The humble wooden pallet, originally intended for the storage and shipping of goods and materials, has grown in popularity amongst upcycling and repurposing enthusiasts. As a means to transform your outdoor space into a haven for guests when entertaining, the pallet has proved to be worth its weight in gold, and extremely versatile in garden furniture making.
1 Garden planter
Start with a relatively simple project that won’t require much skill or extra resources before trying something more ambitious. A garden planter requires just one pallet, upended, with planks of wood attached under the horizontal struts. Line the space created with plastic, fill with soil and plant away. The perfect container for an herb garden or trailing annuals, the planter can be painted in colours to suit your individual scheme or left in its natural state for a more rustic look.
(Image source - hometalk.com)
2 Barbecue station
Made exactly the same way as the garden planter but with the opposite orientation, that is the pallet turned on its longest side rather than on its end, the barbecue station will be a boon to every outdoor grill event. Use it for glassware, condiments, fuel, cutlery and, with the addition of a few hooks, cooking utensils.
3 Coffee table
Attach two pallets securely on top of each other, adding castors for ease of movement and you have a simple yet sizeable occasional garden table.
(Image source – palletfurniturediy.com)
4 Bar table
Requiring a little more practical skill and three pallets, this bar table will provide much needed space for guests and is the perfect height for sitting on a stool. With no cutting involved, the table consists of two pallets joined with nuts and bolts to form the base and a single pallet board placed over the top, screwed into place, to form the table top. Instructions for the table can be found here.
(Image source – easypalletideas.com)
5 Simple chair
Don’t be put off by the idea of creating garden seating! Think simple, with no legs or arms, and you will begin to see that this is achievable even for a beginner. The seat of the chair is made by stacking two pallets on top of each other (try three if you want a higher chair) with a third creating the back rest. Fix the pallets together securely and add cushions!
(Image source – ideal home.co.uk)
6 Simple sofa
A garden sofa is not such a great leap from the chair above and is, in fact, just two or more chairs joined together. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, why not consider a corner sofa?
(Image source – homebase.co.uk)
Creating outdoor furniture from pallets might seem like a fun, cost effective way to personalise your garden or patio, and to produce some truly functional items, but not everyone has the time or patience to prepare the pallets in advance. If you like the sound of making your own garden furniture but have become frustrated with trying to crowbar wooden pallets apart, don’t despair as we have all the supplies you will need to create your dream furniture from clean, virgin fence rails. With nothing to stop you except your imagination, once you’ve tried a couple of pieces, who knows where you will go next?
Have fun!