Re-using discarded materials is an easy way to give back to the environment. But sometimes it can be difficult to come up with ways to re-use old products. Let’s talk about wooden pallets—the things used to ship and store most products sold around the world! We’ve all seen them languishing in parking lots behind hardware and grocery stores. The next time you see a wooden pallet, drag it home to create practical storage and furniture for your home.
BENEFITS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: Wood is a precious natural resource, don’t let it go to waste! Forests are disappearing at a rate of about 36 football fields per minute.1 Instead of going out and buying something made of new wood, making your needed product from discarded pallets saves resources and pollution from the transportation process while also preventing discarded pallets from ending up in our landfills.
Cost: Low. Old wooden pallets are free and abundant!
Time and Effort: Varies, low-high, depending on the chosen project. Before beginning a wooden pallet project, make sure you wash and sand it to protect yourself from mold and bacteria. Also, try very hard to use domestic pallets (noted by a “US-HT” stamp). Wooden pallets that travel internationally are usually chemically treated with pesticides, while domestic pallets are heat-treated. If you are using a pallet that doesn’t have a “US-HT” stamp, do not use the pallet for an indoor project.2
Projects for Your Yard
- Veggie Planter and Frog Shelter
Using the cut wood from pallets and a handful of angle brackets you can create an elevated planter that also provides suitable habitat for frogs.3
4 - Pallet Compost Bin
Creating your own compost bin out of wooden pallets does not even require a saw! All you need is four or five pallets, wire, hardware to make a gate, and, of course, yard and kitchen scraps.5 - Garden Work Station
One easy way to get more storage space in your garden or garage is to saw a pallet in half and use some 2x4s to assemble a work station.6
7 - Funky Playhouse If you are really ambitious and have several weekends’ worth of free-time, pallets can make for cheap playhouse material. You’ll need to pick up some additional discarded wood for this project, but using pallets is still more sustainable than your traditional play or tree-house materials. When you are done, wooden pallets can be painted funky colors or covered with your children’s art!8
Projects for Your Home
- Plate Rack
In order to make a plate rack, all you will need are some nails to hold the plates in from the front, so they can remain safely on display, in addition to some mounting hardware.9 - Dining Room Table
With a saw and some elbow grease, pallets can be disassembled and then put back together as a dining table. By assembling your own table, you can also customize it with cutouts that are perfect for growing plants or creating a mosaic.10
11 - Shoe Rack
The easiest pallet project I’ve found is a shoe rack. Simply lean a good-looking pallet against the wall and behold an instant shoe rack that can hold around 8 pairs of shoes (depending on the pallet’s size and construction).12
13 - Coffee Table
Stack two pallets one on top of the other, whitewash, affix with deck screws, and mount on caster wheels for an instant coffee table. I cannot tell you how many compliments I’ve received on mine!14
15 - Bed Risers
Simply nail several similarly sized pallets together and mount them on caster wheels so that you can easily roll your bed wherever you want it.16 - Floor
For very ambitious DIY-ers pallets can be made into beautifully varied wooden flooring. For this project it is easiest if you are mounting the pallet slats to plywood with a nail gun. Be sure to sand well to avoid splinters!17
Functional Projects
- Bike Trailer
Riding a bike rather than driving a car is a great way to reduce your impact on the environment. In some cases though, it just isn’t possible to cart everything around on your back. Using wooden pallets, 2 old bike tires, and some braces, you can create a bike trailer that’s cheap and looks great.18
19 - Snow sled
The top of a wooden pallet is perfect for a two-seater sled. By carving the support beams into runners, you can create a sled that will make all the neighborhood kids jealous ☺20 - Guitar
Guitars made from wooden pallets are way out of my league, but they could be a really fun project for the musical and woodworking-inclined.21
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When you think about it, pallets are a great source of free wood. If none of the projects listed here appeal to you, get out there and start sawing up your own creation!
