22 ideas for crafts made from pallets (pallets) for the garden and home with your own hands + photos

Parameters and features of wooden pallets

The first and quite logical question that any summer resident may have is where to get those wooden pallets? Firstly, they can already be stored aimlessly in a barn since some cargo was delivered to the site, because the main purpose of pallets is to transport various types of building materials. Secondly, they can be inherited from the previous owners of the summer cottage. In the end, if you are inspired by some ideas and definitely want to build something for your dacha or home, it is not difficult to get wooden pallets - any more or less large hardware store sells them for pennies. If you consider that you can make full-fledged furniture from them or even build a gazebo, then the investment will more than pay off. Enterprising summer residents can try to contact construction companies directly and pick up unnecessary pallets from them for free - they will be happy to give them away so as not to dispose of them themselves.

Pallets were designed to allow for easy movement of loads using forklifts, pallet trucks and other lifting devices. There is no single standard for pallets, but the most widespread are the so-called. Euro pallets with dimensions of 120*80 cm and a side height of 14.5 cm. The flooring is made of boards 22 mm thick, the distance between them should not exceed 5 cm. The load capacity of a Euro pallet is 1500 kg. Pallets with parameters 120*100 cm and a height of 14.4 cm ( domestic standard ) are also used. For flooring, seven boards of different widths (14.5 and 10 cm) are used, the distance between them is no more than 4.5 cm, and the load capacity is up to 2500 kg.

As a rule, inexpensive types of wood without a pronounced pattern, but are quite durable: pine , less often spruce, aspen and birch . The elements are fastened with jagged or screw nails, and the pallets stand on nine legs. Pallets are characterized by excellent geometry, high quality, strength and, most importantly, environmental friendliness. This is an accessible and cheap material that can be easily processed, especially since it is not difficult to create structures from ready-made modules.

to revive pallets, extend their life and protect yourself and your household from splinters . All irregularities can be smoothed out with a plane, the surface can be treated with a sander, cracks can be filled, and the surface can be treated with a primer and protective compounds for wood. After this, the pallet can be painted in the desired color and the result can be secured with varnish. There are a lot of possible options for what can be made from wooden pallets - they are limited only by your imagination, because literally everything is created from them: from shelves and coffee tables to gazebos, decking and sheds.

Briefly about the main thing

Recycled pallets are an excellent building material. It can be used to create garden paths, light buildings, and play complexes.

Freight pallets are suitable for constructing furniture. They make comfortable sofas and beds, cabinets and even kitchen units. It is enough to show a little imagination in order to create beautiful accessories to decorate different rooms.

Usually decommissioned cargo containers are used for work. It costs almost nothing, so both garden decorations and interior items are very cheap.

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No. 1. Coffee table made from pallets

Most often, wooden pallets get a second life in the form of garden furniture. Even the most inattentive could notice that decent cafes often organize summer areas using furniture from pallets: it’s stylish, environmentally friendly, convenient , cheap and fast. The easiest way to make a table is from pallets. To do this, you will need two pallets that are installed on top of each other and fastened with nails, and you will have improvised shelves for storing magazines and other small items. You can get by with just one pallet - it all depends on the requirements for the height of the future table.

All that remains is to paint a new piece of garden furniture and arrange a tabletop , which can be glass or a sheet of moisture-resistant plywood. For ease of movement, you can equip the table with wheels. Manufacturing will take a minimum of time, and painting in pleasant shades will allow you to get a stylish table, a real decoration of the site, worthy of a cozy coastal cafe. By the way, the finished product can be safely used even in the living room as a coffee table.

Features of the base

The design of wooden pallets was specially designed to simplify the loading of large quantities of goods packaged in blocks. Builders made shields from boards, and two boards were attached to them from below on the sides. They helped form a convenient stop that made the small loader easier to operate.

Pallets simplify loading cargo Source art-pallet.ru

The shape of the pallets has been improved. In 1925, American workers nailed another shield to the bottom. The result was a rigid platform suitable for forming a large cargo unit. At its base there are special recesses for which slings can be attached. There are large gaps between the boards at the base. They help secure cargo during transportation.

Improved pallet model Source pallete.firs.org.ua

Sometimes pallets are used once and are disposed of at the place of delivery. When they simply fall into an ownerless heap, there are people who want to take them home and use them to make some decorative items or even furniture. Pallets look very brutal in the interior. And they are well suited for the intended purposes.

Furniture from waste pallets Source yandex.net

For international transportation, standard packaging is used. Its dimensions are 800x1200 mm. The width of the upper wide dies is 145 mm, narrow 100 mm. To make one element, eight slats of the same length are used. The height of one pallet is 144 m.

