put the shelf in your home and how much you want to put on it, and then reverse engineer from there. For bigger shelves, you may want to source a few pallets. Smaller shelves can be made with only one or two wood pallets.

Headboard

Rustic chic style has never been so easy as using a wooden pallet for your headboard. If you’re looking to give your bedroom a little more texture and style, then perhaps consider refurbishing a pallet to work as your headboard. Source two pallets and thoroughly pressure wash them to be sure they’re super clean. Let them completely dry out for a few days before attaching them to your bed frame. You can leave the wood unfinished for a more rugged look or give them a clear coat of satin polyurethane for a smoother finish.

Compost Bin

Wood pallets are arguably one of the best materials for making compost bins, and few DIY pallet projects are easier to make than a compost. It’s so easy it’s as if wood pallets were made just for compost bins. The open slats make for ideal compost bin material as they provide the aeration that your compost pile needs to properly break down. Source four pieces of wooden pallet board and nail or screw them together in a square shape to create a box. You can put a fifth pallet on the bottom for extra airflow as well. Even if you don’t have a farm, composting is still a great way to dispose of kitchen scraps and be eco friendly.

Bed Frame

The perfect addition to that wood pallet headboard is a wood pallet bed frame. This ultra-trendy way to upcycle wooden pallets is super easy and will save you loads of money on a bed frame. Remove a few pallet boards and screw them together for a bed frame that will fit and support most mattresses. You’ll also be adding some modern rustic style to your bedroom. Depending on how high you want your bed to be from the ground, you can explore stacking pallets on top of one another, too.

Outdoor patio furniture made from pallets stained with cushions

Couches and Sofas

Couches can be expensive, but refurbished wooden pallets can be put together so it functions as a cozy sofa. A double layer of wood pallets topped with mats and pillows makes the coziest couch for a stylish living room. And better yet, you have two layers of storage for flat items underneath.

Radiator Cover

Radiators are great and all, but they can be a real eyesore. Cover up your radiator with a repurposed wood pallet. Simply use a pry bar to take off one of the side boards. Give the pallet a good cleaning and place it in front of your radiator for a safe and practically free radiator cover. Keep the wood raw and natural for a rustic edge, or sand and paint it to match the decor of your house.

A pallet being used for vertical gardening space

Garden Wall

One of the trendiest ways to use wooden pallets is to turn them into charming garden walls. Turn the wooden pallet so it’s vertical and so the side with all the slats is facing the wall. Plastic potting trays fit between the slots for the most space-friendly indoor garden you could possibly find. Plant all your favorite culinary herbs and paint their names stylishly underneath them for a more decorative look.

Coffee Table

If you’re looking for an economical and stylish coffee table, look no further than wood pallets. Stack two to three wood pallets in the center of your living space and put either a plexiglass or wood slab on top. How easy was that? Screw the parts together to be sure they don’t wobble. The added perk is you get heaps of stylish storage space underneath.

Using wood pallets for crafting new items is simple, easy, and affordable. Try some of these beginner-friendly woodworking projects to create something durable, long-lasting, and rustic chic.

While do-it-yourself projects can be fun and fulfilling, there is always a potential for personal injury or property damage. We strongly suggest that any project beyond your abilities be left to licensed professionals such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and we assume no responsibility or liability for the contents of this article.