Euro pallet sizes Source i-dealog.com

No. 2. Benches, armchairs and sofas from pallets

In addition to the table, you can make comfortable sofas, armchairs and benches from wooden pallets. The bench is constructed as follows:

• divide one standard and pre-prepared pallet into two parts so that one of them has 4 boards (future seat), and the second has 3 (back);
• combine the resulting parts at right angles and fasten them with self-tapping screws or screws, you can use double fastening;
• For a more reliable connection of the back and seat, wooden blocks are used, which can be taken from a disassembled second pallet or you can use boards available on the farm. They will also play the role of armrests. It is better to fasten two bars on each side, connecting the back and seat; the length of the bars depends on the angle of inclination;
• Four legs can be cut from the remaining boards. It is better that they are of maximum width, but small in height, which will increase the stability of the bench. The legs are attached to the bottom of the pallet, you can further strengthen the fastening with a corner;
• Finally, you can cut out decorative elements on the back, then cover the bench with varnish or paint of the desired shade and decorate it with pillows. The latter can be bought, made to order or sewed yourself.

In a similar way, you can arrange a corner bench or a separate small chair . It’s easy to create a cozy seating area in the garden using made benches, armchairs and a table.

It’s easy to create sofas and pallets of absolutely any size and configuration (straight, corner, U-shaped). To do this, you will need to sequentially fasten a number of pallets together to obtain a workpiece of the required length and shape. A second row of trays is mounted on top to achieve a comfortable seating height. The backrest is attached to the finished structure. Self-tapping screws are used as fastenings. The workpiece is painted and decorated with pillows.

Work zone

An ordinary pallet can act as a working surface. This table will look very stylish if you paint it and put glass of the same size on top.

Entire work areas can be created from pallets. If you cut several pallets in half, they can be placed one below the other like Legos.

To store things used in work, racks and shelves are made from pallets and boxes.

No. 3. Hanging pallet beds

If there is a suitable place in the garden or on the terrace, you can fix a cozy hanging bed there. Its base is made of two standard pallets, which are carefully fastened to each other. To securely fix the mattress, you can build a special box and use the remaining unused third pallet for this. The height of the side will correspond to the thickness of the mattress. If desired, the remaining boards and beams can be used to build a headboard. To support the canopy of such a bed along with those resting on it, you will need strong chains or ropes and reliable support.

No. 4. Multi-story bed for summer cinema

Those who keep up with the times and use their dachas not only for growing vegetables and fruits know that you can organize your vacation outside the city with the help of a projector, a few good films and the company of friends. You can create a cozy place to watch a movie using pallets. To create a three-tier bed you will need 12 pallets: the base is knocked down and 6 pallets, and the height of the first tier will be equal to the height of one pallet. To equip the second floor, a pallet is attached to the central part of the base. The third floor will require sequential fastening of two more layers of pallets. All that remains is to paint the structure and decorate it with pillows. By the way, such a solution is also useful for organizing a home theater indoors .

No. 5. Wooden pallet bed

A bed made of pallets is a rather bold solution, at first glance, which, however, has already begun to be used in country houses, dachas and even in ordinary city apartments. The pallets can be arranged as desired depending on the requirements for the bed. The height is adjusted by the number of pallets stacked on top of each other, the presence or absence of legs, wheels, etc. The width and length of the bed are also easy to adjust. you can make a headboard from the same pallets

If the wooden base turns out to be much larger than the mattress, it can be used as an impromptu podium or bench for the feet. The holes that are formed when installing one tier of pallets on another are used for storing bedding, books, magazines, or for organizing built-in lighting. Pallets are a durable material, so there is no need to worry about the reliability of the sleeping place - it is better to pay attention to choosing a comfortable ergonomic mattress .

No. 6. Bar counter made of pallets

This idea will be useful for those who are used to actively spending time at the dacha, throwing noisy parties. To create your own bar counter right on the site you will need several pallets (the number depends on the required dimensions) and a little patience. The base is assembled from 2-3 pallets, which are placed vertically and fastened together. The side walls are also equipped by attaching pallets, but it is better to make the tabletop from thicker and wider boards. The structure is decorated and buried in the ground for fixation, supplemented with chairs if necessary. It is worth remembering that the length of a standard pallet is 1.2 m, so the height of the bar counter is limited.

Making a table for magazines

We'll tell you how to make a coffee table on wheels. We present the simplest product to make; it will be especially useful for people who have not worked with wooden blanks.

For a coffee table you will need 1-2 pallets, as well as tools: a hammer, wheels, a nail puller, a screwdriver, screws, an electric drill, wood glue, wood varnish, a pencil and paint brushes.

Stages of work:

1. The tray is cleaned and sanded. After wiping off the dust, you need to use a drill with a special attachment for processing wood. Working with an emery base is also suitable for this.
2. The pallet is disassembled and the nails are removed using a nail puller.
3. The planks are folded and pressed tightly together with their ribs and a tabletop emerges. It is necessary to place them on glue, and for strength they are nailed from the inside with strips.
4. After the glue has dried, the lid is secured from the inside with another 2-3 boards. Thanks to this, there is a shelf for magazines and newspapers.
5. Primer is applied to the lid, and after drying, a layer of varnish is applied. The wheels are applied, and the places for the screws are marked with a pencil.
6. Holes are drilled using an electric drill, and then the wheels are screwed on.

This way, a coffee table is simply created. Its assembly and finishing will not require much time and effort.

No. 7. Pallet flooring

Wooden pallets make an excellent terrace or decking for those parts of a summer cottage where the soil is loose or impassable. This solution will cost much less than a traditional plank floor, and with proper protection and care it will last a long time. Installation should not be difficult, however, you will have to prepare the required number of pallets, and you will need a lot of them.

First, you need to place the pallets in the area they need to cover. Then you need to carefully level the surface using a building level. Bricks, boards, wedges or construction waste can be placed under the pallets. Often the base for pallets is covered with bulk materials. To ensure that the platform is solid, individual pallets are connected to each other using planks, which are inserted into the gap between the individual pallets and attached with self-tapping screws. Now all that’s left to do is treat the wood with protective substances, paint or varnish. If desired, you can cover the flooring with boards on top, using pallets as a prefabricated frame.

No. 8. Flooring in outbuildings

Wooden pallets can also be used as flooring in cellars, basements, sheds, pantries, storage rooms and chicken coops . They provide insulation from the cold concrete floor, ventilation and dryness of the floor. The floor is installed in the same way as the flooring on the terrace, only in some cases an additional floor may be needed. For example, in a winter poultry house, it would not be superfluous to lay a fine steel mesh on top so that the animals do not fall into the cells. In sheds and cellars you can lay boards.

No. 9. Pallet hanger

Another interesting craft made from pallets is a hanger, which can decorate a country house or even an ordinary apartment. To create it, you will need a pallet base (flooring), so the sides must be carefully removed. Don't rush to throw away the leftovers - you may still need them. The base is thoroughly sanded, treated with protective agents and painted in the required shade. All that remains is to attach several hooks to it: their number and location relative to each other depends on your needs. The finished hanger is fixed on the wall near the front door.

Photos of furniture made from pallets

Read here Furniture from Ikea: 95 photos from the designer furniture collection

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No. 10. Chaise lounge made from pallets

Many people equip the relaxation area at the dacha with sun loungers: ready-made ones are sold in an assortment in the store, but if you have unnecessary pallets, you can do everything yourself. To arrange one sun lounger you will need 3 pallets: two identical and one slightly wider. The first two are placed on top of each other and they begin to disassemble the third pallet, which will serve as a backrest. All the lower boards are taken from it, as well as the bars behind and in front of the pallet, and half of the boards from the top row, all work is carried out carefully, because the waste from this stage will still be useful.

The backrest is attached to the base, and legs made from the boards remaining at the previous stage are attached to it. Now you can fasten the remaining elements together, paint the chaise longue and add pillows to it.

No. 11. Shoe shelf

Pallets can make a simple shoe rack for your summer cottage. It is enough to cut one pallet into two parts, place them on top of each other and fasten them securely: in the area that the shelf takes up, you can place three times as many shoes as before, and if you take the time to decorate such a shoe rack, it will become a decoration for your country house. house.

No. 12. Pallet fence

Wooden fences have been and remain classics, which is why they are always popular when fencing a summer cottage. A pallet is the same tree, only it will be even easier to arrange a fence, because several boards are already actually knocked together. The construction of such a fence is reminiscent of a construction set.

Pallets will be stacked vertically, if necessary in two rows if a higher fence is required. The supports will be metal pipes, which are installed in recesses and filled with concrete. The pallets are attached to the supports, the top edge can be cut out figuratively, and the entire structure can be painted and, if desired, decorated with pots of flowers. If you have the skills to install hinges, then making a gate from a pallet is not a problem. If necessary, such a fence can be duplicated with a chain-link mesh or polycarbonate sheets.

Construction material

Some craftsmen adapt pallets to create formwork for the terrace. It turns out that it is almost free to add a recreation area to the house. The pallets are simply disassembled into boards, and with the help of them the flooring is formed. It looks very nice and lasts quite a long time.

The basis for a future gazebo Source build-experts.ru

If you got a lot of pallets for free, you can try to assemble a small gazebo or playhouse for children from them. This material is not suitable for serious structures, but it is quite possible to build a utility shed and a garage from it. The result will look quite decent. As evidenced by the following photos.

Laying the foundation of the future barn Source yandex.net

Finished building made from pallets Source roomester.ru

No. 13. Gazebo and outbuildings made from pallets

The precise geometry of wooden pallets allows them to be used in the construction of simple structures. It is easy to make a square or rectangular building of any size from pallets. Gazebos, sheds, chicken coops, small summer houses and even pet kennels are built using the same principle - the decor and design features depend on personal preferences and imagination.

A foundation for more or less large structures will be needed in any case, but what kind depends on the type of soil. For areas located on clay soils, it is better to use a foundation on piles, for rocky soils - a strip foundation. The floor of the building can be made of decking boards or pallets themselves. You can use wooden blocks or metal pipes as a frame, and pallets in one or two layers will be attached to them.

You can cover all the walls of the gazebo with pallets, or you can make them only up to a certain height - in any case, the space inside will be filled with light and sufficiently ventilated. The roof of the gazebo is best made from polycarbonate ; alternative options include flexible tiles, ondulin and metal tiles.

If you sew up the inside walls, for example, with plywood, you will get a full-fledged summer house , which can be decorated from the outside with plants and flowers, because the pots will be conveniently placed in the formed pockets. If such a building is sheathed on the outside with siding, then no one will ever guess about the peculiarities of its origin, and you can use the building for recreation, storing garden equipment, or for other purposes. Similarly, on the site you can build a barn, a woodshed, a chicken coop, a dog house or a small house for children , which will become the center of a children's playground in the country.

Preparation for work

Having purchased pallets, you first need to carry out preparatory work, which includes:

• Their cleansing from contaminants;
• Sanding rough surfaces with sandpaper;
• Take the necessary measurements;
• Buy fasteners and accessories, painting fluid.

The material costs for these little things cannot be compared with the cost of new furniture. The time and effort required will pay off handsomely with the appearance of a new interior product that remembers the hands of the owner. A sofa with chairs made from pallets will perfectly decorate a garden plot and you shouldn’t talk yourself out of it.

And 9 more ideas for crafts made from pallets (pallets)

Wooden pallets have unlimited potential for creating various useful things for a country house or a city apartment. Here are some more interesting options for what can be made from wooden pallets:

1. vertical landscaping of the site. The pallet can become the basis for hanging pots and containers with flowers;
2. shelf for flowers and garden tools;
3. interesting lamp;
4. a wardrobe or chest of drawers - you just need to arrange the pallets correctly, and there are a lot of options for doing this;
5. sandbox fencing;
6. bedside table or TV stand;
7. bicycle parking;
8. a cozy place for a pet;
9. Even a staircase in an apartment can be arranged if pallets are stacked sequentially on top of each other and secured well.

And the list doesn’t end there: with a little thought and imagination, you can make other stylish and convenient crafts from pallets.

The article was written for the site.

Tags: Landscaping

Manufacturing of furniture and decorative items for interior spaces

The following products are produced from Euro pallets for home interiors:

• sofas, beds;
• tables, armchairs, chairs;
• bedside tables, shelves, wall organizers;
• cabinets, racks, chests of drawers;
• TV stands;
• laundry baskets;
• shelves for shoes;
• coat hanger;
• children's furniture, including toys;
• various decorative items.

Once the materials have been selected, the necessary tools should be selected.

To work you need:

• metal corners;
• drill, drills for it;
• bolts, washers, screws;
• coarse, medium sandpaper or sanding machine;
• primer, impregnation or paint for wood;
• metal tape measure or ruler;
• protection - gloves, glasses;
• a simple pencil;
• PVA glue or any wood glue;
• paint brushes.

In many cases, entire pallets have to be partially or completely dismantled. Then you will additionally need a nail puller and a screwdriver. To make various intricate designs, you will need additional accessories - legs, door handles, wheels, pieces of glass, fabric, leather, decorative film, foam rubber, etc.

If you don’t have an electric drill, it doesn’t matter. You can use nails and a hammer, but it will take a little longer and the finished product will look a little worse.